Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-07-01
evacuation, . returned the captain prompt

ly.
'Neverl' cried the club in body, and
the captain, feeling that he had them the
more securely in that his roof boasted no
trapdoor, went in to finish somewhat in
complete toilet, as well as his morning
nap.
| Az breakfast bells ali around the
neighborhood were ringing and the club
began to realize that before long it would
be an object for the laughter and derision
of the public, and it ground its teeth and
swore future vengeance upon the captain.
"And, after all, y remarked the treasurer
stoutly, "the captain is not to be blamed.
He had to pay us back for the 22d of Feb
ruary, and I, for one, move that we lower
our colors and surrender. :"
During revival of patriotism, on
| Washington's birthday last, the captain
had been the recipient of a cartoon, fear
fully and wonderfully drawn, presented
with the compliments of the Seventy six
club. The drawing portrayed a most real
istic John Bull-his head upon block
bearing the legend, Taxation without
representation about to suffer decapita-
| tion at the hands of an executioner attired
| in continental garb the weapon used be-
ing a remarkably small hatchet and the
with my little hatchet. y
But today, the Fourth of July, witnessed
the captains revenge for a o'clock pa
| triotism wilted in the scorching heat of the
July sun, and the club capitulated, restored
the hated emblem, and. reshouldering
its ladder, departed, amid the jeers of
various younger brothers, who had long
been refused membership in the club.
And the GOODNESS thus established be-
tween the captain and the Seventy six
club continued, for, in addition, did not
that gentleman inveigle all the younger
brothers on to his grass plot that very even
| ing and there celebrate his victory by
display of fireworks eclipsing any in town,
| ending with a set design, on which, be-
meath fountains of gold and myriads of
Roman candles, blazed the words, "God
save the queen?"
Truly the captain was revenged, and
all the village laughed for the warfare be-
tween him and the boys was public joke.
The club was advised to give up and take
its defeat kindly, but instead it called spe-
cial meetings one after another to deliber-
| ate on scheme for revenge and retalia-
| tion. Had it not been thus engrossed it
would have joined the village In wonder
ing as to the nature of the captains bust
ness just now, for, following the arrival
of cablegram on the 9Th Of July, that
gentleman was seen to be much dis
traught, but as the club failed to note
1t the village seemed to enjoy keeping it in
the dark concerning the same.
But at last scheme was proposed by
member of the club, which, being voted
on and adopted, led to the members call
ing on the captain in a body on the follow
ing evening.
"To what, SIR" he asked, addressing
the president-tto what do / owe this
visitf Are past hostilities to be forgotten
and do we meet on friendly grounds, Orr
The president rose, his round and free
kled face afame, cleared his throat, and
then, as the secretary afterward stated in
his minutes, sbalked and told the vice
president to do it,
But the vice president fatty refused the
honor and passed it on to the treasurer,
who, having it in his mind to run for pres
ident next election, got on his feet and put
the resolution of the club into rather halt
ing language.
"And it is the verdict of the Seventy six
club, y he declared, that any man, living
in this country, enjoying Its privileges
and institutions, yet oriticising and in
suIting it daily, both in word and deed,
and, Furthermore, trying to persuade it's
infants to his way of thinking by bribing
them with sweets and freworks-er-uh"
the treasurer had forgotten the begin
ming of his involved eloquence-ssth that
man." he resumed triumphantly-" that
man had better go back to the country of
his choice, and it is the verdict of this club
that it Is his duty to do So "
The club held It's breath as the captain
arose to reply. For moment he stood si-
lent, his hand concealing his mouth and
his heavy mustache. The captain was evil
IDENTIFY choosing his words.
Admitting, Mr. Treasurer, " at length
he began, ''the truth and justice of what
you say, hereby agree to accept and act
upon the clubs decision and will take
steps to return to England at once"
Following which statement the Seventy
six club broke up in disorder. The captain
take them at their world The captain
leave theml They surrounded him in an
guish of mind. But he was firm. Another
week would see him shaking the dust of
America from his British feet and taking
passage for his beloved England. AT this
miserable silence fell upon the members
of the club.
Then the captain relented, and the truth
came out. He had come into a fortune, he
told them, and must go back to England
to enter upon his new responsibilities.
In another week he would be gone
"And to the Seventy six club" con-
tinued the captain, 81 would like to say
here that 1 hope to have all the members
honor me by attending a dinner that
shall give them at the hotel the evening
before my departure
And the club attended. The captain did
it handsomely, as he did everything, even
when it came to revenge. It was not
mere spread such as most grown people
would have considered sufficient for
crowd Of boys, but feast that would have
honored their elders. And, furthermore,
at each guests plate was little box con-
tanning shield shaped badge, bearing the
figures rs on background of red, white
and blue.
And when the time for speeches came
the president arose, and in voice choked
with emotion begged the captain to accept
as farewell offering of the club prayer
book bearing that gentlemans name in
letters of gold.
"You see, sir, 1t kind of suggests Eng
land, prayer book does, the president ex-
planned church of England, you know,
sir-and we are sorry 1t prays for the pres
ident of the United States and not the
queen. But there WASH t one to be found
in town, sir, that didn't
And then, as crowning act of Goals Of
fire, the captain produced the hated em-
blem, the arms of Great Britain, the
pasteboard cause of all hostilities in the
past, and, presenting 1t to the club, sug-
gested that it be used as Guy Fawkes
substitute In November. And with this
the company dispersed. But it was noticed
that November came and went and there
was no such demonstration.
Indeed some things seem only to thrive |
on opposition, and such was the case with
the Seventy six club, for during the year
following the captains departure it Ian
guished and all but disbanded. Only the
memory of the captain and his badge held
it together. But as another July rolled
around 1t revived, and at an enthusiastic
meeting it was moved that in memory of
their British friend the lion and the uni
corn be elevated to their old position upon
the captains still tenantless house on the
day of the Fourth.
The motion was carried, and accordingly,
on the morning of that day, bearing the
n