The History and Records of the Elephant ClubDoesticks, Q. K. Philander
General
The History and Records of the Elephant Club
Doesticks, Q. K. Philander
American wit and humor
The Higholdboy called upon Dennis, Wagstaff, and Overdale for the result
of their visit to the Police Courts. Wagstaff's notebook was produced,
and the lengthened narratives inscribed therein went to show the
following state of facts.
Wagstaff arose one morning at six precisely, and, after having hit
Dennis with his own wooden leg, and pulled Overdale's eyes open by his
whiskers and hair, announced to them if they were going to visit the
Essex Market Police Court that day, to see the animals, that it was time
to rise. They slipped on their clothing as soon as possible, and
started somewhat sooner. They passed the Odd Fellows Hall, which
Overdale expatiated upon at some length as an extensive log-chain
factory. He formed his conclusion from seeing three links of chain
represented in a conspicuous part of the building. The Westchester House
he informed them was Washington's head quarters, and under this belief
they stopped some time to look at it, and speak of it in connection with
the many stories related of that interesting relic of the architecture
of the last century.
They arrived at length at the Essex Market, in the upper part of which
the police magistrate of that judicial district sits in a big chair, for
the purpose of dealing out retail justice and getting a wholesale
living.
The trio ascended into the court-room, where the justice was seated,
disposing of the hard cases which had accumulated during the night.
Overdale was still communicative. In answer to the inquiries of Dennis,
he informed that gentleman that the police clerks were associated
justices, that the prisoner's cage was the jury-box, and pointed out the
prisoners themselves as the jury. The humble member of the police, who
is known as the doorman, Overdale said answered well the description of
the Chief of the Police, contained in one of the historic works of John
McLenan. Dennis inquired where the prisoners were. Overdale was unable
to answer, but at last expressed it as his opinion that the persons who
were standing about them must "be the malefactors." Dennis said he never
could satisfactorily account for the jurors being tried, and sent out of
the room in charge of officers, but he had too much confidence in the
extensive knowledge and vast intelligence of Overdale, to suppose that
his hirsute friend could possibly be mistaken. In consequence of this
misplaced confidence on the part of Wagstaff and Dennis, the notebook of
the former was filled with notes of the trials of the different members
of the jury.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account