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。