e amiable proprietor
in the bar below.

[Illustration]

By the timely suggestion of Mr. Remington Dropper, ingenious advantage
was taken of the proximity of an establishment so praiseworthy, and so
conducive to the common comfort. A wire was arranged, running from a
point ever in reach of the chair of the august presiding officer, thence
to a bell in the room beneath. A system of tintinabulatory signals was
contrived, that the dispenser of good things, on the first floor, might
be made to comprehend the wants of the thirsty individuals in the loft,
without their coming down stairs. One jerk meant "brandy smashes" all
round; two pulls signified "hot whisky punches, with plenty of lemon;" a
prolonged jingle was to be immediately answered by an unlimited supply
of ale, porter and pewter mugs; while a convulsive twitch, or a couple
of spasmodic tugs, signified to the man in waiting, not only that the
entire club was "over the bay," but that they wanted, on the instant,
soda-water enough to float them in safety to the shore again.

The furniture of this private elephantine den was simple, but necessary,
made not for ornament, so much as contrived for use, and consisted of a
long table, with an extra quantity of super-solid legs, in case the club
should all take a freak to go to bed on it at once--two chairs for each
member, one for the customary use, and the other for the accommodation
of his feet, an upright piano-forte, a huge match-box, and a wash-tub
for empty bottles. A journal was also provided, in which to inscribe the
proceedings of each evening, and, by general agreement, it was made a
standing order that no man should write therein unless he was
sufficiently sober to tell a gold pen from a boot jack.

[Illustration]

The poker was chained to the grate, that it might not, in case of an
unusual excitement, become a convenient instrument for the demolition of
furniture, or the extinguishment of an offending member. For the same
reason, the water-jug was tied to the door-knob, and the private tumbler
of each member made fast to one of his chairs with an elastic band, so
that, should he throw it at any one, he would not only miss the object
of his unnoble aim, but the elasticity of the securing thong would cause
it to recoil upon his own pate, with a force which would, probably,
render him for the future less inclined to experiment in projectiles.
Over the entrance-door, on the outside, was placed a toy elephant, t