sketches new and old-第9章
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explosion shivered the stove into a thousand fragments。 However； it did
no further damage； except that a vagrant piece knocked a couple of my
teeth out。
〃That stove is utterly ruined；〃 said the chief editor。
I said I believed it was。
〃Well； no matterdon't want it this kind of weather。 I know the man
that did it。 I'll get him。 Now； here is the way this stuff ought to be
written。〃
I took the manuscript。 It was scarred with erasures and interlineations
till its mother wouldn't have known it if it had had one。 It now read as
follows：
SPIRIT OF THE TENNESSEE PRESS
The inveterate liars of the Semi…Weekly Earthquake are evidently
endeavoring to palm off upon a noble and chivalrous people another
of their vile and brutal falsehoods with regard to that most
glorious conception of the nineteenth century； the Ballyhack
railroad。 The idea that Buzzardville was to be left off at one side
originated in their own fulsome brainsor rather in the settlings
which they regard as brains。 They had better； swallow this lie if
they want to save their abandoned reptile carcasses the cowhiding
they so richly deserve。
That ass； Blossom； of the Higginsville Thunderbolt and Battle Cry of
Freedom； is down here again sponging at the Van Buren。
We observe that the besotted blackguard of the Mud Springs Morning
Howl is giving out； with his usual propensity for lying； that Van
Werter is not elected。 The heaven…born mission of journalism is to
disseminate truth； to eradicate error； to educate； refine； and
elevate the tone of public morals and manners； and make all men more
gentle； more virtuous； more charitable； and in all ways better； and
holier； and happier； and yet this blackhearted scoundrel degrades
his great office persistently to the dissemination of falsehood；
calumny； vituperation； and vulgarity。
Blathersville wants a Nicholson pavementit wants a jail and a
poorhouse more。 The idea of a pavement in a one…horse town composed
of two gin…mills； a blacksmith shop； and that mustard…plaster of a
newspaper； the Daily Hurrah！ The crawling insect； Buckner； who
edits the Hurrah； is braying about his business with his customary
imbecility； and imagining that he is talking sense。
〃Now that is the way to writepeppery and to the point。 Mush…and…milk
journalism gives me the fan…tods。〃
About this time a brick came through the window with a splintering crash；
and gave me a considerable of a jolt in the back。 I moved out of range
I began to feel in the way。
The chief said； 〃That was the Colonel； likely。 I've been expecting him
for two days。 He will be up now right away。〃
He was correct。 The Colonel appeared in the door a moment afterward with
a dragoon revolver in his hand。
He said； 〃Sir； have I the honor of addressing the poltroon who edits this
mangy sheet？〃
〃You have。 Be seated； sir。 Be careful of the chair； one of its legs is
gone。 I believe I have the honor of addressing the putrid liar； Colonel
Blatherskite Tecumseh？〃
〃Right； Sir。 I have a little account to settle with you。 If you are at
leisure we will begin。〃
〃I have an article on the 'Encouraging Progress of Moral and Intellectual
Development in America' to finish； but there is no hurry。 Begin。〃
Both pistols rang out their fierce clamor at the same instant。 The chief
lost a lock of his hair； and the Colonel's bullet ended its career in the
fleshy part of my thigh。 The Colonel's left shoulder was clipped a
little。 They fired again。 Both missed their men this time； but I got my
share； a shot in the arm。 At the third fire both gentlemen were wounded
slightly； and I had a knuckle chipped。 I then said； I believed I would
go out and take a walk； as this was a private matter； and I had a
delicacy about participating in it further。 But both gentlemen begged me
to keep my seat； and assured me that I was not in the way。
They then talked about the elections and the crops while they reloaded；
and I fell to tying up my wounds。 But presently they opened fire again
with animation； and every shot took effectbut it is proper to remark
that five out of the six fell to my share。 The sixth one mortally
wounded the Colonel； who remarked； with fine humor； that he would have to
say good morning now； as he had business uptown。 He then inquired the
way to the undertaker's and left。
The chief turned to me and said； 〃I am expecting company to dinner； and
shall have to get ready。 It will be a favor to me if you will read proof
and attend to the customers。〃
I winced a little at the idea of attending to the customers； but I was
too bewildered by the fusillade that was still ringing in my ears to
think of anything to say。
He continued； 〃Jones will be here at threecowhide him。 Gillespie will
call earlier； perhapsthrow him out of the window。 Ferguson will be
along about fourkill him。 That is all for today； I believe。 If you
have any odd time； you may write a blistering article on the policegive
the chief inspector rats。 The cowhides are under the table； weapons in
the drawerammunition there in the cornerlint and bandages up there in
the pigeonholes。 In case of accident； go to Lancet； the surgeon； down…
stairs。 He advertiseswe take it out in trade。〃
He was gone。 I shuddered。 At the end of the next three hours I had been
through perils so awful that all peace of mind and all cheerfulness were
gone from me。 Gillespie had called and thrown me out of the window。
Jones arrived promptly； and when I got ready to do the cowhiding he took
the job off my hands。 In an encounter with a stranger； not in the bill
of fare； I had lost my scalp。 Another stranger； by the name of Thompson；
left me a mere wreck and ruin of chaotic rags。 And at last； at bay in
the corner； and beset by an infuriated mob of editors； blacklegs；
politicians； and desperadoes； who raved and swore and flourished their
weapons about my head till the air shimmered with glancing flashes of
steel； I was in the act of resigning my berth on the paper when the chief
arrived； and with him a rabble of charmed and enthusiastic friends。 Then
ensued a scene of riot and carnage such as no human pen； or steel one
either； could describe。 People were shot； probed； dismembered； blown up；
thrown out of the window。 There was a brief tornado of murky blasphemy；
with a confused and frantic war…dance glimmering through it； and then all
was over。 In five minutes there was silence； and the gory chief and I
sat alone and surveyed the sanguinary ruin that strewed the floor around
us。
He said； 〃You'll like this place when you get used to it。〃
I said； 〃I'll have to get you to excuse me； I think maybe I might write
to suit you after a while； as soon as I had had some practice and learned
the language I am confident I could。 But； to speak the plain truth； that
sort of energy of expression has its inconveniences； and a； man is liable
to interruption。
You see that yourself。 Vigorous writing is calculated to elevate the
public； no doubt； but then I do not like to attract so much attention as
it calls forth。 I can't write with comfort when I am interrupted so much
as I have been to…day。 I like this berth well enough； but I don't like
to be left here to wait on the customers。 The experiences are novel；
I grant you； and entertaining； too； after a fashion； but they are not
judiciously distributed。 A gentleman shoots at you through the window
and cripples me； a bombshell comes down the stovepipe for your
gratification and sends the stove door down my throat； a friend drops in
to swap compliments with you； and freckles me with bullet…holes till my
skin won't hold my principles； you go to dinner； and Jones comes with his
cowhide； Gillespie throws me out of the window； Thompson tears all my
clothes off； and an entire stranger takes my scalp with the easy freedom
of an old acquaintance； and in less than five minutes all the blackguards
in the country arrive in their war…paint； and proceed to scare the rest
of me to death with their tomahawks。 Take it altoget
