Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-05-11

man in England who is absolutely In
accessible to aattery, it is the genial,
generous, but keen-eyed prince. This
the 1shmaelites know we'll, and they
love him for it, just as they hail him
prince of good fellows, and the best
and most honest hater of sham and
humbug in the country.
Hence the dinner which was being
given in his honor was the most bril-
liant and at the same time the heart
lest function that the club house has
ever witnessed. Brains, pluck and
goOd-fellowship-th are what the
Ishmaelites most delight to honor;
but being a British club, they put
bravery before even brains, and at the
high table that night sat wearers OF
the Victoria cross, leaders of forlorn
hopes, admirals who had saved life as
we'll as fought the enemy at sea, ex-
plorers, travellers and soldiers who
with a handful of men had held an
impossible position or not hesitated tt
face thrice outnumbering foe.
Everything had gone without
hitch, and there was no denying that
the function was a magnificent success.
The prince, still pale from his, recent
illness, was, it was easy to see, both
touched and gratified by the genuinely
enthusiastic and affectionate greeting
which had been accorded to him: and
never had he looked more thoroughly
at home than when hobnobbing with
the Ishmaelites.
Dinner being finished, and the per-
mission, Brother Ishmaelites, you
may smoke!," having gone forth and
been received with the customary yell.
the chairman rose in his place to
make the speech of the evening, by
proposing the princes health. An
other yell greeted the placing of the
ten-minute bell before him, and yet
another the setting of the machinery
in motion. Then he began his speech
Nothing of the sort could have been
happier, for there was not false note
throughout. He claimed for the prince
only that illustrious personage's due;
and yet he referred so sympath etically
to his illness and paid so graceful a
tribute to his qualities as a man, a
sportsman and good fellow, that the
lshmaelites interrupted him again and
again with ringing cheers.
The announcement-the unexpected
announcement the prince had
that evening expressed his wish to be-
come member of the club and a
Brother Ishmaelite, brought the en-
thusiasm to the eliminating point; but
the welcome words had scarcely passed
the chairman's lips before the first
stroke of the ten-minute gong was
heard, and at the sound he held up the
customary silencing hand and dropped
back into his chair.
The rule of the club is that when
the gong strikes, the speaker, Who
ever he may be, at once resumes his
seat, and every one sits in silence I'M
til the ten strokes have sounded, when
members are at liberty to give express
sion to their feelings, privilege Of
which they avail themselves by yell
ing, bowling and hurting epithets, and
even match-boxes, cigar-ends, or any,
thing else which may be handy, at the
offender who has transgressed their
time-honOred ten-minutes rule.
Hence when Lord Cranthorpe
relapsed into his seat there was
a sudden hush while the members
waited dutifully for the ten strokes
to sound. Half dozen seconds had
not throbbed away before the Ishmael-
ties became aware that something
out of the ordinary-but what they
did not know-was happening. There
was flutter of repressed excitement
Then some one called out "Hush!" and
the silence became electric. What was
that sprinkling of bird-song music that
percolated the smoke hung atmos-
phere as if fairy hands were f1inging
the largest of tiny wafer-like silver
coins for all to gather? "Hush!" some
one said impatiently again. Expecta-
ton stood on tiptoe, as every ear was
strained and every face became alert
and expectant
Note by note the thin thread of mu-
Sic rippled out. 1t was recognized,
and tremendous cheer set rafting
the trophies on the wall as the chair
man rose and with wave of his hand
above his head took. up the strain.
In another second every man was on
his feet, and God Bless the Prince of
Wales was being sung as it had never
been sung before.
With heart and voice awaken
Those minstrel strains of yore,
Till Britain's name and glory
Resound from shore to shore.
From all our ancient mountains,
And from our lovely wales,
O! let the prayer re-echo-
God bless the prince of Wales!"
The secretary's little unrehearsed
effect was huge success Perhaps the
princes illness had left him somewhat
weak and shaly, for as the hymn con-
cluded with the most deafening Three
times three" and yet again Three
times three" that ever left human
ears buzzing and human hearts thump-
ing, the kindly eyes of that right royal
prince of good fellows were suspicious
~ bright, and when in a few manly
words he thanked his brother Ish-
maelites'' for the greeting that had
been accorded to him, there was JUS,
the ghost of tremble in the voice
that is generally so firm and strong
ITO Be Continued