Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-06
Oy ssh. w&F1

en- and put II in her mouth, took long
breath, and said: +-.s
Where does my husband get the other
two hundred degrees, theny'
The prominent Mason said he guessed
her husband never got two hundred
degrees. unless he had degree factory
lie said he didn't understand the woman.
Does my husband hive to sit up with
a corpse three nights a week." she ask
ed. her eyes flashing fire. And do they
keep a lot of sick Masons on tap for, my
husband to sit up with the other three
nights?''
The prominent Mason said he was
thankful that few Masons died. and only
occasionally was one sick enough to call
for Masonic assistance.
"But why do you ask these Questionss
MADAME" asked the prominent Mason.
The woman picked the fringe OF her
shawl. hung her head down and safd:
'Well, my husband began TO Join tho
Masons about three years ago, and he
has been taking the degrees or sitting IN
with people every night since. He has
come home twice with wrong clothes
on, and when 1 asked hin. how IL WAS ho
Said that II was a secret he could not
reveal under the penalty OF being shot
with a cannon. All that he would say
WIS Nudb lit LUX IL utSrtt. nasc kcRb
a little track Of It, and 1 figure that he
has taken 233 degrees. including the
grand Sky Fuge degree. which he took
the night he came home with his LIP cut
and his ear hanging by a piece OF skim"
"Oh, madam" said the prominent
Mason, there is no Sky Fugle degree
In Masonry. Your husband has deceived
va. He is no Mason"
That's what | think" said she, as d
baleful light appeared in her eye. He
said he was taking the Sky Fugle degree
and fell through the skyligtt l had him
sewed up, and he was ready for more
degrees. After he had taken about q
hundred and fifty degrees ! told him I
should thnk he would let up on IL and
put some potatoes In the cellar for the
winter, but he said when man once got
started on the degrees he had to take
them all or he did not amount to any
thing. Sometimes brother Mason
comes home along WITH him in the morn
ing, and they talk about full fush,' and
their pat hands and raising, 'om OUT
One night when he was asleep l heard
him whisper. y raise you $40 and when
/ asked him what 1t meant, he said they
were raising purse for poor widow.
Another time he raised up In bed after
he had been asleep, and shouted, L stand
pat! and when / asked him what he
meant he said he was ruined IL told II.
lie said he had spoken the password.
and II the brethen heard Of II they would
put him out of tho way, even as Morgan
was put out OF the way. Mister. IL
stand pat your password"
The Mason told her II was not. THAT
the words she had spoken was an ex-
preston used by men when playing
draw poker, and he added that he didn't
believe that her husband was a Mason
at all, but that he had been lying tu ner
all these years.
She sighed and said: That's what [
thought when he came home with a lot
OF ivory chips in his pocket. He said
that they used them at the ledge 10 vote
on candidates. and that white chips elect
and blue chips eject a candidate. IL
you will look the matter up AID see IL
he has Joined the Masons will be obliged
to you. lie says he has taken all tho
two hundred and thirty-three degrees.
and now the boys want him 10 join the
knights OF Pythiss. 1 want 10 get out
an injunction TO prevent him Joining any.
thing else until we get some underclotbes
for winter. I'll tell you what I'll do.
The next time he says anything about
Sky Fugle degrees I will take wash
board and make him think that there Is
one degree I'm Masonry that he skipped.
and now good-by. You have comforted
me greatly and I will lie awake tonight
until my husband comes home from the
lodge with his pat hand and will make
him think he has forgot his ante"
The woman went out 20 the grocery to
buy some bar soap and the prominent
Mason resumed his business with q
feeling that we are not all truly good
and there IS cheating going on all
around.