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the complete works of artemus ward, part 1-第42章

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several interesting incidents in the private life of Hannibal; and
our sketch was copied by almost every paper in America and by
several European journals。  A few months ago a 〃traveled〃 friend
showed us the sketch in a Parisian journal; and possibly it is
〃going the rounds〃 of the Chinese papers by this time。  A few days
after we had printed his obituary Hannibal came to town with Van
Amburgh's Menagerie; and the same type which killed the monster
restored him to life again。

About once a year Hannibal

                  〃Gets on a spree;
                   And goes bobbin around。〃

to make a short quotation from a once popular ballad。  These sprees;
in fact; 〃is what's the matter with him。〃

The other day; in Williamsburg; Long Island; he broke loose in the
canvas; emptied most of the cages; and tore through the town like a
mammoth pestilence。  An extensive crowd of athletic men; by jabbing
him with spears and pitchforks; and coiling big ropes around his
legs; succeeded in capturing him。  The animals he had set free were
caught and restored to their cages without much difficulty。

We doubt if we shall ever forget our first view of Hannibalwhich
was also our first view of any elephantof THE elephant; in short。
It was at the close of a sultry day in June; 18。  The sun had
spent its fury and was going to rest among the clouds of gold and
crimson。  A solitary horseman might have been seen slowly ascending
a long hill in a New England town。  That solitary horseman was us;
and we were mounted on the old white mare。  Two bags were strapped
to the foaming steed。  That was before we became wealthy; and of
course we are not ashamed to say that we had been to mill; and
consequently THEM bags contained flour and middlins。  Presently a
large object appeared at the top of the hill。  We had heard of the
devil; and had been pretty often told that he would have a clear
deed and title to us before long; but had never heard him painted
like the object which met our gaze at the top of that hill on the
close of sultry day in June。  Concluding (for we were a mere youth)
that it was an eccentric whale; who had come ashore near North
Yarmouth; and was making a tour through the interior on wheels; we
hastily turned our steed and made for the mill at a rapid rate。
Once we threw over ballast; after the manner of balloonists; and as
the object gained on us we cried aloud for our parents。  Fortunately
we reached the mill in safety; and the object passed at a furious
rate; with a portion of a woodshed on its back。  It was Hannibal;
who had run away from a neighboring town; taking a shed with him。

                      。    。    。    。    。

DRANK STANDIN。Col。  is a big 〃railroad man。〃  He attended a
railroad supper once。  Champagne flowed freely; and the Colonel got
more than his share。  Speeches were made after the removal of the
cloth。  Somebody arose and eulogized the Colonel in the steepest
possible mannercalled him great; good; patriotic; enterprising;
&c。; &c。  The speaker was here interrupted by the illustrious
Colonel himself; who arising with considerable difficulty; and
beaming benevolently around the table; gravely said; 〃Let's (hic)
drink that sedimunt standin!〃  It was done。


1。48。  HOW THE NAPOLEON OF SELLERS WAS SOLD。

We have read a great many stories of which Winchell; the great wit
and mimic; was the hero; showing always how neatly and entirely he
sold somebody。  Any one who is familiar with Winchell's wonderful
powers of mimicry cannot doubt that these stories are all
substantially true。  But there is one instance which we will relate;
or perish in the attempt; where the jolly Winchell was himself sold。
The other evening; while he was conversing with several gentlemen at
one of the hotels; a dilapidated individual reeled into the room and
halted in front of the stove; where he made wild and unsuccessful
efforts to maintain a firm position。  He evidently had spent the
evening in marching torchlight processions of forty…rod whisky down
his throat; and at this particular time was decidedly and
disreputably drunk。  With a sly wink to the crowd; as much as to
say; 〃We'll have some fun with this individual;〃 Winchell assumed a
solemn face; and in a ghostly voice said to one of the company:

〃The poor fellow we were speaking of is dead!〃

〃No?〃 said the individual addressed。

〃Yes;〃 said Winchell; 〃you know both of his eyes were gouged out;
his nose was chawed off; and both of his arms were torn out at the
roots。  Of course; he could'nt recover。〃

This was all said for the benefit of the drunken man; who was
standing; or trying to stand; within a few feet of Winchell; but he
took no sort of notice of it; and was apparently ignorant of the
celebrated delineator's presence。  Again Winchell endeavored to
attract his attention; but utterly failed as before。  In a few
moments the drunken man staggered out of the room。

〃I can generally have a little fun with a drunken man;〃 said
Winchell; 〃but it is no go in this case。〃

〃I suppose you know what ails the man who just went out?〃 said the
〃gentlemanly host。〃

〃I perceive he is alarmingly inebriated;〃 said Winchell; 〃does
anything else ail him?〃

〃Yes;〃 said the host; 〃HE'S DEAF AND DUMB!〃

This was true。  There was a 〃larf;〃 and Winchell; with the remark
that he was sorry to see a disposition in that assemblage 〃to
deceive an orphan;〃 called for a light and went gravely to bed。


1。49。  ON AUTUMN。

Poets are wont to apostrophize the leafy month of June; and there is
no denying that if Spring is 〃some;〃 June is Summer。  But there is a
gorgeous magnificence about the habiliments of Nature; and a teeming
fruitfulness upon her lap during the autumnal months; and we must
confess we have always felt genially inclined towards this season。
It is true; when we concentrate our field of vision to the minute
garniture of earth; we no longer observe the beautiful petals; nor
inhale the fragrance of a gay parterre of the 〃floral epistles〃 and
〃angel…like collections〃 which Longfellow (we believe) so
graphically describes; and which Shortfellows so fantastically carry
about in their buttonholes; but we have all their tints reproduced
upon a higher and broader canvas in the kaleidoscopic colors with
which the sky and the forest daily enchant us; and the beautiful and
luscious fruits which Autumn spreads out before us; and

         〃Crowns the rich promise of the opening Spring。〃

In another point of view Autumn is suggestive of pleasant
reflections。  The wearying; wasting heat of Summer; and the deadly
blasts with which her breath has for some years been freighted; are
past; and the bracing north winds begin to bring balm and healing on
their wings。  The hurly…burly of travel; and most sorts of publicity
(except newspapers); are fast playing out; and we can once more hope
to see our friends and relations in the happy sociality of home and
fireside enjoyments。  Yielding; as we do; the full force to which
Autumn is seriously entitled; or rather to the serious reflections
and admonitions which the decay of Nature and the dying year always
inspire; and admitting the poet's decade

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