首页 >出版文学> Curious Republic of Gondour>第2章
  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。