Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-05-23
Mark Twain and His Style.


ple object of laughing, and without being
called upon to enter the combat against
some particular sect or doctrine, and with
out danger of coming across anything with
a tendency to insult or injure. One can
read Mark Twain, too, without being
obliged to study out mutilations of the
English language, about as difficult to de-
cipher as Egyptian hieroglyphics. There
is nothing, in fact, to interfere with a.good,
hearty enjoyment, such as one experiences
in a lively farce ON the stage. Mark
Twain's writings have been current and 60
ing the rounds of the press for a couple of
wears, but the present book is the first col
lection of them. 1t is merely promise of
something better in future, brought out by
appreciation and encouragement.
The book is dedicated to John Smith,
whom the author processes to have known
in various parts of the world, and as he has
learned that the man to whom volume is
dedicated Away buys copy, he anticipates
that princely aff1uence is about to burst
upon him. +.
The first account, which furnishes the
title to his book, is funny, from the ingeni-
Gus way in which it is introduced and the
fluency which characterizes its ehumor
Mark took letter of introduction to an
old gentleman, a resident of Angels Camp,
and was told to inquire particularly after
one Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, who had
been an early and intimate friend of the old
gentleman Of Angels Camp, and in this
way his good graces might be effectually
secured. No sooner was the name men
toned than the old man began an inter-
minable story about one Jim Smiley, who
had lived in those parts some time ago and
"was the curiosest man about always bet
ting on anything that turned up you ever
see; if he could get anybody to bet on the
other side, and if he couldn't, he'd change
Sides" He would bet on dog fight, or a
cat fight, or chicken fight, or horse race
If there were two birds on fence, he
would bet on which one would fly first If
there was camp meeting he would bet on
Parson Walker. If he saw straddle- bug,
long it would take him to go to it, and then
order to win his bet. He once inquired
after Parson Walkers wife, who had been
i'll, and, when told by her husband that
hopes we're entertained of her recovery,
says, "I'n risk two and a half that she
don't, This was the Individual who
owned bull-pup, which would always hold
off until the bets were all made, then
catch his antagonist by the hind leg and
hold on till the sponge was thrown up.
This pup was pronounced genius, and
was never conquered until his master
fought him against dog that had no hind
legs when he died from very chagrin.
Smilley's sporting proclivlties finally got
him into a scrape. He had frog, which
he had educated to jump and catch flies.
He had never succeeded in getting bet on
the frogs capacity for jumping, until one
day stranger said that she didn't think
the frog was much Of jumper, and if he
had frog himself, he would bet forty dol
lars on his jumping" Smiley Immediate
iy offered to procure frog, and, the money
being put up, went out for that purpose.
Having brought back a second animal, the
two betters touched up their frogs, and
while the strange one jumped with all his
might and main, Smilley's pet could not
move. The bet was lost, and, the stranger
having departed with his money, Smiley
took up his favorite, and turned him upside
Down, and the water bird belched out a
double handful Of shot. The old gentle |
men had an rnexhaustible fund of anec- |
iotes concerning Smiley, and was about |
with the recital when Mark got |
up and left him.
Then follows an affecting story about |
Unfortunate Young Man. Azure.
ia presents the following short summary
IF events concerning her lover, and asks |
Marks advice as to what course she shall |
pursue: When sixteen years old, she met |
ind loved, with all the devotion of a pas
ionate nature, young man from New |
Jersey, named Williamson Breckenridge |
Jaruthers. They were engaged under the |
most fiattering auspices. But at last the
ide of fortune turned; young Caruthers
became infected with the small pox of the |
most virulent type, and when he recovered |
rom his illness his face was pitted like
gaffie-mould, and his comeliness gone for
,ver" Aurelia thought to break off the
but pity for her lover caused
Ter to postpone the marriage day, and give
linn another trial. The day before the
marriage was to have taken place, Brock
nridge, while absorbed in watching the
light of a balloon, walked into well, and
,e taken off. Again Aurel'a was moved TO
freak off the engagement, but relented.
| gain misfortune overlook the unhappy |
onth. He lost one arm by the discharge
f a Fourth-ofJuly, cannon, and within
hree months got the other pulled out by
arding machine. Still the girls brave
oul bore her up, and she resolved to bear
With her friends unnatural disposition yet
while longer. Caruthers fell sick with
he erysipelas, and lost the use of one of
lis eyes. Now the lady's friends insisted
hat the match should be broken OFT But
Aurella, with a generous spirit that did her
redlt, could not see that Rreckinrldge was |