The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1869-07-04
rHH RELIABLE conTRABAHD.
From Packard. Monthly for July.l

From Packard's Monthly for July.]
Mr.. President aud Gentlemen 1t 10
my painful duty to mar these festivities
with the announcement Of the death
of one who was dear to US all-our tiled
and noble friend the " reliable contra
band" To the world at large this event
will bring no sorrow, for the world never
compreheuded him never knew him
as We did never had such cause to
love him but unto US the calamity
brings unutterable anguish, for it her
aids the loss of one whose great h0rt
beat for US alone, whose tireless tongue
vibrated in our interest only. whose fer
vent fancy wrought its miracles solely
for our enrichment aud renown.
In that time what did be not do for
US? When marvels languished aud
sensation dispatches grew tame, who
was it that laid down the shovel and
the hoe and came with healing on his
wings? The reliable cOntrabaud. When
armies fed in panic and dismay, and
the great cause seemed lost beyond all
hope of succor, who was it that turned
the tide of war and gave victory TO the
vanquished ? The reliable conlraband.
When despair hung its shadows about
the hearts of the people, and sorrow sat
on every face, who was it that braved
every danger to bring cheering and ip-
news from the front
The reliable contrahand. Who took |
Richmond the 6rst time? The reliable
Who took it the second
time The reliable contraband. Who |
took it every time until the last, and |
then. felt the bitterness Of hearing
nation applaud the man more who took |
it once than the greater man who had |
taken il SIX times before The reliable !
When we needed a blood |
less victory to whom did we look to win
t? The reliable contrabaud. When
We needed news to make the peoples |
bowels yearn, and their knotied and |
combined locks to stang on end like
,uills upon the fre,ful porcupine, to
v hom did we look to fetch it ? The re-
liable conrrabard. When we needed
my sort or description of news, upon
my sort or description of subject, who
vas it that stood always ready TO steal
horse aud bring that news aioog? The
eliable contraband.
My friends, he was the fai,hfulest vas
al that ever fought, bled and lied
n the glorious ranks of journal
sm. Thunder and lightning never
uopped him annihilated railroads
lever delayed him the telegraph never
him /; military secrets never
rippled his knowledge; stragetic feints
lever confused his judgment cannon
,alis couldn't kill him clairvoyauce
ould't find bin; Satan himself couldn't
atch him. His information comprised
IL knowledge, possible and impossible;
lis Imagination was utterly boundless;
liz capacity to make mighty state
nents, and so back them up as 10 make
n inch oftruth cover an acre of ground,
without appearing to stretch or tear.
vas a thing that appalled, even the most
lnimpressible with its awful grandeur.
The reliable contraband is NO more
sorn of the war, and a necessity of the
Is progress, took note of its successes
md reverses, manufactured and record
d tie most thrilling features of Tvs
ally history, and then. when it died,
is great mission was fulfilled. his &C.
upation gone, and he died likewise.
No journalist here present can lay his
and upon his heart and say be had not
ause to love this faithful creature,
yer whose upsentient form We drop 1
lese unwilling tears-for no journalist ,
mong US can lay bis hand upon his
cart and say be ever lied with such
athos, unction, such exquisite symme-
y, such sublimity of conception and +
lch felicity of execution, as when be q
id it through and by the inspiration
this really gifted marvel of mendaci-
?, the lamentable reliable contraband,
esce to his ashes Respectfully,
MARX TWAIN.