thirty-seven
minutes past eight
The dispute might last for some time , unless the government interfered . But in the United States the government meddles with private affairs as little as it possibly can . And it is right . Things were in this state at this meeting on the 13th of June , which threatened to end in a riot -- insults exchanged , fisticuffs succeeding the insults , cane thrashings succeeding the fisticuffs , revolver shots succeeding the cane thrashings -- when at thirty-seven minutes past eight there occurred a diversion . The porter of the Weldon Institute coolly and calmly , like a policeman amid the storm of the meeting , approached the presidential desk . On it he placed a card . He awaited the orders that Uncle Prudent found it convenient to give .