Judge — October 8, 1887 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OMEHOW the news of the strange transac- tions of the club had got so generally cir- culated that the room was full at the nextmeeting and chairs had to be borrowed from the undertaker down stairs, and Bostwick looked actu- ally sacreligious as he sat on one of the pedestals covered with serge which had upheld so many caskets in its honorable career. Before the president could allude to the strange revelations of the Bohemian who attended our last meeting, a long-haired, cadaverous youth with a remarkably well-fitted coat and a pliable, cavernous mouth addressed the chair. “Mr. President, perhaps an introduction will not be necessary, as many present know me in my professional capacity. You may k ve met me at watering places where I give readings in the parlors for a sleeping-place up stairs. Or you may have seen me at private parties, where F All in. the intervals with selections from Shakespeare or the modern poets. Ifso the name of Slidell Banks is not unknown to you.” The president nodded assent and the club looked curiously to see if he had any manuscript sticking out of his pocket. ‘* Elocution h had its effect not only on the rostrum, pulpit, and stump, but it has made itself felt in literature,” said B: santly, ‘* Poems are now written with a view to being picked up and recited by eminent readers. The novel is written so that if the author becomes famous. his book will sound well read in public. History is even written in dramatic episodes, so that the elocutionist may hack off an age or period nd give it in public. Elocution is becoming the most popular enter- tainment of our day. Perhaps you have noticed how susceptible peo- pleare becoming. Sometimes now, when *’Ostler Joe,’ or ‘ Mulberry Bill,’ or the ‘Angels of Buena Vista’ is going to be given, the wh roomful are so afraid of the pathetic parts making them weep that they leave the roon Bostwick said he had noticed it, but had attributed it, toadifferent feeling. timent, pure sentiment,” said Bank: . “or possibly some have been careless and provided no Nandkerchief to weep in. I have seen them come back wiping off their chin and eyes. But asa literary club I wish to give you a specimen of a new venture in elocution. _In this yoein, when printed, there will be beside each verse a figure of a man in the attitude and making the gesture appropriate to the text, for you will notice that every verse demands a gesture. I flatter myself Ihave struck a new thing in declamation, and [ only ask that no man give me awa: Tall my little effusion A MOMENT OF PEAIL Through the northern Rocky mountains pierces the Canadian Where the snowy peaks in splendor near Mount Head in white re shine, re the shri nnotives wake the echoes long asleep, ics of alleee wrap the pinesin quiet sleep; Where the grizzly li the grandeur of his undixputed sway Walked ainid the hills and valleys, stri Ing down bis cowering prey. While the eagle screamed and whistird ‘as he soared in circles wide, Where the cataract is tumbled down tle craggy mountain shle, ‘There along these mountain ledges man has carved an iron th Hanglag oer the dizzy ees, careless of the whirtwind's wrath: Leaping o'er the grucse Then adown some win dark and green: chasms where no bottom may be g pathway where the pines are Where the red man of the forest trembles as he hears the shi Of the fire devouring monster clothed in thunder smoke end feel, And be, shuddering. folds his blanket round his cowering form and 1-8 To the distant forest canons where no shrieks of fury rise, Here the tourist from the city, pale and careworn, serketh hea Leaving far be ud the youthful ant the aged clad In fashion’s latest jruise, Feast their souls oa balmy odors and on scenery grand thelr eyes. But ‘tis here ‘mid these surroundings that the tale I have to tell With its horror and its anguish just a year ago befell: And the pathos and the sorrow shall oppress the coming years, ‘And weigh down my troubled spirit, so you must not miad my tear the train upon the summit of that far Canadian hull, “the pasengers in rapture of the scrvery drank thelr Or picked flowersalong the roadside, or drank water from the Or in Parties walked o'er trestles, lifting up the volce to sing. Sto “All aboard.” cried the conductor, ‘The express from the Pacific com I must reach you switch and siding inten minutes, or a crash Will hurl us down the mountain side in one eternal smash.” But they hear a cry before them: on the trestle. prone at rest, Lies a brawny fellow voyager, with a tree across his breast Which had fallen from the mountain and had cast him on his back In the middle of the tresfle and the centre of the track. Ire eyes were moistene | by a sympathetic ined willing flogers pulled the wretched man in vain, nd the curve before them thundered on the coming Let my wife bend down and kis me, let my children say farewell: Do not wait for axe to clear me, fora minute now will tell Of the end of life's brief story and the future's gruesome Lay some my d ent o'er my features that I may not see Then already came the tremble of the bridge beneath the train, And the wife and children st ‘as they backward ran in palo, When up spakea collar drummer from the goodly town of Troy. *Tean save that pintoned victim with the belp of one small boy. “Take him by the collar, culty; when I xay, pull with ‘your might, For I sre the locomotive comes around the curve in sight. This man’s a New York boodler, don't you know what you're about ? When I say ‘Judge Barrett wants you,’ you will see him quick slhle out” ‘Then with the roar of thunder the express went ou its way, Sweeping off the heavy tree-top as a giant would at play, While the wife lay on the bosom of the rescued man in tears And the passengers in rapture gave three very hearty cheers, But the modest little drummer from the goodly town of Troy ‘Was the centre of attraction in that tearful scene of joy, And he said in duing business he adhered to ove old plat Which is, "Don't unpack your samples till you've ca up your man,” comicbooks.com