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。