Meeting Of The Clabberhuses, The

I     He was the Chairman of the Guild         Of Early Pleiocene Patriarchs;     He was chief Mentor of the Lodge         Of the Oracular Oligarchs;     He was the Lord High Autocrat         And Vizier of the Sons of Light,     And Sultan and Grand Mandarin         Of the Millennial Men of Might.     He was Grand Totem and High Priest         Of the Independent Potentates;     Grand Mogul of the Galaxy         Of the Illustrious Stay-out-lates;     The President of the Dandydudes,         The Treasurer of the Sons of Glee;     The Leader of the Clubtown Band         And Architects of Melody.                      II     She was Grand Worthy Prophetess         Of the Illustrious Maids of Mark;     Of Vestals of the Third Degree         She was Most Potent Matriarch;     She was High Priestess of the Shrine         Of Clubtown's Culture Coterie,     And First Vice-President of the League         Of the illustrious G. A. B.     She was the First Dame of the Club         For teaching Patagonians Greek;     She was Chief Clerk and Auditor         Of Clubtown's Anti-Bachelor Clique;     She was High Treasurer of the Fund         For Borrioboolighalians,     And the Fund for Sending Browning's Poems         To Native-born Australians.                     III     Once to a crowded social fete         Both these much-titled people came,     And each perceived, when introduced,         They had the selfsame name.     Their hostess said, when first they met:         "Permit me now to introduce     My good friend Mr. Clabberhuse         To Mrs. Clabberhuse."     "'Tis very strange," said she to him,         "Such an unusual name!     A name so very seldom heard,         That we should bear the same."     "Indeed, 'tis wonderful," said he,         "And I'm surprised the more,     Because I never heard the name         Outside my home before.     "But now I come to look at you,"         Said he, "upon my life,     If I am not indeed deceived,         You are, you are, my wife."     She gazed into his searching face         And seemed to look him through;     "Indeed," said she, "it seems to me         You are my husband, too.     "I've been so busy with my clubs         And in my various spheres     I have not seen you now," she said,         "For over fourteen years."     "That's just the way it's been with me,         These clubs demand a sight"     And then they both politely bowed,         And sweetly said "Good night."