Yet when, about a
week ago, I first became one of
this diabolical association, no person could have entertained for it
more
profound sentiments of admiration and respect. Why my feelings in this
matter have undergone a change will appear, very obviously, in the
sequel.
In the meantime I shall vindicate my own character, and the dignity of
Letters.
I find, upon
reference to the records, that the Folio
Club was organized as such on the —— day of —— in the year ——. I like
to
begin with the beginnings and have a partiality for dates. A clause in
the Constitution then adopted forbade the members to be other wise than
erudite and witty: and the avowed objects of the Confederation were
'the
instruction of society, and the amusement of themselves.' For the
latter
purpose a meeting is held monthly at the house of some one of the
associational
when each individual is expected to come prepared with a 'Short Prose
Tale'
of his own composition. Each article thus produced is read by its
[here Poe has struck out the word "respectively"] author to the company
assembled over a glass of wine at [here Poe has struck out the words "a
very late"] dinner. Much rivalry will of course ensue--more
particularly
as the writer of the 'Best Thing' is appointed President of the Club
pro
tem:, an office endowed with many dignities and little experience,
and which endures until its occupant is dispossessed by a superior
morceau.
The father of the Tale held, on the contrary, to be the
least meritorious,
is bound to furnish the dinner and wine at the next similar meeting of
the Society. This is found an excellent method of occasionally
supplying
the body with a new member, in the place of some unfortunate who,
forfeiting
two or three entertainments in succession, will naturally decline, at
the
same time, the 'supreme honour' and the association. The number of the
Club is limited to eleven. For this there are many good reasons which
it
is unnecessary to mention, but which will of course suggest themselves
to every person of reflection. One of them, however, is that on the
first
of April, in the year three hundred and fifty before the Deluge, there
are said to have been just eleven spots upon the sun. It will be seen
that,
in giving these rapid outlines of the Society, I have so far restrained
my indignation as to speak with unusual candour and liberality. The
expose
which it is my intention to make will be sufficiently
effected by a
mere detail of the Club's proceedings on the evening of Tuesday last,
when
I made my
debut as a member of that body, having been only
chosen
in place of the Honourable Augustus Scratchaway, resigned.
At five P.M. I went
by appointment to the house of
Mr. Rouge-et-Noir who admires Lady Morgan, and whose Tale was condemned
at the previous monthly meeting. I found the company already assembled
in the dining-room, and must confess that the brilliancy of the fire,
the
comfortable appearance of the apartment, and the excellent equipments
of
the table, as well as a due confidence in my own abilities, contributed
to inspire me, for the time, with many pleasant meditations. I was
welcomed
with great show of cordiality, and dined with much self-congratulation
at becoming one of so wise a Society.
The members,
generally, were most remarkable men.
There was, first of all, Mr. Snap, the President, who is a very lank
man
with a hawk nose, and was formerly in the service of the Down-East
Review.
Then there was Mr.
Convolvulus Gondola, a young gentleman
who had travelled a good deal.
Then there was De
Rerum Natura, Esqr., who wore a
very singular pair of green spectacles.
Then there was a very
little man in a black coat
with very black eyes.
Then there was Mr.
Solomon Seadrift who had every
appearance of a fish.
Then there was Mr.
Horribile Dictu, with white eyelashes,
who had graduated at Gottingen.
Then there was Mr.
Blackwood Blackwood who had written
certain articles for foreign Magazines.
Then there was the
host, Mr. Rouge-et-Noir, who admired
Lady Morgan.
Then there was a
stout gentleman who admired Sir
Walter Scott.
Then there was
Chronologos Chronology who admired
Horace Smith, and had a very big nose which had been in Asia Minor.
Upon the removal of
the cloth Mr. Snap said to me
'I believe there is little need of my giving you any information, Sir,
in regard to the regulations of our Club. I think you know we intend to
instruct society, and amuse ourselves. To nights however we propose
doing
the latter solely, and shall call upon you in turn to contribute your
quota.
In the meantime I will commence operations.' Here Mr. Snap, having
pushed
the bottle, produced a M.S. and read as, follows.