The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-25

Panorama Of Paradise Lost.
We have had . pretty good fill Of Paradise
Lost, with all its photographic and panoramic
particulars, but there il room for Mark |
Twain's entertaining history Of the Scriptur-
al panorama he saw, and afterwards dsscrib |
cd - follows in the casifornias:
A sCRIPruRAL PANoRAxA-rIrrED 70 MUSIC. |
Mark Twain tells the following sensertaininp, |
history Of the Scriptural panorama;
There was fellow travelling around, in that |
country, (said Mr.. Nickerson, with moral re- |
ligious show sort of Scliptural panorama
and he hired wooden-headed old slab to play
the piano for him. After the first nights
performance, the Snowman says:
My friend, you seem to know pretty much
all the tunes there are and you worry along first
rate. But, then, didn't you notice that some
times, last night, the place you happened to be
playing was little rough on the proprieties, 80
to speak-didn't seem to Jibe with the general
gait OF the picture that was passing at the time,
you know-ss if you didn't either trump or fol-
low suit, you understand ?"
''Wel!, no." the fellow said: he hadn't MOTTO
ed, but 1t might be; he had played along, just as
it came handy"
So they put it up that the simple old dummy
was to keep his eye on the panorama after that,
and as soon as stunning picture reeled out,
ne was to MT It TO dot with piece of music
that would help the audience get the idea of the
subject, and warm them up like a camp-meeting
revival That sort of thing would corral their
sympathies, the Snowman said
There was = big audience that nght-mostly
middle-aged and old people, who belonged to the
church and took strong interest in bible mat
tiers, and the balance were pretty much young
bucks and heifers-taey always come out strong
on panoramas, you know, because it gives them
chance to taste one another's mugs in the
dark.
Well, the Snowman began to swell himself up
for his lecture, and the old mud-dobber tackled
the piano and run his fingers up and down once
or twice to see that she was all right and the
fellow behind the curtain commenced to grind
out the panorama. The Snowman balanced his
weight on his right foot, and propped his hands
on his hips, and flung his eyes over his shoulder
at the scenery, and says:
Ladies' and gentlemen, the painting now be-
fore you illustrates the beautiful and touching
parable of the Prodigal Son. Observe the hap
Ply expression just breaking over the features of
the poor, suffering youth-so worn and weary
with his long march; note also the ecstacy
beaming from the uphfted countenance of the
aged father and the joy that sparkles in the eyes
of the excited group of youths and maidens, and
| seems ready TO burst in a welcoming chorus
| from their lips. The lesson, my friends, Is as
solemn and instructive the story is tender and
| beautiful.
| The mud-dobber was all ready, and the second
| the speech was finished he struck up:
"Oh, we'll all get blind drunk
! When JOHNNY comes marching home ~
Some of the people giggled, and some groaned
! q little. The Snowman couldn't say aword.-
| He looked at the piano sharp, but he was all
lovely and serene-he didn't know there was any
| ss.c m of gear
! The panofhma .H~-~a ard che ahnwrn q n
| drummed upon his grit and started in fresh.
| 'Ladies and gentlemen, the fine picture now
unfolding itself TO your gaze, exhibits one of the
most moi table events in bible history-onr Savior
| and his disciples upon the Sea of Galilee. How
grand, how awe-inspiring the reflections which.
the subject invokes What sublimty of faith is
| revealed to US in this lesson from the sacred
| writings! The Savior rebukes the angry waves,
and walks securely upon the bosom of the
deep
| All around the house they were whispering -
| ooh, how lovely, how beautiful p and the Or
chestra let himself out again:
| "Oh, a life on the ocean wave,
| And a home on the rolling deep"'
| There was good deal of honest snickering
turned on this time, and considerable grooming,
| and one or two old deaeone got up and went
| out. The Snowman gritted his teeth and cursed
the piano-man to himself, but the fellow sat there
ike Knot on q log and seemed 70 mink ne was
| doing frst-rate.
| After things got quiet, the Snowman thought
| he would make one more stagger at it, anyhow,
though his confidence was beginning to get
mighty snaky. The supes started the panorama
| to grinding again, and he says;
Ladies' and gentlemen, this exquisite painting
| illustrates the raising of Lazarus from the dead
| by our Savior. The subject has been handled
with ability by the artist, and such touching
| sweetness and tenderness ofexpression has been
thrown into it, that have known peculiarly SEN
sitive persons to be even affected to tears BY
looking at it. Observe the half-confused, half
| inquirlng look upon the countenance of the
awakening Lazarus Observe, also, the attitude
| and expression of the Savior, who takes him
gently by the sleeve of his shroud with one hand,
while he points with the other toward the distant
city"
Before anybody could get off an opinion in the
case, the innocent old ass at the piano struck
up:
"Come rise up, William Ridley,
And 60 along with me ~
1t was rough on the audience, you bet. AL the
solemn old flats got up in huff to go, and every
body else laughed till the windows ratified.
The Snowman went down and grabbed the
orchestra and shook him up, and says:
''That let's you ont, you know, you chowder-