Evening star., 1935-12-15


When the last "greenback" had
been tossed away, the diners settled
back to hear a new Gridiron quartet.
Capt. Taylor Branson led his Marine
Band Orchestra into the prelude only
to have that disciplined group break
down completely amid discordant
tootings. They tried it again with
no better result.
Just an Initiation.
Floor managers hustled red
coated dischord-maker to the stage
for investigation. 1t was discovered
that he was the clubs latest recruit,
Kirke L. Simpson of the Associated
Press, undergoing initiation.
With this club business attended to,
the introduction of skits satirizing as
poets of Washington life that caught
the fancy of club script writer's
began.
Props" rushed pair of ornate
columns, SuSpiciously resembling those
that front the new Supreme Court
building, to the stage.
Our scene is the Acropolis," said
the announcer. "A magnificent tenn
pie dedicated to justice and costing
100000 drachmas is about to
be dedicated. The year is ST BIC.
Nine of the Delphic oracles are about
to take possession.
The Mysterious Box.
In came a line of nine warriors in
full armor, the first pair bearing
reverently a scrolled golden box.
These nine oracles are the wisest
gentlemen in all the world" observed
one Athenian.
But what is in that box?" asked
another.
THE sacred foundation of our
being" said another.
1T tells us what to do and when
to do it." said third.
1T must be marvellous" said
another. Gould I see it?"
of course. not" was the answer.
"When any one examines it it changes
color like a chameleon"
How can one tell what it meanS?"
"Once a week revelation is given
when wise persons announce what it
means-that week. It occurs each
Monday afternoon when the wise ones
hand down their decisions"
A soloist described the thrill of
those sessions:
"Oh. it's time to take your places.
You'll hear the verdict soon;
Its better than the races.
On a Monday afternoon.
"You'll hear what folks were thinking,
Back in eighteen hundred ten.
And Latin words a-linking
What happens Now with THEN"
One of the mailed warriors began
intoning a mystifying string Of
numbers. -
Signals? No, Decision.
I, "2s U. S.. sss; 2le q. S., 2sf; AZ
Stat, 859, - he said
wait minute" broke in a citizen.
''What do you think this is-a foot
ball game?"
"Oh no." sternly answered the
oracle. I'm handing down de-
cision."
"Oh yeah, Oh yeah" broke in the
crier in sing-song tones. "All persons
having business with this honorable
institution now draw nigh. Writs of
certiorari can be obtained at the box
Office"
Fellow Athenians," said another
citizen, Let me present these nine
famous gentlemen:
The Hon. James M. Beck, bencher
of the Middle Temple, London; the
Hon. John w. Davis, counsel for J.
p. Morgan; the Hon. Robert H. Nc
Carter, Public Service Corp. New
Jersey; the Hon. cambridge Colby.
contributor to Hearst newspapers; the
Hon. David A. Reed, naval expert;
the Hon. Frank j. Hogan, counsel for
Albert B. Fall; the Hon. Frederic r.
Coudert, jr., son of the president Of
the Metropolitan Opera Co.; the Hon.
George w. Wickersham, chairman Of
O famous face-Saving commission"
And ShOuse, Too.
"And last, but not least, the former
chairman of the Association Opposed
to the Eighteenth Amendment, the
Hon Jouett Shouse-who has a
word to say"
Mr.. Shouse said it in song:
VI dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls
With Davis and Beck at my side"
he sang and so on through the tale
Of riches, Of "a high judicial name"
TO the climax.
"But also so dreamt which pleased
me most.
That the du Points we're still the
same"
An attendant stepped forward to
the mysterious box.
Gentlemen, permit me to exhibit
the historic charter on which our
freedom rests" he said, displaying the
parchment. The contributors list of
the American Liberty Leaguel"
Uphold II With Cash"
"It is your duty to protect this
sacred document with your life-and
TO uphold it with your cash." solemnly
among the oracles.
IT notice the Constitution has not
been mentioned here" commented a
citizen. rs 1t not true that the Con-
stitution is what the judges say it is?"
"It's supposed to be, but what those
Judges say amt necessarily so," said
another.
"The rightful occupants of this
building now approach" proclaimed q
citizen. These others are mere i'm
posters"
Ene more characters came on in
solemn procession. Each wore linen
duster, a battered silk hat and car
1ied buggy whip.
Great heavehs,p called an Athen-
fan, there must be some mistake.
Here's nothing but a lot of buggy
driversl"
'Destinies in Their Hands,"
Nevertheless, our destinies rest In
their hands and we may see Franklin
.. Roosevelt campaigning with horse
and buggy In 1885," answered another
citizen, and all left the stage singing
Put on your old, gray bonnet"
A pair of flag posts from which