To everyone’s surprise, General Washington immediately took off his own head-gear.
“How is it that you take off your hat to a colored man?” was asked by the English ambassador.
“Because he took off his hat to me, and I will not permit even a negro to outdo me in politeness,” replied the general, and the little incident became historical.
CHAPTER X.
SOME SPLENDID TELEGRAPHING
“ARE YOU gwine to be a member of the Pleiades Club?”
“Yes, I is; indeed, I is.”
This refrain was sung with much gusto by the members of the telegraph club in session at the Telegraphers’ Tabernacle, on the planet Mars, on the afternoon of the day set apart for the telegraphers’ tournament. The song was set to the music of the “Old Lime Kiln Club” and was enthusiastically received.
From all points of the compass were arriving in balloons, dirigibles, aeroplanes, members of the craft anxious to be present at the big blow-out. Submarines, only on pleasure bent, however, came up the Hesperian canal, filled with the operators of the olden days; across the River “Styxx” arrived colony after colony of ex-telegraph officials, operators and linemen, but there was no elbowing to obtain a front seat.
President Fred Catlin looked magnificent as he called the vast assemblage to order. This took some little time, as there were many new arrivals and much interest manifested by those already in the Tabernacle to see who the newcomers were; there was also much visiting, good humor and hilarity, and everybody was happy.