The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-01-04
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 I found
combination of circumstances that
would fit well into comic opera; only
, 1t would be said to be overdrawn.
1T 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 q
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 a close organization
called the Independent Order Of
knights of the Plug. We had bylaws
and 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 plug, and the or
der in which 1t was to be rotated. We
placed time limit on the period of
keeping the plug.
There was, of course, quite q
stretch through the day when none
of the four would be expected to be
bathing, and we agreed upon an easi-
ly accessible hiding place for the plug
during that time SO that If any of the
a Ia nf
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
tion 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 apd
spend the money otherwise--in sbre,
well banquet given by and to sbc
members of the |. o. X. p.
"When 1t came time sm Tho a1r
quet we waited and waited rp 't.n
door of the place wher.. itr Sc'sra
was to be served. The irs' mn c'e
funds had not yet arrives sii=' NJ
patience had been almost 1Si's p,t's
messenger came beariTf 'r't
which read as follows:
Fellow members, Kn!gh,p y 81
Plug-I got telegram tasa GNs"'s't
from the house calling mo ~ ~
no time to communicate with trr -
er members, so ! took the az, e' a.
train for Chicago. finding the 70 -
of the organization very con- 'l~si
as expense money. Also, which ~
perhaps be even more reprehens'p :"
your sight, took the plug with y
l had become so attached to J., 'fi4
come to spend my nights ami Gts
wanting 1t just because I was g
stricted in the use of 1t, SO that l jus
couldn't bear to part from 1t. So
have gone-plug, money and all.
have no excuse to offer for my pe:fidy
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 a hotel with
four bathtubs and one plug. | 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 toe
late to. get him back and mob him, sc
we simply departed, after passing
resolutions of disrespect and voicini
our unanimous hope that we might
meet him later in some lonely spot.