The Dreamers A Club   By: John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922)

THE DREAMERS A Club. Being a More or Less Faithful Account of the Literary Exercises of the First Regular Meeting of that Organization, Reported by JOHN KENDRICK BANGS WITH ILLUSTRATIONS By EDWARD PENFIELD

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NEW YORK AND LONDON HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS 1899

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

PEEPS AT PEOPLE. Passages from the Writings of Anne Warrington Witherup, Journalist. Illustrated by EDWARD PENFIELD. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, Uncut Edges and Colored Top, $1.25.

GHOSTS I HAVE MET, AND SOME OTHERS. With Illustrations by NEWELL, FROST, and RICHARDS. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

A HOUSE BOAT ON THE STYX. Being Some Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades. Illustrated by PETER NEWELL. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

THE PURSUIT OF THE HOUSE BOAT. Being Some Further Account of the Doings of the Associated Shades, under the Leadership of Sherlock Holmes, Esq. Illustrated by PETER NEWELL. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

PASTE JEWELS. Being Seven Tales of Domestic Woe. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental $1.00.

THE BICYCLERS, AND THREE OTHER FARCES. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

A REBELLIOUS HEROINE. A Story. Illustrated by W. T. SMEDLEY. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, Uncut Edges, $1.25.

MR. BONAPARTE OF CORSICA. Illustrated by H. W. MCVICKAR. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

THE WATER GHOST, AND OTHERS. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

THE IDIOT. Illustrated. 16mo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.00.

THREE WEEKS IN POLITICS. Illustrated. 32mo, Cloth, Ornamental, 50 cents.

COFFEE AND REPARTEE. Illustrated. 32mo, Cloth, Ornamental, 50 cents.

NEW YORK AND LONDON: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS.

Copyright, 1899, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All rights reserved.

Dedicated WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AND PROPER APOLOGIES

TO

RICHARD HARDING DAVIS JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS RUDYARD KIPLING HALL CAINE SUNDRY MAGAZINE POETS ANTHONY HOPE THE WAR CORRESPONDENTS A. CONAN DOYLE IAN MACLAREN JAMES M. BARRIE THE INVOLVULAR CLUB AND MR. DOOLEY

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I. THE IDEA 1 II. IN WHICH THOMAS SNOBBE, ESQ., OF YONKERS, UNFOLDS A TALE 21 III. IN WHICH A MINCE PIE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE 44 IV. BEING THE CONTRIBUTION OF MR. BEDFORD PARKE 59 V. THE SALVATION OF FINDLAYSON 80 VI. IN WHICH HARRY SNOBBE RECITES A TALE OF GLOOM 102 VII. THE DREAMERS DISCUSS A MAGAZINE POEM 123 VIII. DOLLY VISITS CHICAGO 142 IX. IN WHICH YELLOW JOURNALISM CREEPS IN 163 X. THE MYSTERY OF PINKHAM'S DIAMOND STUD 185 XI. LANG TAMMAS AND DRUMSHEUGH SWEAR OFF 207 XII. CONCLUSION LIKEWISE MR. BILLY JONES 228

ILLUSTRATIONS