Pleiades Club—Telegraphers' Paradise on Planet Mars — John Shaqi
Pleiades Club—Telegraphers' Paradise on Planet MarsHayes, J. W. (Jeff W.)
Science
Pleiades Club—Telegraphers' Paradise on Planet Mars
Hayes, J. W. (Jeff W.)
Mars (Planet) -- Fiction; Telegraphers -- Fiction
“It will not be long ere the prevailing company will build into Mexico,
and, in fact, cover South America. Those fellows down there need
somebody to show them how to telegraph and I guess there would be a
great number of good tutors in New York, Chicago and St. Louis, and
just fancy the revenue that would be derived.
“The opening of this southern country would give every ambitious
and capable man in the service an opportunity of shining as a
superintendent or in some other official capacity.
“You remember, boys, how they used to sing after the war of the
rebellion a ditty about ‘Uncle Sam is rich enough to buy us all a farm.’
“Well, the telegraph company is rich enough to make all capable men a
superintendent in South America.
“Of course you understand, boys,” he continued, “that the subject we
are discussing will not interest us personally, for we are all now
‘about our Father’s business,’ but it is a happy thought to know that
our loved ones on earth are going to be provided for.”
Mr. Baker’s remarks were greeted with much delighted applause and
Secretary Brant stated that he had made a stenographic copy of the
same, which he would hand to Fred Moxon, who in turn would transmit it
by telepathy to his friend on the terrestrial planet.
“We will now listen to the Chicago Glee Club,” remarked President
Baker, and vociferous cheers went up as the forms of Sam Bracken, Al
Babb, Jim Delong and Harry Smith appeared, each bearing a harp of a
thousand strings.
Some of these gentlemen could not warble a note while on earth, but
were now students of music and harmony, and well did they acquit
themselves, even indulging their audience in a little rag time.
Al Babb was particularly happy in his illustrative Indian war dances,
scalp dances and the like.
Applications for membership into the Chicago branch of the Pleiades
Club brought out many hundreds of new and old faces, and as time was
no object to them it was decided to hold this as a continuous meeting
until everyone was ready to acquiesce in adjournment.
“Boys, I am interested to visit the next ‘mile-post’ in our eternal
flight,” remarked “Dad” Armstrong as he came on the platform to shake
hands with President Baker.
“I would like to go up to Jupiter for a month or so,” continued
Armstrong, but he was interrupted by Ed Whitford, who exclaimed,
“Better go a little slow, Dad; you know if you climb upwards you cannot
come back, for it is just like the butterfly and caterpillar. You have
to keep a-going if you start,” and here Whitford paused and presently
sang that good old hymn, “I’m a pilgrim, I can tarry but a while.”
Armstrong, to the delight of the club, concluded to tarry a while
longer.
“I notice we have Henry C. Maynard with us today,” said the president.
“Will he kindly step to the front?” Cheers rent the air as Mr.
Maynard’s familiar figure mounted to the platform.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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