The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-07-04
"FRIENDs AND FELLER CITIZENS. :"


higher than any other sea bird and would
be more likely to find the eagle than any
messenger that might be sent. In the
meantime the other members of the COM
mittee went about gravely taking in the
sights to pass the time. Presently the
frigate bird returned and said that the
Oldest of all the eagles had agreed to come
on being promised fish dinner, for eagles
are very fond of fish, and, though they
cannot catch for themselves they often
rob other birds This eagle wcGld be
along in an hour or so, for he had been
left behind by the rapid frigate bird, who
was in hurry, and they might as well
begin the sports
Word was Immediately passed through
all the sea, and the crowds gathered off
shore to see the exhibitions. AS this was
a l.. 600 ring circus, ore contest taking
place at every mile from the north pole to
the south we can only undertake to tell
about the one where Sea Catch presided.
Before taking their places the sword
fishes put smooth clam shells on the ends
of their swords as buttons, so that they
would not hurt one another, and the bat
ties began. They feinted backed, rushed,
punted and used all the tactics of expert
fencers. They made the clear water boil
as they leaped about in it, and the birds
flapped their wings in applause, while the
fishes slapped their tails against the water
Finally the prize was awarded to a 1.-the
young sword1ish that had driven off all
comers for half an hour, and, inviting his
friends to the feast, he picked out fat
black backed whale as his prize
The next contest was catching the
creased eel, but though it caused more
fun than anything else on the programme
YN1riz lafN - l.
eels covered themselves with slime and be-
gan to wrigGle The cuttlefishes, sharks,
seals and all the creatures started in pur-
suit but no ono managed to catch an eel,
for they are the trickiest and slipperiest of
all the creatures of the ocean.
By this time the eagle had arrived, and,
after being properly introduced by Sea
Catch, he uttered scream that was heard
and repeated by every living thing in the
ocean in its own language. His speech
was translated and passed along in the
same way and was heard by every one, no
matter how far away he was:
"FRIENDs AND TELLER CITIZENs-It
gives me great pleasure to address such
an intelligent and distinguished audience.
l am an old bird, the oldest of my kind
have seen much, but there is much that
can never sec. l can remember when
L
the honor to rule, but now to see it all
would need to fly like the sun. When my
domain extended from ocean to ocean, /
foolishly thought it as great as it could
ever be, but now it embraces the oceans
and their islands as well. The swiftest
eagle could not fly over it all in a year,
and the end is not yet. Feller citizens, it
gives me pleasure to see you celebrating
my birthday for the first time, and though
the celebration is largely accidental it is
right, for am now great by both sea and
land. In conclusion l greet you all as
brothers and ask you to join me in giving
three cheers for the star spangled banner"
When the applause subsidized, dinner was
announced, and the birds heaped great
dinner before the eagle. Then all the peo-
pie of the ocean began to eat one another,
as is their custom, and as they are quite
used to such things no one objected until
being swallowed, and then it was too late.
After the dinner everybody was so
gorged-for they found it easy to catch
their prey in the clear water-that they
let the rest of the programme be taken as
read until the twilight began to fall from
the sky and rise from the depths, and then
they thought of the fireworks They be-
gan to rise in great shoals through the
phosphorescent water, and as they leaped
up in the clouds of fiery spray it seemed
to the oysters at the bottom as If a million
nf rockets were going off every second
They kept up this fun until late in the
night, and that was how the Fourth of
July that was dropped overheard by a
Canadian steamship that had no use for it
was celebrated by the loyal creatures Of
the great sea-