THE CLIONIAN SOCIETY.
On Thursday evening the main school of the Academy building was
lighted up, and groups of boys, varying in age from thirteen to
nineteen, were standing in different parts of the room. These were
members of the Clionian Society, whose weekly meeting was about to
take place.
At eight o'clock precisely the President took his place at the
teacher's desk, with the Secretary at his side, and rapped for order.
The presiding officer was Alfred DeWitt, a member of the Senior
Class, and now nearly ready for college. The Secretary was a member
of the same class, by name George Sanborn.
"The Secretary will read the minutes of the last meeting," said the
President, when order had been obtained.
George Sanborn rose and read his report, which was accepted.
"Are any committees prepared to report?" asked the President.
The Finance Committee reported through its chairman, recommending
that the fee for admission be established at one dollar, and that
each member be assessed twenty-five cents monthly.
"Mr. President," said Fitzgerald Fletcher, rising to his feet, "I
would like to say a word in reference to this report."
"Mr. Fletcher has the floor."
"Then, Mr. President, I wish to say that I disagree with the Report
of the Committee. I think a dollar is altogether too small. It
ought to be at least three dollars, and I myself should prefer five
dollars. Again, sir, the Committee has recommended for the monthly
assessment the ridiculously small sum of twenty-five cents. I think
it ought to be a dollar."
"Mr. President, I should like to ask the gentleman his reason," said
Henry Fairbanks, Chairman of the Finance Committee. "Why should we
tax the members to such an extent, when the sums reported are
sufficient to defray the ordinary expenses of the Society, and to
leave a small surplus besides?"
"Mr. President," returned Fletcher, "I will answer the gentleman. We
don't want to throw open the Society to every one that can raise a
dollar. We want to have an exclusive society."
"Mr. President," said Oscar Vincent, rising, "I should like to ask
the gentleman for how many he is speaking. He certainly is not
speaking for me. I don't want the Society to be exclusive. There
are not many who can afford to pay the exorbitant sums which he
desires fixed for admission fee and for monthly assessments, and I
for one am not willing to exclude any good fellow who desires to
become one of us, but does not boast as heavy a purse as the
gentleman who has just spoken."
These remarks of Oscar were greeted with applause, general enough to
show that the opinions of nearly all were with him.
"Mr. President," said Henry Fairbanks, "though I am opposed to the
gentleman's suggestion, (does he offer it as an amendment?) I have no
possible objection to his individually paying the increased rates
which he recommends, and I am sure the Treasurer will gladly receive
them."
Laughter and applause greeted this hit, and Fletcher once more arose,
somewhat vexed at the reception of his suggestion.
"I don't choose--" he commenced.
"The gentleman will address the chair," interrupted the President.
"Mr. President, I don't choose to pay more than the other members,
though I can do it without inconvenience. But, as I said, I don't
believe in being too democratic. I am not in favor of admitting
anybody and everybody into the Society."
"Mr. President," said James Hooper, "I congratulate the gentleman on
the flourishing state of his finances. For my own part, I am not
ashamed to say that I cannot afford to pay a dollar a month
assessment, and, were it required, I should be obliged to offer my
resignation."
"So much the better," thought Fitzgerald, for, as Hooper was poor,
and went coarsely clothed, he looked down upon him. Fortunately for
himself he did not give utterance to his thought.
"Does Mr. Fletcher put his recommendation into the form of an
amendment?" asked, the President.
"I do."
"Be kind enough to state it, then."
Fletcher did so, but as no one seconded it, no action was of course
taken.
"Nominations for membership are now in order," said the President.
"I should like to propose my friend Henry Walton."
"Who is Henry Walton?" asked a member.
"Mr. President, may I answer the gentleman?" asked Fitzgerald
Fletcher, rising to his feet.
"As the nominee is not to be voted upon this evening, it is not in
order."
"Mr. President," said Oscar, "I should be glad to have the gentleman
report his information."
"Mr. Fletcher may speak if he desires it, but as the name will be
referred to the Committee on Nominations, it is hardly necessary."
"Mr. President, I merely wish to inform the Society, that Mr. Walton
occupies the dignified position of printer's devil in the office of
the 'Centreville Gazette.'"
"Mr. President," said Oscar, "may I ask the indulgence of the Society
long enough to say that I am quite aware of the fact. I will add
that Mr. Walton is a young man of excellent abilities, and I am
confident will prove an accession to the Society."
"I cannot permit further remarks on a matter which will come in due
course before the Committee on Nominations," said the President.
"The next business in order is the debate."
Of the debate, and the further proceedings, I shall not speak, as
they are of no special interest. But after the meeting was over,
groups of members discussed matters which had come up during the
evening. Fletcher approached Oscar Vincent, and said, "I can't see,
Oscar, why you are trying to get that printer's devil into our
Society."
"Because he's a good fellow, and smart enough to do us credit."
"If there were any bootblacks in Centreville I suppose you'd be
proposing them?" said Fletcher with a sneer.
"I might, if they were as smart as my friend Walton."
"You are not very particular about your friends," said Fletcher in
the same tone.
"I don't ask them to open their pocket-books, and show me how much
money they have."
"I prefer to associate with gentlemen."
"So do I."
"Yet you associate with that printer's devil."
"I consider him a gentleman."
Fletcher laughed scornfully.
"You have strange ideas of a gentleman," he said.
"I hold the same," said James Hooper, who had come up in time to hear
the last portion of the conversation. "I don't think a full purse is
the only or the chief qualification of a gentleman. If labor is to
be a disqualification, then I must resign all claims to be considered
a gentleman, as I worked on a farm for two years before coming to
school, and in that way earned the money to pay my expenses here."
Fletcher turned up his nose, but did not reply.
Hooper was a good scholar and influential in the Society, but in
Fletcher's eyes he was unworthy of consideration.
"Look here, Fletcher,--what makes you so confoundedly exclusive is
your ideas?" asked Henry Fairbanks.
"Because I respect myself," said Fletcher in rather a surly tone.
"Then you have one admirer," said Fairbanks.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Fletcher, suspiciously.
"Nothing out of the way. I believe in self-respect, but I don't see
how it is going to be endangered by the admission of Oscar's friend
to the Society."
"Am I expected to associate on equal terms with a printer's devil?"
"I can't answer for you. As for me, if he is a good fellow, I shall
welcome him to our ranks. Some of our most eminent men have been
apprenticed to the trade of printer. I believe, after all, it is the
name that has prejudiced you."
"No it isn't. I have seen him."
"Henry Walton?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"In Oscar's room."
"Well?"
"I don't like his appearance."
"What's the matter with his appearance?" asked Oscar.
"He looks low."
"That's where I must decidedly contradict you, Fitz, and I shall
appeal confidently to the members of the Society when they come to
know him, as they soon will, for I am sure no one else shares your
ridiculous prejudices. Harry Walton, in my opinion, is a true
gentleman, without reference to his purse, and he is bound to rise
hereafter, take my word for it."
"There's plenty of room for him to rise," said Fletcher with a sneer.
"That is true not only of him, but of all of us, I take it."
"Do you refer to me?"
"Oh no," said Oscar with sarcasm. "I am quite aware that you are at
the pinnacle of eminence, even if you do flunk in Greek occasionally."
Fitzgerald had failed in the Greek recitation during the day, and
that in school parlance is sometimes termed a "flunk." He bit his
lip in mortification at this reference, and walked away, leaving
Oscar master of the situation.
"You had the best of him there, Vincent," said George Sanborn. "He
has gone off in disgust."
"I like to see Fletcher taken down," said Henry Fairbanks. "I never
saw a fellow put on so many airs. He is altogether too aristocratic
to associate with ordinary people."
"Yes," said Oscar, "he has a foolish pride, which I hope he will some
time get rid of."
"He ought to have been born in England, and not in a republic."
"If he had been born in England, he would have been unhappy unless he
had belonged to the nobility," said Alfred DeWitt.
"Look here, boys," said Tom Carver, "what do you say to mortifying
Fitz's pride?"
"Have you got a plan in view, Tom? If so, out with it."
"Yes: you know the pedler that comes into town about once a month to
buy up rags, and sell his tinwares."
"I have seen him. Well, what of him?"
"He is coming early next week. Some of us will see him privately,
and post him up as to Fitz's relations and position, and hire him to
come up to school, and inquire for Fitz, representing himself as his
cousin. Of course Fitz will deny it indignantly, but he will persist
and show that he knows all about the family."
"Good! Splendid!" exclaimed the boys laughing. "Won't Fitz be
raving?"
"There's no doubt about that. Well, boys, I'll arrange it all, if
you'll authorize me."
"Go ahead, Tom. You can draw upon us for the necessary funds."
Fletcher had retired to his room, angry at the opposition his
proposal had received, and without any warning of the humiliation
which awaited him.