1927 Barflies and Cocktails

advts· were intended as business-getters. Tbat thought was farthest from those altruistic minds.) Anyway, about Christ– mas 1924, the International Bar Flies, Trap 1, was organ– ized ·at the New York Bar. and the Presidency foisted upon the mellifluous \Mcintyre as unconscious inspirer of the lodge. Besides Big Blue Bottlefly Mcintyre, the Committee comprises Vice-President Little Blue Bottlefly Harry McElbone, Secre– tary Ho\lsefly Phil. Ambler, Spanisbflies Galen Bogue and Earl Leslie, Blowfly H . L. Morris, and Gadflies Billy Arnold, Billy Henly, and Billy Trittle. About a score of prominent newspapermen were taken in, so to speak, as charter-members. Think of those bumble beginnings ! The lodge emblems now known and flaunted throughout the universe, were at that time cast off pieces of sugar decorated with the corpses of flies caught and slain, so I have been assured, by the fast-moving Johnny of the Rue Port-Mabon. But the noble and lofty ideals soon attracted hordes of intelligent boulevardiers eager for membership. From all over the world applications flooded the parent Trap, till it was necessary to inaugurate associate traps. Meantime, three Irishmen, Keaney, Levi, and Sweeny, after the manner of dissenting Celts, steadfastly re– fused to join. Despite the superior advice of their friends and the promptings of their own bette r natures, these diebards held out. But in its wake, Time was to leave them sorrowful. And today, when there are over fifty traps and more than five thousand members, and when fraternal buzzes are exchanged in Shanghai or Liverpool, Madrid or Pittsburg, Giverny or Warsaw, you may see honest tea rs spring to the eyes of rhe Independent, but Inconsolable Irish. Keaney, L evi, and Sweeny. Bzzzzzzzzzz !

ARTHUR Moss. ..

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