Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-05-15
CHAPTER vIIl.
Re Bohemian club-Some OF
.,:ts, and Other Happenings-
tatrors' carnivaI-The Circus


ig1 The Bohemian club was or
and as | read from time to
II the daily papers of its doings
strong desire to become
.tr. But when l came to know
tet e was made Up of men whose
we're devoted to art, literature,
drama and other heightened call
il1s. / concluded that as l did not
come within hailng distance of the
qualifications requisite. | would have
to content myself by simply reading
Nthe newspaper notices, as my occu-
patton at that time was that of full
filling a contract madeNwith the board
of supervisory for sweepSRS the streets
of the city by machinery, and although
my successful dealing with the board
OF supervisors in obtaining the con-
tr1ct might have been qualification
SUFFICIENT for a member of the state
legislature, it was OF no earthly ac-
ship in the Bohemian club. But one
very fine morning. as / was going my
roNnSe to satisfy myself that the
street cleaning Of the previous night
had beOn faithfully performed, met
Mr.. Arpad Haraszthy' the wine mer-
chant, and after the usual famllar
greeting, said he:
FHow would you like to join the
Bohemian club?"
|. somewhat surprised at such a
question coming from him, said:
why do you ask?"
well sad he, Il should be pleased
TO present your application if agree
able to you"
Are you a member" I asked
He said he was.
Then" said 1, there is hope for
me"
! gave him my application, and in
due time received notice of my hav-
al al 70 7Ar in
this was an event that created a new
epoch in my life's career. In those
early days of the clubs career, could
those genial gentlemen, it founders,
have had the most remote idea OF
what the future had In store for IT, OF
the position it would occupy among
the clubs Of the age l am afraid they
would have felt too proud to speak to
one another.
The first high links that 1 attended
was a Shakespeare Jinks, and Harry
Edwards, member of the California
Theater company, and one of the love-
Hest men l have ever known, was the
Sire. The entertainment was reve-
lation to me, and the papers read and
contributions were SO far above and
beyond anything I had ever heard
in club life that consoled myself with
the thought that I was now where l
could Ego way back and sit down."
with no fear OF ever being called up
on for a speech or anything else, ex-
cept to pay for what 1 consumed and
my monthly dues.
At the close Of the high links, six
OF the novitiates were duly initiated,
and duly invested with the rights and
privileges of full fedged membership,
James H. Bowman officiating as high
priest and conducting the solemn and
Impressive ceremony Then came a
short recess, during which time. as
Ks~Aa all 1k
the sideboard partaking of refresh
n1ents then and there provided, Col.
A. G. Halves and Raphael WE'LL came
from the links room and informed me
of my appointment as the sire of tie
low jinks. said would have to be
excused as / really didn't know what
low links was. They said, SO much
the better, for the less a man knows
about a low links, the better qualified
he Is to preside. That settled it, and
presided, and when I took the chair
was astonished at the assurance with
which called the meeting to order
and the cheerful alactrity Of those
assembled in doing SO. My opening
address was a corker, l was told, bot
from that eventful night to this day
have not the slightest recollection of
what 1 said. However, the whole even
ing was a grand success, and at the
close Of the entertainment I started
Arriving at Montgomery street. was
more than pleased at seeing the blue
light of the Third street car not more
than two blocks away. ] waited for
its approach, but it didn't approach |
worth a cent. I concluded It must be |
off the track. I investigated and found
that the blue light was in a drug
store. I had been so elated with the |
events of the evening that 1 had taken
no note of time. but on consulting my
watch 1 found that the last car must |
have passed an hour and a half pre-
viously, consequently I had to wend
my way to my home on foot But |
the evening had been such a delight |
full one that distance didn't count
Arriving at my home, my dear little !
wife awoke at my entrance and n |
quired the time. looked at my watch |
then laid the watch on the mantle |
piece. Having some doubts as to the |
correctness of my reply, the little |
woman arose and looked for herself.
What time did you saw it was?" |
she asked again.
Ten minutes past ten" said I.
"Ten minutes past ten! Why. it !
only lacks ten minutes of two" said |
she.
rs that SOP" said I. "why, bless
my soul, how time flies! I had no idea |
that I had been home so long"
This was another occasion when |
realized that "a soft answer turneth |
away wrath"
Thus ended my first night in Bo- |
hemia, within whose hallowed walls !
have for almost thirty years enjoy !
ed some of the happiest moments of |
my life, and associated with the most |
genial, whole-souled gentlemen I have |
ever known, and that is why I have |
given so much space to my first night !
in Bohemia.
In writing UP this log book of my
cruise in sailing over life's ocean, I |
shall recall, no doubt, many of the |
events of my happy and serene ex-
periences in the club, and the enter |
prominent part will embody in these |
memoirs and I have no doubt they |
will be read with a lively interest, not |
only by the general reader but by old |
members, as they will be reminded |
Of scenes and events they have long
since forgotten.
/ was made, some time later, Per-
petual High Priest of Bohemia, and
during my term of service received
as novitiates the Duke of Manchester,
the late King Kalakua Of Hawaii and |
many other notables.
When Henry Irving came to San
Francisco with his company to fulfill |
an engagement at the Grand Opera |
house. he was not then Sir Henry, but |
plain Mr.. Irving. After his arrival, but
given one of the most delightful din
ners ever rendered by the Bohemian
club. There were no toasts nor
speeches, but all was nlirth and jolli-
ty. At the close of the banquet the |
guest of the evening was requested to |