"Shall I read them to you?"

"By all means," replied Van Dam.

The others signified an affirmative response.

Mr. Spout then proceeded to read:--

We, whose signatures are hereunto affixed, do hereby organize ourselves
into a club, having for its

NAME,

THE ELEPHANT CLUB, and having in view the following

OBJECTS:

1. The enjoyment and amusement of its members through.

2. A profound study of the Metropolitan Elephant, by surveying him in
all his majesty of proportion, by tracing him to his secret haunts, and
observing his habits, both in his wild and domestic state.

OFFICER.

The only officer of the club shall be a Higholdboy, whose

DUTY

It shall be to sit in a big chair, at the end of the table, and to see
that the members conform to the following

RULES OF CONDUCT:

1. In the meetings of the club, every member shall do exactly as he
pleases.

2. Each member shall speak when he pleases, what he pleases, and as long
as he pleases.

N.B.--If the remarks of any member are particularly stupid or tedious,
the other members are under no obligations to remain and hear them.

N. particular B. Should the speaker, at the conclusion of his remarks,
find himself in the presence of only a part of his original audience,
and some of those asleep; he is at full liberty, for his private
satisfaction, to conclude that his eloquence, like that of the
traditional parsons, is not only moving and soothing, as evidenced by
the absence of some and the somnolence of others, but so satisfactory
that those who were awake will never care to hear him again.

3. No member shall be permitted to bring spirituous or fermented
liquors, wine, beer, or cider, whether imported or domestic, into any of
the meetings of the club, under the penalty of passing them around for
general use; unless the member prefers to keep them to himself, from
motives of economy--the economy in such case to be regarded as an
offence, to be punished with a severe letting alone.

4. The third rule shall apply to cigars, cheroots, and cigaretts.

5. Ditto--ditto--sardines, Bologna sausages, crackers and cheese.

6. Members are prohibited from sitting with their feet on the table,
unless in that position they sit with more comfort, or they have other
reasons satisfactory to themselves.

N.B.--The Higholdboy, in consideration of his onerous duties, is
exempted from the action of this rule.

7. The Higholdboy is empowered to reprimand a