按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
have informed agin him as a traitor to his flag; and had him
put in Fort Lafayette。
I say adoo to Quebeck with regret。 It is old…fogyish; but
chock…full of interest。 Young gentlemen of a romantic turn of
mind; who air botherin' their heads as to how they can spend
their father's money; had better see Quebeck。
Altogether I like Canady。 Good people and lots of pretty
girls。 I wouldn't mind comin' over here to live in the
capacity of a Duke; provided a vacancy occurs; and provided
further I could be allowed a few star…spangled banners; a
eagle; a boon of liberty; etc。
Don't think I've skedaddled。 Not at all。 I'm coming home in
a week。
Let's have the Union restored as it was; if we can; but if we
can't; I'M IN FAVOR OF THE UNION AS IT WASN'T。 But the Union;
anyhow。
Gentlemen of the editorial corpse; if you would be happy be
virtoous! I who am the emblem of virtoo; tell you so。
(Signed;) 〃A Ward。〃
2。11。 THE NOBLE RED MAN。
The red man of the forest was form'ly a very respectful
person。 Justice to the noble aboorygine warrants me in sayin'
that orrigernerly he was a majestic cuss。
At the time CHRIS。 arrove on these shores (I allood to CHRIS。
COLUMBUS); the savajis was virtoous and happy。 They were
innocent of secession; rum; draw…poker; and sinfulness
gin'rally。 They didn't discuss the slavery question as a
custom。 They had no Congress; faro banks; delirium tremens;
or Associated Press。 Their habits was consequently good。
Late suppers; dyspepsy; gas companies; thieves; ward
politicians; pretty waiter…girls; and other metropolitan
refinements; were unknown among them。 No savage in good
standing would take postage…stamps。 You couldn't have bo't a
coonskin with a barrel of 'em。 The female Aboorygine never
died of consumption; because she didn't tie her waist up in
whale…bone things; but in loose and flowin' garments she
bounded; with naked feet; over hills and plains; like the wild
and frisky antelope。 It was a onlucky moment for us when
CHRIS。 sot his foot onto these 'ere shores。 It would have
been better for us of the present day if the injins had given
him a warm meal and sent him home ore the ragin' billers。 For
the savages owned the country; and COLUMBUS was a fillibuster。
CORTEZ; PIZARRO; and WALKER were one…horse fillibusters
COLUMBUS was a four…horse team fillibuster; and a large yaller
dog under the waggin。 I say; in view of the mess we are
makin' of things; it would have been better for us if cOLUMBUS
had staid to home。 It would have been better for the show
bisniss。 The circulation of 〃Vanity Fair〃 would be larger;
and the proprietors would all have boozum pins! Yes; sir; and
perhaps a ten…pin alley。
By which I don't wish to be understood as intimatin' that the
scalpin' wretches who are in the injin bisness at the present
day are of any account; or calculated to make home happy;
specially the Sioxes of Minnesoty; who desarve to be murdered
in the first degree; and if POPE will only stay in St。 Paul
and not go near 'em HIMSELF; I reckon they will be。
2。12。 ARTEMUS WARD IN RICHMOND。
Richmond; Va。May; 18 & 65。
OLONZO WARD。
Afore I comments this letter from the late rebil capitol I
desire to cimply say that I hav seen a low and skurrilus noat
in the paper from a certin purson who singes hisself Olonzo
Ward; & sez he is my berruther。 I did ONCE hav a berruther of
that name; but I do not recugnize him now。 To me he is wuss
than ded! I took him from collige sum 16 years ago and gave
him a good situation as the Bearded Woman in my Show。 How did
he repay me for this kindness? He basely undertook (one day
while in a Backynalian mood on rum & right in sight of the
aujience in the tent) to stand upon his hed; whareby he
betray'd his sex on account of his boots & his Beard fallin'
off his face; thus rooinin' my prospecks in that town; &
likewise incurrin' the seris displeasure of the Press; which
sed boldly I was triflin with the feelin's of a intelligent
public。 I know no such man as Olonzo Ward。 I do not even
wish his name breathed in my presents。 I do not recognize
him。 I perfectly disgust him。
RICHMOND。
The old man finds hisself once more in a Sunny climb。 I cum
here a few days arter the city catterpillertulated。
My naburs seemed surprised & astonisht at this darin' bravery
onto the part of a man at my time of life; but our family was
never know'd to quale in danger's stormy hour。
My father was a sutler in the Revolootion War。 My father once
had a intervoo with Gin'ral La Fayette。
He asked La Fayette to lend him five dollars; promisin' to pay
him in the Fall; but Lafy said 〃he couldn't see it in those
lamps。〃 Lafy was French; and his knowledge of our langwidge
was a little shaky。
Immejutly on my 'rival here I perceeded to the Spotswood
House; and callin' to my assistans a young man from our town
who writes a good runnin' hand; I put my ortograph on the
Register; and handin' my umbrella to a baldheded man behind
the counter; who I s'posed was Mr。 Spotswood; I said; 〃Spotsy;
how does she run?〃
He called a cullud purson; and said;
〃Show the gen'lman to the cowyard; and giv' him cart number
1。〃
〃Isn't Grant here?〃 I said。 〃Perhaps Ulyssis wouldn't mind my
turnin' in with him。〃
〃Do you know the Gin'ral?〃 inquired Mr。 Spotswood。
〃Wall; no; not 'zacky; but he'll remember me。 His
brother…in…law's Aunt bought her rye meal of my uncle Levi
all one winter。 My uncle Levi's rye meal was〃
〃Pooh! pooh!〃 said Spotsy; 〃don't bother me;〃 and he shuv'd
my umbrella onto the floor。 Obsravin' to him not to be so
keerless with that wepin; I accompanid the African to my
lodgins。
〃My brother;〃 I sed; 〃air you aware that you've bin
mancipated? Do you realize how glorus it is to be free? Tell
me; my dear brother; does it not seem like some dreams; or do
you realize the great fact in all its livin' and holy
magnitood?〃
He sed he would take some gin。
I was show'd to the cowyard and laid down under a one…mule
cart。 The hotel was orful crowded; and I was sorry I hadn't
gone to the Libby Prison。 Tho' I should hav' slept comf'ble
enuff if the bed…clothes hadn't bin pulled off me durin' the
night; by a scoundrul who cum and hitched a mule to the cart
and druv it off。 I thus lost my cuverin'; and my throat feels
a little husky this mornin'。
Gin'ral Hulleck offers me the hospitality of the city; givin
me my choice of hospitals。
He has also very kindly placed at my disposal a smallpox
amboolance。
UNION SENTIMENT。
There is raly a great deal of Union sentiment in this city。 I
see it on ev'ry hand。
I met a man to…dayI am not at liberty to tell his name; but
he is a old and inflooentooial citizen of Richmond; and sez
he; 〃Why! We've bin fightin' agin the Old Flag! Lor' bless
me; how sing'lar!〃 He then borrer'd five dollars of me and
bust into a flood of teers。
Sed another (a man of standin' and formerly a bitter rebuel);
〃Let us at once stop this effooshun of Blud! The Old Flag is
good en