Excerpt: ...myself unnecessarily, in order to please others, to sacrifice my liberty to the 'king of evils, ' even should I feel no longer bound to obey the laws of the Society." "I say, Fred, for goodness' sake stop," exclaimed Sandie Johnstone, "or else you will sink us so deeply into the ruts of philosophy that our friends will never be able to discover us." "Go on, Fred, go on, you're a brick," cried Haveril. "Give Jenkins another dig with your philosophical pick." "Fair play," shouted Jenkins, "'tis my turn to bait the ...
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Excerpt: ...myself unnecessarily, in order to please others, to sacrifice my liberty to the 'king of evils, ' even should I feel no longer bound to obey the laws of the Society." "I say, Fred, for goodness' sake stop," exclaimed Sandie Johnstone, "or else you will sink us so deeply into the ruts of philosophy that our friends will never be able to discover us." "Go on, Fred, go on, you're a brick," cried Haveril. "Give Jenkins another dig with your philosophical pick." "Fair play," shouted Jenkins, "'tis my turn to bait the trap." "Bait it with a bottle of brandy," cried Haveril, "and we'll see who'll bite at it first." "If Jenkins wont, I'll bet you a dollar you will," ejaculated Johnstone. "Yes, Haveril would bite at the very devil if his Satanical Majesty was filled to the teeth with brandy," exclaimed Jenkins, the others chorusing with a series of discordant laughs. "Well, well, gentlemen," exclaimed Fred, "if you desire the continuance of my friendship, and if you wish to respect the dignity of morality and the English language, you must refrain from using such insinuating balderdash and bar-room-slang." "You're right, Fred, stick to your subject and make them all your subjects," said Ernest Stevens. "Why, Fred, if you would only take a gentle sipling of the nectar you would know how to appreciate and enjoy our company," said Henderson. "True friendship and true happiness are based upon more solid material than liquids," replied Frederick. "Well, Fred, as you are a sort of philosopher, allow me to ask you, if the true destiny of man, both here and hereafter, is not the enjoyment of life?" interrogated Henderson. "Certainly, sir," replied Fred; "but I further believe that our Maker designed that man should use the proper means for the promotion of both terrestrial and celestial happiness." "Our opinions are identical, then," exclaimed Henderson. "We are both of the same mind and yet cannot agree; and the reason is simply this
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