, 1866-05-11
A scripturaI Panorama.--Fi,,.d - M =.

MARK TWAIN tells the following "entertainip,
history Of the ScriPtural panorama"
Ihere was fellow travelling around. in tbs
country SAID Mr.. NicGerson,l with a moral 70
hgious show-a sort of 4 SeripturaI nonoraro,
Iand he hired woOdeh-kcaded old slab I,
pay the piano for him. After the Grst nigbt',
performance, the Snowman saws;
IrIenui you seem to know pretty much al
tne tunes there are, and you worry alono 6rsi
rate. But, then, didn't you notice that Some.
Fin t"ss esq As foRR BRsffO Yfi Gle hPfS5rfte b
speSN-didn seem to jibe with the general
gait Of the picture that was passing at the time
as 1t were-was little foreign to the subject,
you know-as if you didn't either trump or fol.
low suit, you undarstandg'
"Well, no" the fellow said; he hadn't noticed
but 1t might be- be had played along, Just as il
came handy. -
So they put it up that the simple old dummy
was to keep his eje on the panorama after that
and as soon as a stunning picture was reaIed
| out, De was to fit to n dot with a piece of music
that would help the audience get the idea of the
snhgect sad warm them up like a camp meeting
revival. That sort Of ihihg would corral their
sympathies, the Snowman said
mere vas big audience that night-mostIy
mlddle-aEed and old people, who belonged to
tue church, and took a strong interest in Bible
matters, and the balance were pretty much
stronR on panoramas, you know, because it
gives them chance to taste enc another's mugs
! in the dark
Well, the Snowman began to swell himself IN
for his lecture, and the old mud-dobber tackled
the piano and run his fingers DIP aid down once
Or twice. TO see tha. CHE was all right, and the
fellows behind The curtain commenced to grind
out the panorama. The Snowman balanced his
weight on his right foot, and propped his hands
M ia ptA l,i obo III
der 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.
py expression just breaking over the features of
the poor suffering youth-so worn and weary
with his long march; note also the ectasy beam,
Ing from the uphfted corntenance of the aged
father, and the joy that sparkles in the eyes of
the excited group of youths and maidens, ami
seems ready to burst in welcoming chorus
from their lips. This lesson, my friends, is as
solemn and instructive as the story is tender
aud beautiful"
The mud -dobber was all ready, and the second
the speech was finished he struck up:
oh, well all get blind drunk
When Johnny comes marching home -
Some ofthe people giggled, and some groaned
little. The Snowman couldn't say a word.
He looked at the piano sharp, but he was all
lovely and SeTene-he didn't know there WAS
The PNrorlml moved on, and the Snowman
drummed up his Eirt and started fresh: ..
ladies and gentlemen, the fine picture now
unfolding itself to your gaze, exhibits one Of the
most notable events in Bible history-our Sal
vior and his disciples upon the sea of Galilcc.
How grand how awc-inspring are the relec
tions which the subject inyOkeS What Sublim-
Ivy of .tth is revealed TO US in this lesson from
the sacred writings The SIvior rebukes the
angry waves, and walks securely upon the bos
ON of the deep
All around the house they were whispering:
"Oh, how lovely, how beautiful" and the or.
chestra let himself out again
ooh, a life on tlre ocean wave
Aud a homo OF the rolling deepr'
There was good deal of honest snickerng
turned on this time, and considerable groauing
and one or two old deNCoE5 got up and went
out. The Snowman -rittei his teeth and cuI sed
the piano-rau to himself, but the fellow sat
there like a knot on log ami seemed to think
be was doing first rate.
After things got quiet, the Snowman thought
he would make one more s,agger at it, anyhow,
though his confidence was beginning to get
mighty shaky. The supes started the panorama
to grinding again, aud he says: Il
Ladies' and gentlemen, this exquisite paint !
ing illustrates the raising of Lazarus from the
dead by our savior. The 5rhject has been han
died with rare &bility by lhe artist, and such
touching sweetness and tenderness of expression
has he thrown into it, that have known pecu-
liarly sensitive per Ons to be even affected to
tears by looking at it, Observe the half-con-
fused halfinquiring 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 the 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 go along with me !"
1t was rough on the audience, you bet. All
the solemn old fats got up in n huff TO GO, and
everybody else laughed till the windows ratified
The Snowman went down and grabbed the
orchestra and shook him up, and says:
"That lets you out, you know, you chowder-
headed old clam Go to the dOor.keeper and
get your money, and cut your stick !-vamose
the ranch Ladies' and gentlemen, circumstao-
ces.over which have no control compel me pre-
maturely to dismiss"
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