Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-11-28
LIKE COMIC OPERA
IS THE STORY OF THE DRUM
MERS AND THE PLUG.
Farewell Banquet Intended to Wipe
from Memory the Remembrance
of Past Sorrows Spoiled by
One Mans Treachery.

Recently" said the travelling man,
"at little town in Kentucky | found
a combination of circumstances that
would fit well into comic opera; only
it would be said to be overdrawn.
TT was hotel where they have
four rooms with baths and only one
bathtub plug. When one of US who
were SO fortunate as to have secured
the rooms with bath got ready for a
dip and splash, we had to call the
porter and have him go and get
from the holder of the precious plug
the favor of the loan of it.
AT first this seemed awkward, but
toward the last we four got together
and formed close organization
called the Independent Order of
Knights of the Plug. We had bylaws
and a constitution and formulated
rules by which we swore to govern
ourselves with regard to this indis-
pensable article. We made out and
agreed upon a schedule of hours when
each was to have a plug, and the Or
der in which it was to be rotated. We
placed time limit on the period Of
keeping the plug.
There was, Of course, quite
stretch through the day when none
of the four would be expected to be
bathing, and we agreed upon an east
ly accessible hiding place for the plug
during that time so that if any of the
bunch decided upon a bath outside of
the daily plunge time he could go and
get it.
"A system of fines was established
for keeping the plug overtime. The
amount thus collected was to be do
mated to the hotel management at the
end of our stay, with the recommends
ton that it be used to purchase full
supply of plugs from the nearest plug
gerry. Quite sum was realized in
this way. We decided at the last mo-
ment to amend the constitution and
spend the money otherwise-in fare
well banquet given by and to the
members of the l. o. K. P.
When it came time for the ban
Quet we waited and waited about the
door of the place where the spread
was to be served. The man with the
funds had not yet arrived. After our
patience had been almost exhausted,
a messenger came bearing a note
which read as follows:
yellow members, Knights of the
Plug got a telegram this afternoon
from the house calling me in. l had
no time to communicate with the 9th
er members, so l took the afternoon
train for Chicago, finding the funds
of the organization very convenient
as expense money. Also, which will
perhaps be even more reprehensible in
your sight, l took the plug with me.
had become so attached to it, had
come to spend my nights and days
wanting it just because l was re-
stricted in the use of it, so that I just
couldn't bear to part from it. So
have gone-plug, money and all. l
have no excuse to offer for my perfidy
except that l couldn't stand to think
of you fellows making merry at that
feed without me, and / knew you
couldn't eat without the price.
"Forgive me, as you hope to be
forgiven for stopping at hotel with
four bathtubs and one plug. I don't
believe it will be laid up against me
in the final judgment. Brazenly, Gus.
todian of the Plug
"Well, you never saw worse dis
appointed lot than we. 1t was too
late to get him back and mob him, so
we simply departed, after passing
resolutions of disrespect and voicing
our unanimous hope that we might
meet him later in some lonely spot"