The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-17

This Is critical moment for DR.. George
Mark, and for the Viceroy, too, II y0
could only persuade him to believe IT.
A Frequent Domestic TrEgeGy. : y
The truth Is that the Viceroy still pre-
serves the healthy appetite Of a growing
boy, while his digestive appa atus has
fallen into desuetude- However, things
go well generally. The Viceroy Is given
looks like macarOni- DR.. Mark tells him
that If he would eat nothing else he
might live another score of years and
more, and the Viceroy groans and stoutly
asserts that he would not wish to at such
a price. As a rule, he eats his string of
dough like a man who can take punish
the salt commissioner, who lives just
across the way and is famous throughout
Picking for his excellent cook. submits a
dish Tor his hOnored patrons Judgment
and enjoyment, then comes the tug OF
war. The dish in question is generally a
preparation OF pork, which. as the insin-
uatlng salt commissioner knows, when
once it is placed before him and the fas-
elnatng fumes narcottze his conscience
the Viceroy loves better than dear life
ITSELF DR.. Mark pleads, threatens adj
jureS. On Bonded knee he asks Derunfs-
sion to have the offending dish and the
servants or the salt Commissioners thrown
out into the street The Viceroy, as great
compromiser as Henry Clay, suggests
a middle way. Let him have the pork,
and the doctor can throw the bearers
INTO nll me street and give then bamboo
Then the doctor resigns, washes his
hands Of the whole business and looks
SuSgeSuVely at the coffin outside. The
Ntceroy thunders; the pork Is twenty feet
away, and alone he cannot reach 1t. One
by one he calls up his attendants and
orders them to place the dish on the
sweat until their tunics cling about them
like bathing jerseys, looking anxiouslY
to the mess Of pork. the boneless bone OF
contention. If they stand firm, obeying
the strict orders which come from the
Viceroy himself IN saner, less hungry
moments, the Viceroy grows plaintfve.
He never thought to 1--we to see the day.
he would rather die, now that ali who
bore him affection are dead he saws
Then the sleek. fat heads of the attend
ants hit the ground in the kotow. and
one and all rush for the bowl, while DR..
Mark adjusts a towel about the Vieeroy's
neck.
After tifin, II the weather Is good. to
warm himself in the lsunshir< a. he
claims, or to .retard tbe--pa7Slesal NaDera-
ton of digesting pork. as Dr. Mark AYERS
with biting sarcasm, the Viceroy takes
a walk of a hundred steps or so In the
great quadrangle. This baby promenade
ne can only accomplish with the assist
ance of four Of his buriy henchnen. who
grip him mightily under the shoulders
and guide his falterilg, uncertain feet.
1t is a pleasant. TRANQUIL place. this great
shady quadrangle. though but a steD
away from the Vicerox's own. noisy. al
most tumultuoiIs quarters.
Noticing one day that visitor was
driven to distraction, the VicerOy grew
apologize and showed his perfect ac-
auaintance with the Degenerate nervous
he confessed. II cannot live without the
noise lis an old mans Weakness.' sCfA
pray excuse it. am not the. worker that
1 was and the row keeps my thoughts
concentrated upon the work 7 have in
hand If all was hushed nv mind would
wander: might even fan asleep