The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-08-01


A Caucus.Race and Long Tale.
They were indeed a queer-look-
ing party that assembled on the
bank-the birds with draggled
feathers, the animals with their
fur clinging close to them, and all
dripping wet, cross, and uncom-
Portable.
The first question. of course,
was how to get dry again. They
had a consultation about this; and
after few minutes Il seemed
quite natural to Alice to find her
self talking Familiarity with them,
as If she had known them all her
life.
At last the Mouse, WHO seemed
to be a person of some authority
among them, called out, "Sit
down, all of you, and listen to
me! I'll soon make you dry
enough"
They all sat down at once, in a
large ring, with the Mouse in the
middle.
"Ahem!" said the Mouse, ARE
you all ready? This Is the driest
thing | know. William the Con-
queror,' whose cause was favored
by the Pope, was soon submitted
to by the English, who wanted
leaders, and had been of late much
accustomed to usurpation and con-
quest. Edwin and Morcar, the
earls OF Mercia and Northum-
bria-"
"Ugh!" said the Lory, with
shiver.
II beg your pardon!" said the
Mouse, frowning,. but very polite
ly; did you speak,"
mot Il" said the Lory hastily.
II thought you did," said the
Mouse. 81 proceed. Edwin and
Morcar, the earls of Mercia and
Northumbrla, declared for him;
and even Stigand, the patriotic
Archbishop of Canterbury, found
1t advisable How are you get
ting on now. my dear?" It con-
tinued, turning to Alice as 1t
spoke.
"As wet as ever" said Alice, in
a melancholy tone; at doesn't
seem to dry me at ALL"
I'm that case" said the Dodo
solemnly, rising to it's feet, "I
move that the meeting adjourn,
for the immediate adoption of
more energetic remedies"
Speak English" said the Eag-
let. 81 don't know the meaning
of half those long words; and
what's more, l don't believe you
do either!"
What was I going to say" said
the Dodo, in an offended tone,
twas that the best thing to get
us dry would be Caucus-race.
What is a Caucus-race?" said
Alice.
Why" said the Dodo, "the best
way to explain 1t is to do it."
First the Dodo marked out a
race course. in a sort of circle
1.-THE exact shape doesn't mat
ter" 1t said), and then all the
party were placed along the
course. here and there. There
was no Zone, two, three, and !
away" but they began running
when they liked. and left off when !
they liked, 30 that 1t was not easy
to know when the race was over. |
However, when they had been
running half an hour or so, and
were quite dry again, the Dodc
suddenly called out, "The race Is
over!" and they all crowded
around 1t, painting, and asking,
But who has won?'
This question the Dodo could
not answer without a great deal
of thought, and 1t sat for a long
time with one finger pressed upon
its forehead while the rest waited
in silence. At last the Dodo said.
Everybody has won, and all must
have prizes"
But who Is to give the prizes?"
quite a chorus of voices asked.
Why, she, of course" said the
Dodo. pointing to Alice with one
finger; and the whole party at
once crowded round her, calling |
out in . confused way, Prizes!
Priest"
Alice had no idea what to do,
and In despair she put her hand |
into her pocket, and pulled out q
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