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Curious Republic of Gondour
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andifyou’lljustgivemealiftwe’llskeethimintothehearseandmeanderalong。Relationsboundtohaveitso——don’tpaynoattentiontodyinginjunctions,minuteacorpse’sgone;butifIhadmyway,ifI

didn’trespecthislastwishesandtowhimbehindthehearse,I’llbecuss’d。Iconsiderthatwhateveracorpsewantsdoneforhiscomfortisalittleenoughmatter,andamanhain’tgotnorighttodeceivehimortakeadvantageofhim——andwhateveracorpsetrustsmetodoI’ma-goingtodo,youknow,evenifit’stostuffhimandpainthimyallerandkeephimforakeepsake——youhearme!"

Hecrackedhiswhipandwentlumberingawaywithhisancientruinofahearse,andIcontinuedmywalkwithavaluablelessonlearned——thatahealthyandwholesomecheerfulnessisnotnecessarilyimpossibletoanyoccupation。Thelessonislikelytobelasting,foritwilltakemanymonthstoobliteratethememoryoftheremarksandcircumstancesthatimpressedit。

AROYALCOMPLIMENT

ThelatestreportabouttheSpanishcrownis,thatitwillnowbeofferedtoPrinceAlfonso,thesecondsonoftheKingofPortugal,whoisbutfiveyearsofage。TheSpaniardshavehuntedthroughallthenationsofEuropeforaKing。TheytriedtogetaPortugueseinthepersonofDom-Luis,whoisanoldex-monarch;theytriedtogetanItalian,inthepersonofVictorEmanuel’syoungson,theDukeofGenoa;theytriedtogetaSpaniard,inthepersonofEspartero,whoisanoctogenarian。SomeofthemdesiredaFrenchBourbon,Montpensier;someofthemaSpanishBourbon,thePrinceofAsturias;

someofthemanEnglishprince,oneofthesonsofQueenVictoria。

TheyhavejusttriedtogettheGermanPrinceLeopold;buttheyhavethoughtitbettertogivehimupthantakeawaralongwithhim。

ItisalongtimesincewefirstsuggestedtothemtotryanAmericanruler。Wecanofferthemalargenumberofableandexperiencedsovereignstopickfrom-menskilledinstatesmanship,versedinthescienceofgovernment,andadeptsinalltheartsofadministration——menwhocouldwearthecrownwithdignityandrulethekingdomatareasonableexpense。

ThereisnottheleastdangerofNapoleonthreateningthemiftheytakeanAmericansovereign;infact,wehavenodoubthewouldbepleasedtosupportsuchacandidature。Weareunwillingtomentionnames——thoughwehaveamaninoureyewhomwewishtheyhadintheirs。——NewYorkTribune。

Itwouldbebutanostentationofmodestytopermitsuchapointedreferencetomyselftopassunnoticed。Thisisthesecondtimethat’TheTribune’(nodoubtsincerelylookingtothebestinterestsofSpainandtheworldatlarge)hasdonemethegreatandunusualhonourtoproposemeasafitpersontofilltheSpanishthrone。Why’TheTribune’shouldsinglemeoutinthiswayfromthemidstofadozenAmericansofhigherpoliticalprominence,isaproblemwhichIcannotsolve。BeyondasomewhatintimateknowledgeofSpanishhistoryandaprofoundvenerationforitsgreatnamesandillustriousdeeds,IfeelthatIpossessnomeritthatshouldpeculiarlyrecommendmetothisroyaldistinction。IcannotdenythatSpanishhistoryhasalwaysbeenmother’smilktome。IamproudofeverySpanishachievement,fromHernandoCortes’svictoryatThermopylaedowntoVascoNunezdeBalboa’sdiscoveryoftheAtlanticocean;andofeverysplendidSpanishname,fromDonQuixoteandtheDukeofWellingtondowntoDonCaesardeBazan。However,theselittlegracesoferuditionareofsmallconsequence,beingmoreshowythanserviceable。

IncasetheSpanishsceptreispresseduponme——andtheindicationsunquestionablyarethatitwillbe——Ishallfeelitnecessarytohavecertainthingssetdownanddistinctlyunderstoodbeforehand。Forinstance:Mysalarymustbepaidquarterlyinadvance。Intheseunsettledtimesitwillnotdototrust。IfIsabellahadadoptedthisplan,shewouldberoostingonherancestralthroneto-day,forthesimplereasonthathersubjectsnevercouldhaveraisedthreemonthsofaroyalsalaryinadvance,andofcoursetheycouldnothavedischargedheruntiltheyhadsquaredupwithher。Mysalarymustbepaidingold;whengreenbacksarefreshinacountry,theyaretoofluctuating。Mysalaryhasgottobeputattherulingmarketrate;Iamnotgoingtocutunderonthetrade,andtheyarenotgoingtotrailmealongwayfromhomeandthenpractiseonmyignoranceandplaymeforaroyalNorthAdamsChinaman,byanymeans。AsIunderstandit,importedkingsgenerallygetfivemillionsayearandhouse-rentfree。YoungGeorgeofGreecegetsthat。Astherevenuesonlyyieldtwomillions,hehastotakethenationalnoteforconsiderable;butevenwiththingsinthatsortofshapeheisbetterfixedthanhewasinDenmark,wherehehadtoeternallystandupbecausehehadnothronetositon,andhadtogivebailforhisboard,becausearoyalapprenticegetsnosalarytherewhileheislearninghistrade。Englandistheplaceforthat。FiftythousanddollarsayearGreatBritainpaysoneachroyalchildthatisborn,andthisisincreasedfromyeartoyearasthechildbecomesmoreandmoreindispensabletohiscountry。LookatPrinceArthur。Atfirstheonlygottheusualbirth-bounty;butnowthathehasgotsothathecandance,thereissimplynotellingwhatwageshegets。

IshouldhavetostipulatethattheSpanishpeoplewashmoreandendeavourtogetalongwithlessquarantine。Doyouknow,Spainkeepsherportsfastlockedagainstforeigntrafficthree-fourthsofeachyear,becauseonedaysheisscaredaboutthecholera,andthenextabouttheplague,andnextthemeasles,nextthehoopingcough,thehives,andtherash?butshedoesnotmindleonineleprosyandelephantiasisanymorethanagreatandenlightenedcivilisationmindsfreckles。Soapwouldsoonremoveheranxiousdistressaboutforeigndistempers。ThereasonarablelandissoscarceinSpainisbecausethepeoplesquandersomuchofitontheirpersons,andthenwhentheydieitisimprovidentlyburiedwiththem。

IshouldfeelobligedtostipulatethatMarshalSerranobereducedtotherankofconstable,orevenroundsman。HeisnolongerfittobeCityMarshal。Amanwhorefusedtobekingbecausehewastoooldandfeeble,isillqualifiedtohelpsickpeopletothestation-housewhentheyarearmedandtheirformofdeliriumtremensisoftheexuberantanddemonstrativekind。

IshouldalsorequirethataforcebesenttochasethelateQueenIsabellaoutofFrance。HerpresencetherecanworknoadvantagetoSpain,andsheoughttobemadetomoveatonce;though,poorthing,shehasbeenchasteenoughheretofore——foraSpanishwoman。

Ishouldalsorequirethat——

Iamatthismomentauthoritativelyinformedthat"TheTribune"didnotmeanme,afterall。Verywell,Idonotcaretwocents。

THEAPPROACHINGEPIDEMIC

OnecalamitytowhichthedeathofMr。Dickensdoomsthiscountryhasnotawakenedtheconcerntowhichitsgravityentitlesit。Werefertothefactthatthenationistobelecturedtodeathandreadtodeathallnextwinter,byTom,Dick,andHarry,withpoorlamentedDickensforapretext。Allthevagabondswhocanspellwillafflictthepeoplewith"readings"fromPickwickandCopperfield,andalltheinsignificantswhohavebeenennobledbythenoticeofthegreatnovelistortransfiguredbyhissmilewillmakeamarketablecommodityofitnow,andturnthesacredreminiscencetothepracticaluseofprocuringbreadandbutter。Thelecturerostrumswillfairlyswarmwiththesefortunates。Alreadythesignsofitareperceptible。Beholdhowtheuncleancreaturesarewendingtowardthedeadlionandgatheringtothefeast:

"ReminiscencesofDickens。"Alecture。ByJohnSmith,whoheardhimreadeighttimes。

"RemembrancesofCharlesDickens。"Alecture。ByJohnJones,whosawhimonceinastreetcarandtwiceinabarbershop。

"RecollectionsofMr。Dickens。"Alecture。ByJohnBrown,whogainedawidefamebywritingdeliriouslyappreciativecritiquesandrhapsodiesuponthegreatauthor’spublicreadings;andwhoshookhandswiththegreatauthoruponvariousoccasions,andheldconversewithhimseveraltimes。

"ReadingsfromDickens。"ByJohnWhite,whohasthegreatdelineator’sstyleandmannerperfectly,havingattendedallhisreadingsinthiscountryandmadethesethingsastudy,alwayspractisingeachreadingbeforeretiring,andwhileitwashotfromthegreatdelineator’slips。

UponthisoccasionMr。W。willexhibittheremainsofacigarwhichhesawMr。Dickenssmoke。ThisReliciskeptinasolidsilverboxmadepurposelyforit。

"SightsandSoundsoftheGreatNovelist。"Apopularlecture。ByJohnGray,who,waitedonhistableallthetimehewasattheGrandHotel,NewYork,andstillhasinhispossessionandwillexhibittotheaudienceafragmentoftheLastPieceofBreadwhichthelamentedauthortastedinthiscountry。

"HeartTreasuresofPreciousMomentswithLiterature’sDepartedMonarch。"

Alecture。ByMissSerenaAmeliaTrypheniaMcSpadden,whostillwears,andwillalwayswear,agloveuponthehandmadesacredbytheclaspofDickens。OnlyDeathshallremoveit。

"ReadingsfromDickens。"ByMrs。J。O’HooliganMurphy,whowashedforhim。

"FamiliarTalkswiththeGreatAuthor。"Anarrativelecture。ByJohnThomas,fortwoweekshisvaletinAmerica。

Andsoforth,andsoon。Thisisn’thalfthelist。Themanwhohasa"ToothpickonceusedbyCharlesDickens"willhavetohaveahearing;andthemanwho"oncerodeinanomnibuswithCharlesDickens;"andtheladytowhomCharlesDickens"grantedthehospitalitiesofhisumbrelladuringastorm;"andthepersonwho"possessesaholewhichoncebelongedinahandkerchiefownedbyCharlesDickens。"Bepatientandlong-suffering,goodpeople,foreventhisdoesnotfillupthemeasureofwhatyoumustendurenextwinter。ThereisnocreatureinallthislandwhohashadanypersonalrelationswiththelateMr。Dickens,howeverslightortrivial,butwillshoulderhiswaytotherostrumandinflicthistestimonyuponhishelplesscountrymen。Tosomepeopleitisfataltobenoticedbygreatness。

THETONE-IMPARTINGCOMMITTEE

Igetoldandponderouslyrespectable,onlyonethingwillbeabletomakemetrulyhappy,andthatwillbetobeputontheVenerableTone-

ImpartingcommitteeofthecityofNewYork,andhavenothingtodobutsitontheplatform,solemnandimposing,alongwithPeterCooper,HoraceGreeley,etc。,etc。,andshedmomentaryfameatsecondhandonobscurelecturers,drawpublicattentiontolectureswhichwouldotherwiseclackeloquentlytosoundingemptiness,andsubdueaudiencesintorespectfulhearingofallsortsofunpopularandoutlandishdogmasandisms。ThatiswhatIdesireforthecheerandgratificationofmygrayhairs。LetmebutsituptherewiththosefinerelicsoftheOldRedSandstonePeriodandgiveTonetoanintellectualentertainmenttwiceaweek,andbesoreported,andmyhappinesswillbecomplete。Thosemenhavebeenmyenvyforlong,longtime。AndnomemoriesofmylifearesopleasantasmyreminiscenceoftheirlongandhonorablecareerintheTone-

impartingservice。IcanrecollectthatfirsttimeIeversawthemontheplatformsjustaswellasIcanremembertheeventsofyesterday。

HoraceGreeleysatontheright,PeterCooperontheleft,andThomasJefferson,RedJacket,BenjaminFranklin,andJohnHancocksatbetweenthem。Thiswasonthe22dofDecember,1799,ontheoccasionofthestate’funeralofGeorgeWashingtoninNewYork。Itwasagreatday,that——agreatday,andavery,verysadone。IrememberthatBroadwaywasonemassofblackcrapefromCastleGardennearlyuptowheretheCityHallnowstands。ThenexttimeIsawthesegentlemenofficiatewasataballgivenforthepurposeofprocuringmoneyandmedicinesforthesickandwoundedsoldiersandsailors。HoraceGreeleyoccupiedonesideoftheplatformonwhichthemusicianswereexalted,andPeterCoopertheother。TherewereotherTone-impartersattendantuponthetwochiefs,butIhaveforgottentheirnamesnow。HoraceGreeley,gray-hairedandbeaming,wasinsailorcostume——whiteduckpants,blueshirt,openatthebreast,largeneckerchief,looseasanox-bow,andtiedwithajauntysailorknot,broadturnovercollarwithstarinthecorner,shinyblacklittletarpaulinhatroostingdaintilyfarbackonhead,andflyingtwogallantlongribbons。Slippersonamplefeet,roundspectaclesonbenignantnose,andpitchforkinhand,completedMr。Greeley,andmadehim,inmyboyishadmiration,everyinchasailor,andworthytobethehonoredgreat-grandfatheroftheNeptunehewassoingeniouslyrepresenting。Ishallneverforgethim。Mr。Cooperwasdressedasageneralofmilitia,andwasdismallyandoppressivelywarlike。I

neglectedtoremark,intheproperplace,thatthesoldiersandsailorsinwhoseaidtheballwasgivenhadjustbeensentinfromBoston——thiswasduringthewarof1812。AtthegrandnationalreceptionofLafayette,in1824,HoraceGreeleysatontherightandPeterCoopertotheleft。TheotherTone-impartersofthedayaresleepingthesleepofthejustnow。IwasintheaudiencewhenHoraceGreeleyPeterCooper,andotherchiefcitizensimpartedtonetothegreatmeetingsinfavorofFrenchliberty,in1848。ThenIneversawthemanymoreuntilherelately;butnowthatIamlivingtolerablynearthecity,IrundowneverytimeIseeitannouncedthat"HoraceGreeley,PeterCooper,andseveralotherdistinguishedcitizenswilloccupyseatsontheplatform;"

andnextmorning,whenIreadinthefirstparagraphofthephonographicreportthat"HoraceGreeley,PeterCooper,andseveralotherdistinguishedcitizensoccupiedseatsontheplatform,"Isaytomyself,"ThankGod,Iwaspresent。"ThusIhavebeenenabledtoseethesesubstantialoldfriendsofminesitontheplatformandgivetonetolecturesonanatomy,andlecturesonagriculture,andlecturesonstirpiculture,andlecturesonastronomy,onchemistry,onmiscegenation,on"IsManDescendedfromtheKangaroo?"on,veterinarymatters,onallkindsofreligion,andseveralkindsofpolitics;andhaveseenthemgivetoneandgrandeurtotheFour-leggedGirl,theSiameseTwins,theGreatEgyptianSwordSwallower,andtheOldOriginalJacobs。Wheneversomebodyistolectureonasubjectnotofgeneralinterest,IknowthatmyveneratedRemainsoftheOldRedSandstonePeriodwillbeontheplatform;wheneveralectureristoappearwhomnobodyhasheardofbefore,norwillbelikelytoseektosee,Iknowthattherealbenevolenceofmyoldfriendswillbetakenadvantageof,andthattheywillbeontheplatform(andinthebills)asanadvertisement;andwheneveranynewandobnoxiousdeviltryinphilosophy,morals,orpoliticsistobesprunguponthepeople,Iknowperfectlywellthattheseintrepidoldheroeswillbeontheplatformtoo,intheinterestoffullandfreediscussion,andtocrushdownallnarrowerandlessgeneroussoulswiththesoliddeadweightoftheirawfulrespectability。

Andletusallrememberthatwhiletheseinveterateandimperishablepresiders(ifyouplease)appearontheplatformeverynightintheyearasregularlyasthevolunteeredpianofromSteinway’sorChickering’s,andhavebolsteredupandgiventonetoadealofquestionablemeritandobscureemptinessintheirtime,theyhavealsodiversifiedthisinconsequentialservicebyoccasionalpowerfulupliftingandupholdingofgreatprogressiveideaswhichsmallermenfearedtomeddlewithorcountenance。

OURPRECIOUSLUNATIC

[FromtheBuffaloExpress,Saturday,May14,1870。]

NewYORK,May10。

TheRichardson-McFarlandjuryhadbeenoutonehourandfiftyminutes。

Abreathlesssilencebroodedovercourtandauditory——asilenceandastillnesssoabsolute,notwithstandingthevastmultitudeofhumanbeingspackedtogetherthere,thatwhensomeonefarawayamongthethrongunderthenortheastbalconyclearedhisthroatwithasmotheredlittlecoughitstartledeverybodyuncomfortably,sodistinctlydiditgrateuponthepulselessair。Atthatimposingmomentthebangofadoorwasheard,thentheshuffleofapproachingfeet,andthenasortofsurgingandswayingdisorderamongtheheadsattheentrancefromthejury-roomtoldthemthattheTwelvewerecoming。Presentlyallwassilentagain,andtheforemanofthejuryroseandsaid:

"YourHonorandGentleman:We,thejurychargedwiththedutyofdeterminingwhethertheprisoneratthebar,DanielMcFarland,hasbeenguiltyofmurder,intakingbysurpriseanunarmedmanandshootinghimtodeath,orwhethertheprisonerisafflictedwithasadbutirresponsibleinsanitywhichattimescanbecheeredonlybyviolententertainmentwithfirearms,dofindasfollows,namely:

Thattheprisoner,DanielMcFarland,isinsaneasabovedescribed。

Because:

1。Hisgreatgrandfather’sstepfatherwastaintedwithinsanity,andfrequentlykilledpeoplewhoweredistastefultohim。Hence,insanityishereditaryinthefamily。

2。Fornineyearstheprisoneratthebardidnotadequatelysupporthisfamily。Strongcircumstantialevidenceofinsanity。

3。Fornineyearshemadeofhishome,asageneralthing,apoor-house;

sometimes(butveryrarely)acheery,happyhabitation;frequentlythedenofabeery,drivelling,stupefiedanimal;butnever,asfarasascertained,theabidingplaceofagentleman。Thesebeevidencesofinsanity。

4。Heoncetookhisyoungunmarriedsister-in-lawtothemuseum;whiletherehishereditaryinsanitycameuponhimtosuchadegreethathehiccuppedandstaggered;andafterward,onthewayhome,evenmadelovetotheyounggirlhewasprotecting。Thesearetheactsofapersonnotinhisrightmind。

5。Foragoodwhilehissufferingsweresogreatthathehadtosubmittotheinconvenienceofhavinghiswifegivepublicreadingsforthefamilysupport;andattimes,whenhehandedtheseshamefulearningstothebarkeeper,hishaughtysoulwassotornwithanguishthathecouldhardlystandwithoutleaningagainstsomething。Atsuchtimeshehasbeenknowntoshedtearsintohissustenancetillitdilutedtoutterinefficiency。InattentionofthisnatureisnottheactofaDemocratunafflictedinmind。

6。Heneversparedexpenseinmakinghiswifecomfortableduringheroccasionalconfinements。Herfatherisabletotestifytothis。Therewasalwaysanelementofunsoundnessabouttheprisoner’sgenerositiesthatisverysuggestiveatthistimeandbeforethiscourt。

7。TwoyearsagotheprisonercamefearlesslyupbehindRichardsoninthedark,andshothimintheleg。Theprisoner’sbraveandprotracteddefianceofanadversitythatforyearshadlefthimlittletodependuponforsupportbutawifewhosometimesearnedscarcelyanythingforweeksatatime,isevidencethathewouldhaveappearedinfrontofRichardsonandshothiminthestomachifhehadnotbeeninsaneatthetimeoftheshooting。

8。FourteenmonthsagotheprisonertoldArchibaldSmiththathewasgoingtokillRichardson。Thisisinsanity。

9。TwelvemonthsagohetoldMarshallP。JonesthathewasgoingtokillRichardson。Insanity。

10。NinemonthsagohewaslurkingaboutRichardson’shomeinNewJersey,andsaidhewasgoingtokillRichardson。Insanity。

11。SevenmonthsagoheshowedapistoltoSethBrownandsaidthatthatwasforRichardson。HesaidBrowntestifiedthatatthattimeitseemedplainthatsomethingwasthematterwithMcFarland,forhecrossedthestreetdiagonallyninetimesinfiftyyards,apparentlywithoutanysettledreasonfordoingso,andfinallyfellinthegutterandwenttosleep。HeremarkedatthetimethatMcFarlandactedstrange——believedhewasinsane。UponhearingBrown’sevidence,JohnW。Galen,M。D。,affirmedatoncethatMcFarlandwasinsane。

12。Fivemonthsago,McFarlandshowedhiscustomarypistol,inhiscustomaryway,tohisbed-fellow,CharlesA。Dana,andtoldhimhewasgoingtokillRichardsonthefirsttimeanopportunityoffered。Evidenceofinsanity。

13。FivemonthsandtwoweeksagoMcFarlandaskedJohnMorganthetimeofday,andturnedandwalkedrapidlyawaywithoutwaitingforananswer。

Almostindubitableevidenceofinsanity。And——

14。Itisremarkablethatexactlyoneweekafterthiscircumstance,theprisoner,DanielMcFarland,confrontedAlbertD。Richardsonsuddenlyandwithoutwarning,andshothimdead。Thisismanifestinsanity。

Everythingweknowoftheprisonergoestoshowthatifhehadbeensaneatthetime,hewouldhaveshothisvictimfrombehind。

15。Thereisanabsolutelyoverwhelmingmassoftestimonytoshowthatanhourbeforetheshooting,McFarlandwasANXIOUSANDUNEASY,andthatfiveminutesafterithewasEXCITED。Thustheaccumulatingconjecturesandevidencesofinsanityculminateinthissublimeandunimpeachableproofofit。Therefore——

YourHonorandGentlemen——WethejurypronouncethesaidDanielMcFarlandINNOCENTOFMURDER,BUTCALAMITOUSLYINSANE。

Thescenethatensuedalmostdefiesdescription。Hats,handkerchiefsandbonnetswerefranticallywavedabovethemassedheadsinthecourtroom,andthreetremendouscheersandatigertoldwherethesympathiesofthecourtandpeoplewere。Thenahundredpursedlipswereadvancedtokisstheliberatedprisoner,andmanyahandthrustouttogivehimacongratulatoryshake——butpresto!withamaniac’sownquicknessandamaniac’sownfurythelunaticassassinofRichardsonfelluponhisfriendswithteethandnails,bootsandofficefurniture,andtheamazingrapiditywithwhichhebrokeheadsandlimbs,andrentandsunderedbodies,tillnearlyahundredcitizenswerereducedtomerequiveringheapsoffleshyoddsandendsandcrimsonrags,waslikenothinginthisworldbuttheexultantfrenzyofaplunging,tearing,roaringdevilofasteammachinewhenitsnatchesahumanbeingandspinshimandwhirlshimtillheshredsawaytonothingnesslikea"Fouro’clock"beforethebreathofachild。

Thedestructionwasawful。ItissaidthatwithinthespaceofeightminutesMcFarlandkilledandcrippledsomesixscorepersonsandtoredownalargeportionoftheCityHallbuilding,carryingawayandcastingintoBroadwaysixorsevenmarblecolumnsfifty-fourfeetlongandweighingnearlytwotonseach。Buthewasfinallycapturedandsentinchainstothelunaticasylumforlife。

(Bylatetelegramsitappearsthatthisisamistake。——EditorExpress。)

Butthereallycuriouspartofthiswholematterisyettobetold。Andthatis,thatMcFarland’smostintimatefriendsbelievethattheverynexttimethatiteveroccurredtohimthattheinsanitypleawasnotamerepoliticpretense,waswhentheverdictcamein。Theythinkthatthestartlingthoughtburstuponhimthen,thatiftwelvegoodandtruemen,abletocomprehendallthebasenessofperjury,proclaimedunderoaththathewasalunatic,therewasnogainsayingsuchevidenceandthatheUNQUESTIONABLYWASINSANE!

Possiblythatwasreallythewayofit。Itisdreadfultothinkthatmaybethemostawfulcalamitythatcanbefallaman,namely,lossofreason,wasprecipitateduponthispoorprisoner’sheadbyajurythatcouldhavehangedhiminstead,andsodonehimamercyandhiscountryaservice。

POSTSCRIPT-LATER

May11——Idonotexpectanybodytobelievesoastoundingathing,andyetitisthesolemntruththatinsteadofinstantlysendingthedangerouslunatictotheinsaneasylum(whichInaturallysupposedtheywoulddo,andsoIprematurelysaidtheyhad)thecourthasactuallySETHIMAT

LIBERTY。Commentisunnecessary。M。T。

THEEUROPEANWARS——[FromtheBuffaloExpress,July25,1870。]

FirstDayTHEEUROPEANWAR!!!

NOBATTLEYET!!!

HOSTILITIESIMMINENT!!!

TREMENDOUSEXCITEMENT。

AUSTRIAARMING!

BERLIN,Tuesday。

Nobattlehasbeenfoughtyet。Buthostilitiesmayburstforthanyweek。

ThereistremendousexcitementhereovernewsfromthefrontthattwocompaniesofFrenchsoldiersareassemblingthere。

ItisrumouredthatAustriaisarming——whatwith,isnotknown……

SecondDayTHEEUROPEANWAR

NOBATTLEYET!

FIGHTINGIMMINENT。

AWFULEXCITEMENT。

RUSSIASIDESWITHPRUSSIA!

ENGLANDNEUTRAL!!

AUSTRIANOTARMING。

BERLIN,Wednesday。

Nobattlehasbeenfoughtyet。However,allthoughtfulmenfeelthatthelandmaybedrenchedwithbloodbeforetheSummerisover。

ThereisanawfulexcitementhereovertherumourthattwocompaniesofPrussiantroopshaveconcentratedontheborder。Germanconfidenceremainsunshaken!!

ThereisnewstotheeffectthatRussiaespousesthecauseofPrussiaandwillbring4,000,000mentothefield。

Englandproclaimsstrictneutrality。

ThereportthatAustriaisarmingneedsconfirmation……

ThirdDayTHEEUROPEANWAR

NOBATTLEYET!

BLOODSHEDIMMINENT!!

ENORMOUSEXCITEMENT!!

INVASIONOFPRUSSIA!!

INVASIONOFFRANCE!!

RUSSIASIDESWITHFRANCE。

ENGLANDSTILLNEUTRAL!

FIRINGHEARD!

THEEMPERORTOTAKECOMMAND。

PARIS,Thursday。

Nobattlehasbeenfoughtyet。ButFieldMarshalMcMahontelegraphsthustotheEmperor:

"IftheFrincharmysurvoivesuntilChristmasthere’llbethrouble。

Forninstthisfactitwouldbesagaciousifthedivilwinttheroundsofhisestablishmenttopreparefortheoccasion,andtuktheprecautiontowarrumupthePrussiandepairtmentabitagintheday。

MIKE。"

ThereisanenormousstateofexcitementhereovernewsfromthefronttotheeffectthatyesterdayFranceandPrussiaweresimultaneouslyinvadedbythetwobodiesoftroopswhichlatelyassembledontheborder。Botharmiesconductedtheirinvasionssecretlyandarenowhuntingaroundforeachotheronoppositesidesoftheborder。

RussiaespousesthecauseofFrance。Shewillbring200,000mentothefield。

Englandcontinuestoremainneutral。

FiringwasheardyesterdayinthedirectionofBlucherberg,andforawhiletheexcitementwasintense。Howeverthepeoplereflectedthatthecountryinthatdirectionisuninhabitable,andimpassablebyanythingbutbirds,theybecamequietagain。

TheEmperorsendshistroopstothefieldwithimmenseenthusiasm。Hewillleadtheminperson,whentheyreturn……

FourthDayTHEEUROPEANWAR!

NOBATTLEYET!!

THETROOPSGROWINGOLD!

BUTBITTERSTRIFEIMMINENT!

PRODIGIOUSEXCITEMENT!

THEINVASIONSSUCCESSFULLYACCOMPLISHED

ANDTHEINVADERSSAFE!

RUSSIASIDESWITHBOTHSIDES

ENGLANDWILLFIGHTBOTH!

LONDON,Friday。

Nobattlehasbeenfoughtthusfar,butamillionimpetuoussoldiersaregrittingtheirteethateachotheracrosstheborder,andthemostseriousfearsentertainedthatiftheydonotdieofoldagefirst,therewillbebloodshedinthiswaryet。

Theprodigiouspatrioticexcitementgoeson。InPrussia,perPrussiantelegrams,thoughcontradictedfromFrance。InFrance,perFrenchtelegrams,thoughcontradictedfromPrussia。

ThePrussianinvasionofFrancewasamagnificentsuccess。ThemilitaryfailedtofindtheFrench,butmadegoodtheirreturntoPrussiawithoutthelossofasingleman。TheFrenchinvasionofPrussiaisalsodemonstratedtohavebeenabrilliantandsuccessfulachievement。ThearmyfailedtofindthePrussians,butmadegoodtheirreturntotheVaterlandwithoutbloodshed,afterhavinginvadedasmuchastheywantedto。

ThereisgloriousnewsfromRussiatotheeffectthatshewillsidewithbothsides。

AlsofromEngland——shewillfightbothsides……

LONDON,Thursdayevening。

Irushedovertoosoon。IshallreturnhomeonTuesday’ssteamerandwaituntilthewarbegins。M。T。

THEWILDMANINTERVIEWED

[FromtheBuffaloExpress,September18,1869。]

Therehasbeensomuchtalkaboutthemysterious"wildman"outthereintheWestforsometime,thatIfinallyfeltitwasmydutytogooutandinterviewhim。Therewassomethingpeculiarlyandtouchinglyromanticaboutthecreatureandhisstrangeactions,accordingtothenewspaperreports。Hewasrepresentedasbeinghairy,long-armed,andofgreatstrengthandstature;uglyandcumbrous;avoidingmen,butappearingsuddenlyandunexpectedlytowomenandchildren;goingarmedwithaclub,butnevermolestinganycreature,exceptsheep,orotherprey;fondofeatinganddrinking,andnotparticularaboutthequality,quantity,orcharacterofthebeveragesandedibles;livinginthewoodslikeawildbeast,butneverangry;moaning,andsometimeshowling,butneverutteringarticulatesounds。

Suchwas"OldShep"asthepaperspaintedhim。Ifeltthatthestoryofhislifemustbeasadone——astoryofsuffering,disappointment,andexile——astoryofman’sinhumanitytomaninsomeshapeorother——andI

longedtopersuadethesecretfromhim……

"Sinceyousayyouareamemberofthepress,"saidthewildman,"Iamwillingtotellyouallyouwishtoknow。ByeandbyeyouwillcomprehendwhyitisthatIwishtounbosommyselftoanewspapermanwhenIhavesostudiouslyavoidedconversationwithotherpeople。Iwillnowunfoldmystrangestory。Iwasbornwiththeworldweliveupon,almost。IamthesonofCain。"

"What?"

"Iwaspresentwhenthefloodwasannounced。"

"Which?"

"IamthefatheroftheWanderingJew。"

"Sir?"

Imovedoutofrangeofhisclub,andwentontakingnotes,butkeepingawaryeyeonhimallthewhile。Hesmiledamelancholysmileandresumed:

"WhenIglancebackoverthedrearywasteofages,Iseemanyaglimmeringandmarkthatisfamiliartomymemory。Andoh,theleaguesIhavetravelled!thethingsIhaveseen!theeventsIhavehelpedtoemphasise!IwasattheassassinationofCaesar。ImarcheduponMeccawithMahomet。IwasintheCrusades,andstoodwithGodfreywhenheplantedthebannerofthecrossonthebattlementsofJerusalem。I——"

"Onemoment,please。Haveyougiventheseitemstoanyotherjournal?

CanI——"

"Silence。IwasinthePinta’sshroudswithColumbuswhenAmericaburstuponhisvision。IsawCharlesIbeheaded。IwasinLondonwhentheGunpowderPlotwasdiscovered。IwaspresentatthetrialofWarrenHastings。IwasonAmericansoilwhenthebattleofLexingtonwasfoughtwhenthedeclarationwaspromulgated——whenCornwallissurrendered——

WhenWashingtondied。IenteredPariswithNapoleonafterElba。Iwaspresentwhenyoumountedyourgunsandmannedyourfleetsforthewarof1812——whentheSouthfireduponSumter——whenRichmondfell——whenthePresident’slifewastaken。InalltheagesIhavehelpedtocelebratethetriumphsofgenius,theachievementsofarms,thehavocofstorm,fire,pestilence,famine。"

"Yourcareerhasbeenastirringone。MightIaskhowyoucametolocateinthesedullKansaswoods,whenyouhavebeensoaccustomedtoexcitementduringwhatImighttermsoprotractedaperiod,nottoputtoofineapointonit?"

"Listen。OnceIwasthehonouredservitorofthenobleandillustrious"

(hereheheavedasigh,andpassedhishairyhandacrosshiseyes)"butinthesedegeneratedaysIambecometheslaveofquackdoctorsandnewspapers。Iamdrivenfrompillartopostandhurriedupanddown,sometimeswithstencil-plateandpaste-brushtodefilethefenceswithcabalisticlegends,andsometimesingrotesqueandextravagantcharacteratthebehestofsomedrivingjournal。IattendedtothatOceanBankrobberysomeweeksago,whenIwashardlyrestedfromfinishingupthepow-wowaboutthecompletionofthePacificRailroad;immediatelyIwasspiritedofftodoanatrocious,murderforthebenefitoftheNewYorkpapers;nexttoattendtheweddingofapatriarchalmillionaire;nexttoraiseahurrahaboutthegreatboatrace;andthen,justwhenIhadbeguntohopethatmyoldboneswouldhavearest,Iambundledofftothishowlingwildernesstostrip,andjibber,andbeuglyandhairy,andpulldownfencesandwaylaysheep,andwaltzaroundwithaclub,andplay’WildMan’generally——andalltogratifythewhimofabedlamofcrazynewspaperscribblers?Fromoneendofthecontinenttotheother,Iamdescribedasagorilla,withasortofhumanseemingaboutme——andalltogratifythisquill-drivingscumoftheearth!"

"Pooroldcarpetbagger!"

"Ihavebeenservedinfamously,often,inmodernandsemi-moderntimes。

Ihavebeencompelledbybasementocreatefraudulenthistory,andtoperpetrateallsortsofhumbugs。IwrotethosecrazyJuniusletters,I

mopedinaFrenchdungeonforfifteenyears,andworearidiculousIronMask;IpokedaroundyourNorthernforests,amongyourvagabondIndians,asolemnFrenchidiot,personatingtheghostofadeadDauphin,thatthegapingworldmightwonderifwehad’aBourbonamongus’;Ihaveplayedsea-serpentoffNahant,andWoolly-HorseandWhat-is-itforthemuseums;

IhaveinterviewedpoliticiansfortheSun,workedupallmannerofmiraclesfortheHerald,cipheredupelectionreturnsfortheWorld,andthunderedPoliticalEconomythroughtheTribune。Ihavedonealltheextravagantthingsthatthewildestinventioncouldcontrive,anddonethemwell,andthisismyreward——playingWildManinKansaswithoutashirt!"

"Mysteriousbeing,alightdawnsvaguelyuponme——itgrowsapace——what——whatisyourname。"

"SENSATION!"

"Hence,horribleshape!"

Itspokeagain:

"Ohpitilessfate,mydestinyhoundsmeoncemore。Iamcalled。Igo。

Alas,istherenorestforme?"

InamomenttheWildMan’sfeaturesseemedtosoftenandrefine,andhisformtoassumeamorehumangraceandsymmetry。Hisclubchangedtoaspade,andheshouldereditandstartedawaysighingprofoundlyandsheddingtears。

"Whither,poorshade?"

"TODIGUPTHEBYRONFAMILY!"

Suchwastheresponsethatfloatedbackuponthewindasthesadspiritshookitsringletstothebreeze,flourisheditsshovelaloft,anddisappearedbeyondthebrowofthehill。

Allofwhichisinstrictaccordancewiththefacts。

M。T。

LASTWORDSOFGREATMEN——[FromtheBuffaloExpress,September11,1889。]

MarshalNeil’slastwordswere:"L’armeefran-caise!"(TheFrencharmy。)——Exchange。

Whatasadthingitistoseeamancloseagrandcareerwithaplagiarisminhismouth。Napoleon’slastwordswere:"Teted’armee。"

(Headofthearmy。)Neitherofthoseremarksamountstoanythingas"lastwords,"andreflectlittlecreditupontheutterers。

Adistinguishedmanshouldbeasparticularabouthislastwordsasheisabouthislastbreath。Heshouldwritethemoutonaslipofpaperandtakethejudgmentofhisfriendsonthem。Heshouldneverleavesuchathingtothelasthourofhislife,andtrusttoanintellectualspiritatthelastmomenttoenablehimtosaysomethingsmartwithhislatestgaspandlaunchintoeternitywithgrandeur。No——amanisapttobetoomuchfaggedandexhausted,bothinbodyandmind,atsuchatime,tobereliable;andmaybetheverythinghewantstosay,hecannotthinkoftosavehim;andbesidestherearehisweepingfriendsbotheringaround;

andworsethanallaslikelyasnothemayhavetodeliverhislastgaspbeforeheisexpectingto。Amancannotalwaysexpecttothinkofanattythingtosayundersuchcircumstances,andsoitispureegotisticostentationtoputitoff。Thereishardlyacaseonrecordwhereamancametohislastmomentunpreparedandsaidagoodthinghardlyacasewhereamantrustedtothatlastmomentanddidnotmakeasolemnbotchofitandgooutoftheworldfeelingabsurd。

NowtherewasDanielWebster。Nobodycouldtellhimanything。Hewasnotafraid。Hecoulddosomethingneatwhenthetimecame。Andhowdiditturnout?Why,hiswillhadtobefixedover;andthenalltherelationscame;andfirstonethingandthenanotherinterfered,tillatlastheonlyhadachancetosay,"Istilllive,"anduphewent。

Ofcoursehedidn’tstilllive,becausehedied——andsohemightaswellhavekepthislastwordstohimselfastohavegoneandmadesuchafailureofitasthat。Aweekbeforethatfifteenminutesofcalmreflectionwouldhaveenabledthatmantocontrivesomelastwordsthatwouldhavebeenacredittohimselfandacomforttohisfamilyforgenerationstocome。

AndtherewasJohnQuincyAdams。Relyingonhissplendidabilitiesandhiscoolnessinemergencies,hetrustedtoahappyhitatthelastmomenttocarryhimthrough,andwhatwastheresult?DeathsmotehimintheHouseofRepresentatives,andheobserved,casually,"Thisisthelastofearth。"Thelastofearth!Why"thelastofearth"whentherewassomuchmoreleft?Ifhehadsaiditwasthelastroseofsummerorthelastrunofshad,itwouldhavehadasmuchpointinit。Whathemeanttosaywas,"AdamwasthefirstandAdamsisthelastofearth,"butheputitoffatrifletoolong,andsohehadtogowiththatunmeaningobservationonhislips。

AndtherewehaveNapoleon’s"Teted’armee。"Thatdon’tmeananything。

Takenbyitself,"Headofthearmy,"isnomoreimportantthan"Headofthepolice。"Andyetthatwasamanwhocouldhavesaidagoodthingifhehadbarredoutthedoctorandstudiedoveritawhile。MarshalNeil,withhalfacenturyathisdisposal,couldnotdashoffanythingbetterinhislastmomentsthanapoorplagiarismofanotherman’swords,whichwerenotworthplagiarizinginthefirstplace。"TheFrencharmy。"

Perfectlyirrelevant——perfectlyflatutterlypointless。Butifhehadclosedoneeyesignificantly,andsaid,"ThesubscriberhasmadeitlivelyfortheFrencharmy,"andthenthrownalittleofthecomicintohislastgasp,itwouldhavebeenathingtorememberwithsatisfactionalltherestofhislife。Idowishourgreatmenwouldquitsayingtheseflatthingsjustatthemomenttheydie。Letushavetheirnext-

to-the-lastwordsforawhile,andseeifwecannotpatchupfromthemsomethingthatwillbemoresatisfactory。

Thepublicdoesnotwishtobeoutragedinthiswayallthetime。

Butwhenwecometocalltomindthelastwordsofpartieswhotookthetroubletomaketheproperpreparationfortheoccasion,weimmediatelynoticeahappydifferenceintheresult。

TherewasChesterfield。LordChesterfieldhadlabouredallhislifetobuildupthemostshiningreputationforaffabilityandeleganceofspeechandmannerstheworldhaseverseen。Andcouldyousupposehefailedtoappreciatetheefficiencyofcharacteristic"lastwords,"inthematterofseizingthesuccessfullydrivennailofsuchareputationandclinchingontheothersideforever?Nothe。Hepreparedhimself。

Hekepthiseyeontheclockandhisfingeronhispulse。Heawaitedhischance。Andatlast,whenheknewhistimewascome,hepretendedtothinkanewvisitorhadentered,andso,withtherattleinhisthroatemphasisedfordramaticeffect,hesaidtotheservant,"Shinaround,John,andgetthegentlemanachair。"Andsohedied,amidthundersofapplause。

NextwehaveBenjaminFranklin。Franklin,theauthorofPoorRichard’squaintsayings;Franklintheimmortalaxiom-builder,whousedtositupatnightsreducingtherankestoldthreadbareplatitudestocrispandsnappymaximsthathadanice,varnished,originallookintheirregimentals;whosaid,"Virtueisitsownreward;"whosaid,"Procrastinationisthethiefoftime;"whosaid,"Timeandtidewaitfornoman"and"Necessityisthemotherofinvention;"goodoldFranklin,theJoshBillingsoftheeighteenthcentury——though,soothtosay,thelattertranscendshiminproverbialoriginalityasmuchashefallsshortofhimincorrectnessoforthography。WhatsortoftacticsdidFranklinpursue?Heponderedoverhislastwordsforasmuchastwoweeks,andthenwhenthetimecame,hesaid,"Nonebutthebravedeservethefair,"

anddiedhappy。Hecouldnothavesaidasweeterthingifhehadlivedtillhewasanidiot。

Byronmadeapoorbusinessofit,andcouldnotthinkofanythingtosay,atthelastmomentbut,"Augusta——sister——LadyByron——tellHarrietBeecherStowe"——etc。,etc。,——butShakespearewasreadyandsaid,"Englandexpectseverymantodohisduty!"andwentoffwithsplendideclat。

Andthereareotherinstancesofsagaciouspreparationforafelicitousclosingremark。Forinstance:

JoanofArcsaid,"Tramp,tramp,tramptheboysaremarching。"

AlexandertheGreatsaid,"AnotherofthoseSantaCruzpunches,ifyouplease。"

TheEmpressJosephinesaid,"NotforJo-"andcouldgetnofurther。

Cleopatrasaid,"TheOldGuarddies,butneversurrenders。"

SirWalterRaleighsaid,"Executioner,canItakeyourwhetstoneamoment,please?"thoughwhatforisnotclear。

JohnSmithsaid,"Alas,Iamthelastofmyrace。"

QueenElizabethsaid,"Oh,Iwouldgivemykingdomforonemomentmore——

Ihaveforgottenmylastwords。"

AndRedJacket,thenoblestIndianbravethateverwieldedatomahawkindefenceofafriendlessandpersecutedrace,expiredwiththesetouchingwordsuponhislips,"Wawkawampanoosucwinnebayowallazvsagamoresa-

skatchewan。"Therewasnotadryeyeinthewigwam。

Letnotthislessonbelostuponourpublicmen。Letthemtakeahealthymomentforpreparation,andcontrivesomelastwordsthatshallbeneatandtothepoint。LetLouisNapoleonsay,"Iamcontenttofollowmyuncle——still,Idonotwishtoimproveuponhislastword。Putmedownfor’Teted’armee。’"

AndGarretDavis,"Letmerecitetheunabridgeddictionary。"

AndH。G。,"Idesire,now,tosayafewwordsonpoliticaleconomy。"

AndMr。Bergh,"Onlytakepartofmeatatime,iftheloadwillbefatiguingtothehearsehorses。"

AndAndrewJohnson,"Ihavebeenanalderman,MemberofCongress,Governor,Senator,Pres——adieu,youknowtherest。"

AndSeward。,"Alas!-ka。"

AndGrant,"O。"

Allofwhichisrespectfullysubmitted,withthemosthonorableintentions。

M。T。

P。S。——Iamobligedtoleaveouttheillustrations。Theartistfindsitimpossibletomakeapictureofpeople’slastwords。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫,醒来一梦似千年,重生于下堂妃身躯中的她,将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读

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