Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-09-17

legal profession. though very noble.
does not lead 70 strong fraternal feel
ings between its members ina small
country town.
Mr.. Van Buren, Crofutt decided.
after much thought. 90 become
society man II the most liberal and
literal meaning Of she word Such
course would enlarge the field Of his
acquaintance. and enable him 60 be
among brothers no matter where be
went
SO Mr.. Crofutt began 20 take "de-
grees, " aud 60 be initiated into the
mysteries of all the secret societies
that flourish with such vigor and va
riety.
The result Of this was that. before
the year was over, Mr.. Crofutt' S
iewelry answered a double purpose.
and his mind was terribly confused on
passwords and grips
His scarf-pin bespoke him an An
cient aud his fnger-ring showed he
F travelled as a Builder; his sleeve-but-
tons bore mystic emblems. and his
watch-chain was decorated with society
/ charms.
After be had exhausted his iewelry
TO prove the legality Of his claims. he
bought badges Of other societies, which
he modestiy concealed under the lapeis
Of his coat and waistcoat. where they
were ready for exhibition should he
wish 10 signal brother.
He no longer shook hands as before
he became a society man. On being
introduced TO a stranger. he ran the
whole mystic gamut over his hand and
arm. till he struck the right KEY. and
found in the stranger a brother whom
he at once proceeded to treat as II long
lost but ever loved
All these societies made great de
mands on Mr. Crofutt's time and
means, and Is soon as IL became
known that he had n liking for secre'
societies, he was beset by the advo
Gates OF open organizations, and &
maintain his popularity. lie was forces
20 Join every one of them.
SO, after a time. his Office and bed
room were covered with handsomely
/. framed certificates of membership
} many OF them representing antagonis
tic societies.
One of them showed he was a full
member of The Jolly Larks." an,
another that he was an honorary mem
Der OF the "Anti-Liquor Licens,
7 Brotherhood. Another showed hin
life member of Busters Bras
Band, and beside il was a certifcat
showing he had paid his annual due
! 70 The Malay Mission Fund.
E Everything went we'll for awhile
an 81 i
= OF some society that thought Mr.. Gro
r. futt had not treated it as Literally a
he had some others not nearly so de
= serving, and the fact that in tn
/ speeches which he was often called O
q 10 make he confused the audience an
T himself by mixing up the Jolly Lark
T and the Brass Band with the Mala
4 Mission ant the Sunday school Union
{ During all this time Mr. Crofu'
tried TO practice his profession, an
Q he had more cases than formerly, br
!, they were not of q satisfactory or
IS paying kind. His clients were Away
g brothers, and as such he had often I
e work for ''the good of the order, f,
e promissory fees, and oftener for notl
l. ing
T He might have borne all this calm
ly, for ne was a man Of great patienc
n but, unfortunately. while aiding II
it brother Of one society on the one han,
st he found himself opposing the broth
10 of some other society on the 9th
E. hand. and so laying himself open, III
10 der the rules of the order, to Il
J. charge of violating his obligation.
So matters went on till Mr. Vi
d Buren, Crofutt was thirty years of ag
sr and became one of the best-known me
r In his county and well-known IN,
he In the State.
al He had run nearly through with b
inheritance, and his professional bu:
re ness being sacrificed TO his desire Z
III popularity, he was not making none
a But he was a cool, far-seeing ma
ae working out his career by rules he hi