Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
Billy the Horse.
= Boys Story. By Arthur Ward.


father was a Mason and went to the lodge.
Teddy had in some way learned about
the Masons and the mysteries of the lodge
room. and accordingly in profound secrecy.
had proceeded to organize the Green Lake
Lodge. He had already bound eight boys
to secrecy and initiated them. one by one.
into the order.
Today was meeting day. Jack Spencer
had just been Initiated. and had received
rather obviously the assurance from Teddy
that any slight Inconvenience or discom-
fort that he might experience would be
made I'D by witnessing the interesting
ceremony of taking in the next boy.
While he received these assurances, Jack
was busfiy engaged in picking burrs out of
his curly locks. where the kings crown had
rested. with a frown his brow. which
smothered occasionally as he smiled
Teddy said: You see, Jack, you don't
like it now. none Of did: but II you are
going to be a Mason you have to stand it.
I started 1t and didn't have anybody to
initiate me. but when we had five MEM
bers. I had a committee chosen for that
very purpose. and you can ask Tom II
didn't take II all right"
Tom. the grand worthy scribe, affirmed
that this was true.
The bows were in regalia today They
had decided that they didn't like aprons
because aprons seemed like walters. and
they thought it undgnified to appear like
y.
men like Colonel Dodge and Judge Sanders
could enjoy wearing aprons on parade. But
one bow. a small lad who was cross-eyed
and had red hair. said it had something to
do with blacksmiths. This information was
not considered as beyond doubt. though
some said they knew Masons and black
smiths were stronger than other people.
But about their regalla. AS long ago as
when General Grant had been running for
President there had been a Tanner BOYS
Club at Green Lake. and the light leather
capes that the club had used had been
stored away in the attic, where they had
lodge room powwows were held by light
capped figures. VINO paraded in the solemn
dignity of Tanner Boy costumes.
Teddy sat on chopin y-block. made from
a sawed-off log, elevated to the top of a
dry goods box. holding in one hand as a
scepter an old cavalry saber, purchased
for this purpose at secondhand store in
Boston.
And the grand worthy scribe bent over
an immense ledger which had once served
a heavy mercantile firm, and as he turned
its large pages with fefgned austerty he
gaZed at his comrades through pair OF
green goggles.
His title had been punctiliously given to
him at first, but now he was frequently re-
ferred to as Goggles a freedom that he
resented by throwing at the offenders small
potatoes. with which he armed himself be-
fore each meeting.
In anxious desire to initiate the city lodges,
they had resolved to hold a Masonic fair
down stairs in the carriage house, to which
the guests from the hotels and boarding
houses were to be invited. with adj
mittance fee of 10 cents. They intended
to ask the girls to help them tend the
tables, at which maple sugar. pine needles.
spruce gum, birch baskets and red raspber-
ries and other articles were to be dispensed.
A dramatic entertainment was also to be
arranged.
Teddy was stage manager, and having
read the siege of Troy in the old history at
the house, he had been impressed with the
story Of the wooden horse and was re-
solved to present the horse scene to the
audience.
Solomon Hilton's father was an architect.
so Solomon had heard about plans and
specifica lions, and as it was something OF
a puzzle to the youthful Masons to get
horse made which would hold enough boys
for the purpose Solomon was requested to
post sign in the lodge room which should
make known the want of horse to be
properly constructed.
Accordingly there appeared this sign
tackled to the center post in the room. which
was surrounded by an admiring crowd:
WANTED
By Green Lake Lodge ...
Plans and specifications for the
construction and
erection of one good ..-
Troy Horse
Must be big enough
To hold
Folks -: -e s
And must not wobble.
p. s. Reserve right to reject
plans. ,'.-..,-...-.-..,, ..." '--ss
10 cents must accompany all
Speclfieat Ions
Solomon Hilton
Architect.
The curtains for the stage were made of
carriage covers strung a clothes line.
In the back scene there was square hole
that could be opened. and on table behind
it was placed a. toy schooner, which was
made to rock unsteadily. The room and
stage were to be- darkened and a dim can
die light, back of the scenes, was to fall
on the ship, which was to represent the
approach of the besieging hosts to the main
land, in semi-darkness to conquer the Tro-
jams. -,-a5, z5..~s., -.l.7 z---
The construction of the horse was a tough
problem 1t was finally decided to make
him from old packing cases. His NAME
which was Billy, was painted on one of the
front legs, made from piece of 2x4 joist.
After he was begun, the password of the
lodge became Whoa, Billy"
Billy was always whoaed. except when
they rolled him around on wooden rollers
as a house is rolled In moving.
Teddy came near lying awake several
nights planning Billys embellishments His
eyes were made Of big glass marbles. His
tall was puzzle. but that was accom-
plished, too. John johnson, the black
smith, had a horses tail on stick. to brush
flies off from the horses he was shoeing
This was borrowed. The stick was stuck
through an augur hole at the end Of Billy.
and a small boy inside was to work it back
and forth, which, 1t was thought would
give Billy a more nfelike appearance.
Billy's feet were fastened to platform,
and underneath this were the rollers He
had door on the back side of his stomach
that Is, the side away from the audience
and two boys could get inside. One was to
wag the tall and at the proper time both
were to crawl out and capture the sleeping
Trojans. with the help of the others, whom
they would let in by opening the gates.
The evening was fine. The guests from
the hotel came: The girls sold all their
goods on the tables. The first part of the
program was finished successfully.
Teddy proclaimed from the stage. in a
sepulchral voice: Some scenes from the
siege of Troy will be presented, in which
the celebrated Troy horse. trick horse
named Billy. will appear. He is tame and
will not run away
Much applause greeted this announce
ment. Teddy retired In confusion.
The candles, set In potatoes, were blown
out, the stage was darkened and a small
square hole opened in the scenery back Of
1t. In the dim light schooner was seen
cheerily pitching back and forth in front OF
os.s \