Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-08-30
A Sparkling Drou.h.

st. Louis Republic tells an amusing
story of the recent drouth as follows:
"One of the most serious effects of the
recent distressing drouth in this sec
tion was manifested in the neigh bor-
hood of Ethel, a village of 500, over In
the west part of the county. Forty of
the prettiest and most enticing young
ladies of the vicinity got together and
organized what they called the Emer
gency Society. It required 20 sheets
of paper to get all the bylaws down,
and then several half sheets were past
ed on as after thoughts. The notice
sent to their gentlemen friends told the
object of the conspiracy about as well
as the bylaws. and is several yards
shorter. 1t stated that the members
of the club would receive no more COM
pany from the opposite sex until it
rained. And the rain must be 'regu
lar gully-washer, it said.
There were two or three small
showers after organization, and the boys
hastily harnessed up their best nags and
undertook to break the sparkling
drouth, which was causing them much
more uneasiness than the other one
But they were referred to the specifica-
tions in the constitution and received
cold good-by.
FIhnrp W q nir0nQ O RnRL1Iv
after. That is bigger town, six miles
from Ethel-justa pleasant ride. Ethel
was gorgeously billed with flaming
posters. The Emergency Club held an
emergency meeting. BY practically
unanimous vote it was decided to sus
pend the rules for one day, and notices
to that effect were sent to the boys.
Each member of the club received
response from her particular admirer
requesting her to be at the depot at
Ethel. If they had exchanged notes
they would have been struck by the
similarity. They noticed an unusual
absence of friendilness in them, but
buUukub lucy WClS dll llSuL-
Every emergency was on hand at
the station half an hour ahead of time,
diked out in her best. They laughed
and chatted about their club. and said
1t was a good thing to hold the boys in
check-until wanted.
"Then the president looked up the
street and saw q procession moving
stationward. She gave Mortified lit
tie scream, and all the officers and pri-
Yates ran to her assistance. The awful
truth didn't need diagram to explain
it. Every unregenelate SOD who had
requested a member of the EN- ergency
Club to be at the depot was approach |
ing with brand-new girl on his arm
OR somewhere about him, and smiling |
In most exasperating manner.
"The youths recognized their former |
friends with unusual gallantry and in |
quired with some apparent concern if |
they were going to the circus. Their |
inquiries were met with excessive fri |
gidity. Then each emergencer got off |
by herself and reread her note. 1t is |
true the missive didn't say word |
about the show, but the miscreant must |
have known that was what she would /
think be meant.
''TheN boys boarded the train with
their new girls. and had gay time at
the show.
"There was another emergency meet
ing of the club. and the by laws. con-
stitution and everything else with the
name on it were thrown
in the cook stove.
at rained next day and rained hard.
The president said the conditions had
oeen fulfilled and there was no further
necessity for the existence of the club.
"The boys are gradually coming
around, and they receive the incest sort
Of treatment when they have tact
enough to say nothing about what
they're thinking about"