The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-05

at home. where rations are 50 short
there's no danger of laundering; but,
/ think Id run a heavy risk if ] had
to- eat regularly at the Wyoming. /
took dinner there the other day and
but for the fact that ] sat near two
very lovely young ladies' whose pres
ence somewhat restrained me. ! might
have made myself sick. AS ii was, !.
with twenty or thirty others. partook
bountifully of a very fine dinner.
After dinner and the gentlemen had
congregated in the office, some one
asked Have you see the Rock with
Tongue. which Mr.. Kitchener has
here on exhibit ?" A dozen gentlemen
answered, NO; where is it?''
Mr.. Kitchener. in his obliging way,
said: Follow me gentlemen, and I'll
show it to YOU" and out went dozen
gentlemen to see the curiosity.
A rock lying under the edge of the
plaza was set up on end, and Mr.
Kitchener, in real Snowman style, be-
gan: ST claim, gentlemen, to have the
only rock in the world with tongue.
II is a natural formation. This rock
was dug up on the bank of the Neuse
river while getting stone to lay the
foundation of large building Whlle
he was saying this the dozen gentle
eyes steadfastly fixed on "the only rock
in the world with u tongue; and the
little boy whom the school master set
in a corner to catch mouse with
pair of tongs as it should come out
of its hole, could not have watched
that hole closer than those twelve
men watched that "only rock III the
world with a tongue" They were men
who had seen enough of the world TO
In ha 10 N GpllE. therefore,
they were looking sharply and listen
ing attentively. Mr.. E. w. Ayers and
Mr.. W. NJ Chauncy, of Washington, as
we'll as Mr.. William Hall, Mayor OF
Aurora. placed a hand each on the
tongue, while Mr.. J. B. Whitehurst.
of Washington, put on two pairs OF
spectacles and got down close to the
stone. to make sure that no trick was
played The others stopping around
with their hands upon their knees,
gazing as intently were Mr.. w. Thomp-
son. of Aurora; Mr. w. E. Swindell,
Mai. E. T. Stewart Messrs. J. t.
Buchanan; j. Tayloe, County Treasur-
=er; B. A. Moss, planning mill man; r.
c. Kugler, saw mill man; and w. Z.
Rodman, county attorney. all OF
washington, N. c. The tableau was
while Mr.. Kitchener continued.
THE tongue itself weighs twenty.
eight pounds, the other part, in which
the tongue fits perfectly. is estimated
to weigh $50 pounds. As you see, It's
a natural formation. And right here.
gentlemen, / will call your attention
to the most remarkable thing about 1t,
accidentally discovered by one of the
family. But, first / would say. 1t is
not on record, in history. that this
part of the world has ever had
famine: but, gentlemen, l will SHOW
YOU that il has; or as the lawyers say,
we'll give you good circumstantal
evidence to that effect. And. gentle
men, you'll be surprised at the Won
derful influence, what l am about TO
show you. has on ones mind. Now,
whether you believe me or not, every
time that tongue hears the dinner bell
ring, day or night, it moves or wag-
giles. It's movement is not only per-
ceptible to the eye, (here Mr.. White
hurst put on that second pair OF
spectacles), but is equally perceptible
to the touch. Just place your fingers
lightly on the tongue, gentlemen.
(fingers went down as in game OF
William Trimble Toe'), and watch
1t while I ring the dinner bell.
Everything was as silent as death.
And there was a picture that would
do credit to Puck or Judge, as that
dozen gentlemen were waiting for the
bell to ring 1t rang; but the tongue
didn't "waggle.'
II didn't sec it move" said Mr..
Whitehurst, with the two pairs of spec
tacles.
"Ill ring again." said Mr.. Kitchener
which he did vigorously.
1T hasn't moved yet" said several
voices i'm concert.
That's because it hasn't HEARD
the bell ring yet" said Mr.. Kitchener.
"SOLD." they shouted jerking their
fingers from the stone as If 1t had
been a red hot iron. And what a
roar of laughter followed.
Mr.. Kitchener said he had fished
i'm the waters of Florida, in the noun
tain streams of l<ew York and in the
ponds and streams of his own native
county, but, on the 18th Of February.
1905, he caught the biggest string Of
suckers Of his life, from the waters OF
Eastern Carolina.
And all because. as | say. they had
eat so much of Mr. Mitcheaer's good
dinner. and We're feeling so good they
didn't have the heart 10 suspect the
man who had fed them so well.
/ should add that Mr.eJ. K. Reas, Of
Edenton, was a by-stander and look
er-oD, and greatly enjoyed the per-
formance as he had. on former oc-
casion. been initiated into the mystic
ries of the order of the Rock With
Tongue that Waggles," and is, l
imagine. very staunch friend of
Wyoming Lodge" and especially OF
the Master Of the Lodge.
When Mr.. Kitchener is showing this
rock to ladies' he speaks of 1t as a fe-
male, and emphasizes the remark:
THE old lady must have died hard.
One of the group will be sure to ask:
How do you know, Mr.. Kitchener.
cit was a woman 2''
by the size of the tongue" he re-
plies.
A lady writing to me, complimenting
my sketches, quotes the lines:
"A little nonsense, now and then,
Is relished by the best of men,
and adds:
And by the women, too"