CHAPTER LIII
The First Meeting
The notice on the old tree had been up a week. By Thursday there hadbeen no sign of response; on Friday Jim had had it out with the boss;and Saturday morning the community seemed, in some subtle way, to begreatly stirred by the coming event. Sunday afternoon there was a fairlygood assemblage of men and women in the large room of the rearranged oldhouse. Bow-legged Mike was not present; but the little man with thesqueaky voice--commonly known as "Squeaks"--was there to represent him,as he did in divers ways and on different occasions in the ward.
Hartigan and Hopkins were on the platform. Belle sat at a small table toact as recording secretary. Hopkins opened the meeting by introducingHartigan, who spoke as follows:
"My friends; we are assembled to discuss the formation of a club toprovide for the residents of this district such things as they need inthe way of a convenient social meeting place and whatever else isdesirable in a club. We have not fully worked out our plan, but this isthe main idea: the club will be called Cedar Mountain House; it will bemanaged by five governors--two of them appointed by the men who own thebuilding lease; two of them elected by the people who join; these fourto elect a fifth as chairman of the board.
"The club is open to men and women twenty-one years of age; theirfamilies come in free on their tickets. The dues are to be ten cents aweek, or five dollars a year. This covers the gymnasium, the lecturehall, the library, and the baths. Now we are ready for any questions."
A very fat woman, with a well-developed moustache, rose to claim thefloor, and began: "I want to know----"
Hopkins interrupted: "As the Chair is not acquainted with all present,will the speakers kindly announce their names?"
The woman made a gesture of impatience--evidently every one should know_her_ name: "I am Dr. Mary Mudd, M. D., of Rush College, unmarried,Resident Physician of the Mudd Maternity Home and the winner of the Muddmedal for an essay on misapplied medicine. There! Now I want to know arewomen eligible for office in this club?"
To which Hopkins replied: "Since women are admitted to membership andpay dues, they are eligible for all offices."
"Well, now, I'm with you," said Dr. Mudd; and she sat down.
Now arose a thin, dark man with a wild shock of hair, a black beard, ared tie and a general appearance of having _-ski_ at the end of hisname. "I vant to know do you hev to be religious your vay in dis cloob?"
"Kindly give your name," said the Chair.
"Veil, I'm Isaac Skystein; I'm a renovator of chentlemen's deterioratedvearing apparel, and I vant to know of dis is a missionary trick, or doit be a cloob vere von can talk de freedom of speech?"
"You do not have to belong to any Church," announced the Chairman.
"Vell; is it to be de religious talk?"
"Once a week, or maybe once a month, there will be a debate in thishall, at which entire freedom of speech will be allowed."
"Dat mean I can get up an' say I doan take no stock in your dernreligion? I vant de freedom of de speeches, Ya!"
"It means that, at the proper time, each will have a chance to get upand say exactly what he thinks within the decencies of debate."
"Vell, I tink I'll join for a vhile, anyvay."
Then a red-faced man introduced himself. "I'm Jack Hinks, teamster, andI want to know if any drinks will be sold on the premises."
"No, sir; nothing intoxicating."
"I mean on the sly."
"No, sir: nothing, absolutely nothing."
"Well, Mike Shay tipped me off that it was to be 'wet' on the quiet."
"He made a mistake; this is to be a strictly teetotal club."
"That settles it. What's the good of a club where you can't have no fun?Good night!" and out he went.
A lanky youth with unhealthy rings around his eyes and brown stains onhis thumb asked if there were to be boxing lessons and would Mr.Hartigan tell them about the scrap between himself and Mike Shay.Mothers asked if a baby corral would be instituted, to set the mothersfree for a few hours each day. A tall, pale young man with a Southerncoo, asked "whether Negroes were to be admitted." The Chair dodged bysaying: "That will be decided by the vote of the majority."
A male person, with a beard and a tremulous voice, asked what the club'sattitude would be toward the Salvation Army. Before the Chair couldreply, little Skystein jumped up and shouted: "Mr. Chairman, ve don'tvant 'em; dey's all feelin's an' no brains. You don't see no Chews in deSalvation Army--it's too many emotions; de Chews got too muchintellects, ve don't vant----"
"I rule you out of order!" shouted the Chair. "Sit down! Now for yourquestion: The club will welcome the Salvationists as individual members.It does not recognize them as a body."
A fat, unsuccessful-looking man, asked if it held out any chance for ajob; and a red-headed masculine person of foreign design rose to inquirewhether the bathing would be compulsory. A preliminary vote wasoverwhelmingly in favour of the five-dollar dues, though a smallminority thought it should be free; a group of four persons believedthey should draw compensation for coming.
The meeting answered every expectation; it fully introduced the club andits leaders; it demonstrated the views of the possible members, and gavethe Board of Deacons a new light on human nature. All the business ofdefinite organization was deferred to the next meeting, to take placeone week later.
The Preacher of Cedar Mountain: A Tale of the Open Country Page 54