Dennis, crimson and gasping, stood more thoroughly amazed and nonplussed than he had ever been in his active existence. He opened his mouth as though to reply, and beheld Stover calmly draw forth his watch. Had it been any one else, Dennis would have hesitated; but he knew Stover of old and what the chilly, metallic note was in his voice. He chose the lesser of two evils and gave the apology. "The chair will now state," said Stover, replacing his watch, "for the benefit of any other young, transcendent jokers that may care to display their side-splitting wit, that the chair is quite capable of handling the previous question, or any other question, and that these meetings are going to be orderly proceedings and not one-ring circuses for the benefit of the Kennedy Association of Clowns. The question before the House is the protest against compulsory bath. The chair recognizes Mr. Lazelle to make a motion." The cup of Finnegan's bitterness was not yet filled. Stover's first act of administration was to forbid the privileges of the cold-air flues and the demon cigarette to all members of the House who had not attained, according to his judgment, either a proper age or a sufficient display of bodily stature. Among the proscribed was Dennis de Brian de Boru Finnegan, whose legs, clothed in new dignity, fairly quivered under the affront, as he tearfully protested: "I say, Dink, it's an outrage!" "Can't help it. It's for your own good." "But I'm fifteen." "Now, see here, Dennis," said Stover firmly, "your business is to grow and to be of some use. No one's going to know about it unless you yell it out, but I'm going to see that you turn out a decent, manly chap and not another Slops Barnett." "But you went with Slops yourself." "I did--but you're not going to be such a fool." "Why, you're a regular tyrant!" "All right, call it that." "And I elected you," said Dennis, the aggrieved and astounded modern politician. "This is Goo-gooism!" "No, it isn't," said Stover indignantly. "I'm not interfering with any fellow who's sixteen--they can do what they darn please. But I'm not going to have a lot of kids in this House starting sporting life until they've grown up to it, savez? They're going to be worth living with and having around, and not abominations in the sight of gods and men. Pass the word along." The revolt, for a short while, was furiously indignant, but the prestige of Stover's reputation forestalled all thought of disobedience. In such cases absolute power is in the hands of him who can wield it, and Stover could command. In short order he had reduced the youngsters to respect and usefulness, with the following imperial decrees: 1. All squabs are to maintain in public a deferential and modest attitude. 2. No squab shall talk to excess in the presence of his elders. 3. No squab shall habitually use bad language, under penalty of an application of soap and water. 4. No squab shall use tobacco in any form.