第2章

类别:其他 作者:Mark Twain字数:17713更新时间:19/01/04 15:30:50
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。