Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-02-06

our distinguished patronage. as the
placards put it. aud to have our best
wishes for his success Anyhow.
there's his programme. and as discus
sion is freely invited. I hope any of
you who have anything to- say will
speak up
Its very clever little arrange
ment," said Councillor Number Six.
and what | says is, here's my re-
/, spects and best wishes to Mr.. Hub
book. hoping as he'll go ahead and
scoop the trick. What do my other
two honorable colleagues saw
eve say ditto too" | answered.
speaking for myself and for the ST.
lent councillor" To use the name by
which | had dubbed the remaining
member. But if Mr.. lubbock and
the chief will pardon me Tor SAVING
so, there's difficulty ahead which it
won't DO to overlook"
Whats that?' asked Number Two
This. Isn't il very likely after
lubbock has changed the gunss. thar
some member of the executive of the
lshmael will want to test the mechan-
ism, IL only to see that il is in work.
Ing order? In that case the explosive
would be bit previous. We have no
quarrel. take it, with the members
OF the lShmael club as Ishmaelites.
In fact, I'm not sure that the MEM
oers of this council are not exception
ally qualified for membership of a
club so-called, and. indeed. it occurred
to me while the chief was speaking.
that the Ishmael club would be a very
suitable name for the particular fra
ternity of which we who are present
In this room have the honor OF beina
members"
You are quite right, my frend, ''
said Number TWO with a laugh.
lubbock and | both recognized that
that would be ticklish point. But
Hubbock's idea is not to change the
gongs until the last mou,eut when
the table is laid and reIc, H., the
dinner The I@bmael Is a ,er, tree
and easy lia," md Hu3b,,ri is 20
well known there that ne anticipates
no difficulty in finding some excuse to
effect the change think we may be
content to leave il in his hauds. since
he is willing to undertake all respou-
sibility"
No one demurring to this, Number
Two announced that the next meeting
of the council would be held IN the
same place, and at four O'Clock in the
afternoon of the day following the pro-
posed outrage at the Ishmael club.
81 hope on that OCCASION" he said
genially, that we shall be in a posi-
ton to offer Councillor lubbock our
heartfelt congratulations at haviua
succeeded in blowing his royal high
ness, the prince of Wales. and the
Right Honorable Lord Cranthorpe. NJ
p, to bfazes."
With which humane sentiment the
meeting broke up.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE PRINCE OF WALES AT THE
ISHMAEL CLUB.
1t was the night of the Ishmael club
dinner to The prince of Wales. ana
though the rule by which members are
permitted to introduce guests had on
this occasion been suspended. the mus
| ter or ishmaelites in their handsome
uophy-hung dining room was so great
mat even a director of the London,
chatham & Dover Railroad company
would have acknowledged that for once
In his life he had met with a genuine
case or overcrowding. So democratic
gathering Notwithstanding the fact
mat the future king of England and
emperor of India sat in the midst
Is not often TO he seen. At the Ish-
mael. brains and good fellowship"
are counted greater righteousness than
( coin" or coronet Within its walls
all men are equal. To good fellow
the right hand OF fellowship is readily
extended. Tho stick" will find him
self as readily cold-shouldered. and
the asSumer of side" may think him
self lucky IL he be allowed TO depart
Undated. To see the Ishmaelites
trail sufferer from ''swelled head"
Is to undergo incubation against tn at
fell malady. The author who has sud-
: denly found n public and as suddenly
lost himself. or the moneyed nobody.
who has made successful bid for a
baronetage by placing his thousands
at the disposal of his political party,
would do well to air his new honor5
elsewhere than at the Ishmael When
such man Is known to be in the
house. the word goes round, and to
him these trusting children of ma
ture come to he instructed in the sc
cret Of his greatness. They sit at his
feet and drink in his words of wisdom
, as If hoping thereby one day to follow
1 be 1t ever so humbly-in his foot
steps They ask him artless questions
about himself, and when he conde-
scends to crafty their very natural
desire TO be informed upon so inter-
esting subject. they tell each other
audibly what great man he is, or sit
listening with unconcealed wonder and
admiration in their eyes. They beg
to be allowed 10 present to him this
or that friend or member who will es-
TEEN il a privilege to know so distin-
guished person. and when their VIC
tim is most swollen-like a human
i wind-bag-with gratifed vanity and a