"I would rather live in Bohemia than in any other land."
—John Boyle O'Reilly.
The main point to be decided was the selection of the town in which the next exhibition should be made. Various places were named, their resources summed up, and the peculiarities of the inhabitants canvassed. None of them seemed to the assembled wisdom of the company to fill the bill. Handy apparently appeared to take slight interest in the deliberations, but his active brain, notwithstanding, was at work. He was considering the situation, and quietly letting his companions ventilate their views before offering his. At length the exchange of opinions reached the stage when the sage deemed it was proper to speak.
"Eureka!" he exclaimed, "I have it."
"Suffer us not to remain in ignorance," urged the comedian. "Do not dissemble—enlighten us."
"Newport!"
"Newport!" they all repeated in surprise.
"Newport!" Handy replied calmly, and the company looked at each other and then turned their gaze on Handy.
"He's off his base," said the dwarf. "Why, we wouldn't take in money enough to pay for the lights. Newport! Great Cæsar's ghost!"
"We'll never get out of the place alive," volunteered the dog-man.