The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-11
THE LOUNGERS' LEAGUE.

BAH" exclaimed the President of the
Loungers' League. as he came into the
meeting room of the association from that
in which its liquid refreshments had been
having their origin Bah. I'm wet
through
The First Member, always looking about
for p verbal calcium to train on his wit.
held aloft the burning match which he
had just struck. Perhaps" quoth he.
you have been dampeuing both sides Of
your anatomy simultaneously" And he
laughed.
In the street the rain was doing what
Scrcoge never did" ard the various celeb
rites Of the organization were trying their
best to forget the disecmforts they had
endured in travelling between their thea
tres and the place OF rendezvous. On the
table before them was piled profusion of
choice eatables and turntables. while the
smoEables also were of the finest brand.
Hence the good humor Of the evening.
The Treasurer chided the First Member.
You shouldn't have said that" objected
he. mildly. THE weather renders things
gloomy enough without your assistance.
Such a night does give one the
blues was the reply. Too much water
is bad for any spirits Then he added:
You'll forgive me for the pun. won't
you?''
Certainly" observed the Vice President;
Max O'Rell got whatever blame attaches
to that speech long ago
The Vice President might have gone on.
but he was cut short in his satire. The
First Member had forgotten his lighted
match until the hot wax touched his fin
gers. Then he swore. not wisely but too
we'll.
You curse strongly criticised the Vice
President but there is no originality in
your method. You have not improved on
older fashions When Nero found that some
bankrupt clothing merchant had set fire
to Rome. he probably used that very Ian
guage. and | haven't the faintest doubt
George Washington did likewise each time
his flat-bottomed boat got mixed
UP with the ice in the Della
ware. The most unique profanity
have heard in years emanated from
CaryI Wilbur. Washington boy who will
be seen next week at the Grand. He and
| were dining together when he contrived
to shut his fingers in a nut-cracker. Then
Wilbur's every word became swear sand
witch. He cussed' in the middle OF his syl-
tables. IL l remember rightly. his first
sentence was: why in ere-hell- alton was
| consum- damned-m fool enough for
such -devilish-zy trick Now that's
what | term real arti'
''Humph.' interrupted the Sergeant at
Arms.
1T is possible to be vigorous without
being offensive quietly suggested the
Treasurer. from behind a whole brOiled
lobster. Charley Williams. who is coming
To ~ -
employ a studious property man. who.
Though anything but religious had con-
stitutional objection to oaths One even
lag the old fellow was irritated beyond en-
duance by the vile phrases that fell from
the lips of his two youthful assistants. He
tolerated their obscenity as long he
could. and then he broke forth. Stop it,
he bawled at the top of his voice. Good
18th word, 50th verse. 2ith chapter of
Genesis, The-2Sd word. eth speech. 4th
act of "Othello '-couldn be more vulgar
than is the cleanest of youth word. It'll
speech, I'd scene. Sd act of ''As You Like
It''-children,' The assistants aforesaid
were five hours Interpreting the statement,
but their boss had expressed himself
without violating his principles
That's a rather good story" commented
the First Member, but | don't put much
faith in its truth"
The waiter appeared.
Speaking OF stage hands, remarked
the Second Member. after having finished
the task OF deciding what he wanted next.
reminds me OF an aneedote related a sea-
son ago by Frederick de Beleyille. who
then was touring the country with Mrs
Fiske-"
"And who will be at the Columbia soon
with Mrs lie Moyne.'' hastily chimed In
the Sergeant at Arms. who had noted that
the First Member-a newspaper writer
was lingering a blue pencil.
The Second Member ignored the sugges-
ton. THE incident" he continued. 'oe-
ceurred in a one-night stand. where Mr..
De Belieyille was appearing with small
repertoire company. a rabid melodrama
was being presented and. much of the
strength of the work depending on the
promptness with which the curtain fell
at the end of the second act, the player
devoted some minutes to coaching the To-
cal stage manager. See here. he explain
ed When | speak the line. Touch her
II you dare!" you ring your warning.
Then bring down your drop at the cue
Saved" OF course. everybody here
knows that warning is the signal given
from below to the fellow in the flies in or
der that that individual may be standing
by his ropes when the second for lowering
the curtain comes. Eai;- .dr. De Belle
VILE declares that on the evening in ques
tion the scene went on smoothly and force
fully enough to bring frequent applause.
CHANGING into the wings when he delivered
the II you dare phrase. he saw the rustic
rise and ding-dong big dinner bell lusti-
ly. The warning could have been heard
in the next town, and the Thespian. who
had suffered through such delays, felt con-
hdent. Finally the climax was reached.
He threw both arms about the heroine and
yelled Saved And the farmer in the
first entrance got up again. calmly and
slowly unified cord ten feet away. and let
out the rolled canvas that shut of the
waiting pair from the view Of the specta-
tors. Can you beat'that for stupidity"
The Honorary Member. who had made