smoky Gotham, the
home of the undiluted elephant.

[Illustration]

"Hooror for Johnny," said Mr. Spout, as he rushed towards that
individual to offer his congratulations. The other members followed
suit, and Johnny, anticipating that he would be favored with a bear-like
hug, more boisterous than pleasant, unless he acted promptly to prevent
such a consummation, ran into one corner, squared off, and threatened to
show an immoderate pugnacity, if they made any immoderate demonstrations
of fraternal affection. The language and action of Johnny had the effect
to check the enthusiasm of his friends, and they resumed their places.
Johnny then came out, and made a peremptory demand of Mr. Spout that he
telegraph to the saloon below for a lemonade for his (Johnny's) private
consumption. Mr. Spout announced the impossibility of acceding to
Johnny's demand, as there had been no signal agreed upon which should
indicate to the individual below that a lemonade was wanted. Johnny
said that he could not hold Mr. Spout to a strict accountability on that
occasion, but if he did not arrange a signal to indicate his future
wants, he should proceed to expel Mr. Spout from the club. Under
existing circumstances, he should go down below and order personally a
strong lemonade, to be made of considerable lemon, some sugar, and a
good deal of water. Johnny disappeared through the door. He had been
gone three minutes, by Quackenbush's bull's-eye silver watch, which he
says keeps excellent time as long as he hires a boy to move the
balance-wheel, when the Higholdboy arose, and proposed "The health of
the Elephant--may his shadow never be less," which was to be drunk in
silence, standing. All the members had assumed an erect position,
required for the performance of this imposing ceremony, when a yell of
such prodigious dimensions, entitling it to be called a roar, followed
by a most extraordinary clattering outside the door, as of three persons
trying to ascend abreast a flight of stairs only wide enough for one,
and quarrelling about the precedence, and in the intervals of their
emphatic remarks to each other uttering cries of exultant triumph, as if
they had made some long-sought discovery, suddenly petrified the various
members into flesh and blood statues with breeches on, and mouths open.
Not long, however, did they remain thus inactive, for a mighty rush from
the outside carried the door from its hinges, knocked Mr. Quackenbush,
the stalw