When the resolution came up Mr. Solomon Barzinsky moved as an
amendment that weekly be altered into 'twice a week,' since the member
kept open on Friday night as well as Saturday.
The _Parnass_ refused to accept the amendment. There was only one
Sabbath a week, though it had two periods. 'And the evening and the
morning were one day.'
Mr. Peleg supported the amendment. They must not leave Mr. Simeon
Samuels a loophole of escape. It was also, he said, the duty of the
Council to buy a barometer the rogue had foisted upon him.
After an animated discussion, mainly about the barometer, the
President accepted the amendment, but produced a great impression by
altering 'twice a week' into 'bi-weekly.'
A Mr. John Straumann, however, who prided himself on his style, and
had even changed his name to John because Jacob grated on his delicate
ear, refused to be impressed.
Committed _bi_-weekly _by_ a member sounded almost jocose, he argued.
'Buy! buy!' it sounded like a butcher's cry.
Mr. Enoch, the _kosher_ butcher, rose amid excitement, and asked if he
had come there to be insulted!
'Sit down! sit down!' said the _Parnass_ roughly. 'It's no matter how
the resolution sounds. It will be in writing.'
'Then why not add,' sarcastically persisted the stylist, '"Committed
_bi_-weekly _by_ a member _by buying_ and selling."'
'Order, order!' said the _Parnass_ angrily. 'Those who are in favour
of the resolution! Carried.'
'_By_ a majority,' sneered the stylist, subsiding.
'Mr. Secretary'--the President turned to the poor
Reverend-of-all-work--'you need not record this verbal discussion in
the minutes.'
'_By_ request,' said the stylist, reviving.
'But what's the use of the resolution if you don't mention the
member's name?' suddenly inquired Ephraim Mendel, stretching his long,
languid limbs.
'But there's only one Sabbath-breaker,' replied the _Parnass_.
'To-day, yes, but to-morrow there might be two.'
'It could hardly be to-morrow,' said the stylist. 'For that happens to
be a Monday.'
Barzinsky bashed the table. 'Mr. President, are we here for business
or are we not?'
'You may be here for business--I am here for religion,' retorted
Straumann the stylist.
'You--you snub-nosed monkey, what do you mean?'
'Order, order, gentlemen,' said the _Parnass_.
'I will not order,' said Solomon Barzinsky excitedly. 'I did not come
here to be insulted.'
'Insulted!' quoth Straumann. 'It's you that must apologize, you
illiterate icthyosaurus! I appeal to the President.'
'You have both insulted _me_,' was that worthy's ruling. 'I give the
word to Mr. Mendel.'
'But----' from both the combatants simultaneously.
'Order, order!' from a dozen throats.
'I said Simeon Samuels' name must be put in,' Mendel repeated.
'You should have said so before--the resolution is carried now,' said
the President.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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