Page:Paine--J Archibauld McKaney collector of whiskers.djvu/56

   with a private dining-room. These guests were to be carefully selected as per the diagrams furnished Wilkins, and I explained to him:

"Each of these species of whiskers will give forth a different note when properly tuned and all you will have to do is to consult your directions. For example, here is Face Number Six—Close Cropped Sideboards (see page 118 of the illustrated catalogue of my collection), or Face Number Nine—Crisp, Pointed Vandyke, such as young doctors affect. If my recent experiments with the tuning forks have not misled me, this latter type of whisker should develop a clear and bell-like Middle C."

Wilkins ventured to object:

"But I can't tell whether they'll be melojious. Supposing I happen to ship you a shockin' consignment of discords."

He also inquired why he should not be allowed to pick up "a bunch of the hairiest, whiskerest Johnnies he could find and let Mr. McKackney trim, clip and tune them to suit." 38]