The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-28
marx Twain,s Panorama Story.

Mark Twain's Panorama Story.
The following entertaining history of
scriptl,raI panorama" is one of Mark Twains
best contributions to humorous literature:
There was a fellow travelling around in that
country, said Mr.. Nickerson, with a moral re-
igious show-a sort of scriptural panorama
the piano for him. After the first nights per-
formance the Snowman says:
'My friend, you seem to know pretty much
all the tunes there are, and you worry along
first rate. But then, don't you notice that some
times last night the piece you happened to be
playing was little rough on the proprletles, SO
to speak-didn't seem to jibe with the general
gait of the picture that was passing at the
time, as it were-was little foreign to the sub
iect, you know-as if you didn't either trump
or follow suit you understandw,
"Well, no. the fellow said; che hadn't no.
ticed but it 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 a stunning picture was reeled
out, he was to fit it to dot with piece OF
music that would help the audience to get the
idea of the subject, and warm them up like
camp-meeting revival. That sort OF thing
would corral their sympathies, the Snowman
said. =,
There was big audience that night-mostly
middle-aged and old people who belonged to
the church and took strong interest IN Bible
matters, and the balance were pretty much
Young bucks and heifers-they always come out
strong on panoramas, you know, because itgives
them chance to taste one another's mug 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 fellows behind the curtain commenced
to grind out the panorama. The Snowman
balanced his weight on his right foot, and
propped his hands over his hips, and flung his
eyes over his shoulder at the scenery, and SAID ::
Ladies' and gentlemen, the painting now
before you illustrates the beautiful and touch
ing parable of the Prodigal Son. Observe the
happy expression just breaking over the fea,,
lures of the poor, suffering youth-so worn and
weary with his long march; note also the &C.
of the aged father, and the JOY that sparkles in
the ewes of the excited group of youths and
maidens and seems ready to burst in welcom-
ing chorus from their lips. The lesson, my
friends, is as solemn and instructive as the sto-
ry is tender and beautiful"
The mud-dobber was all ready, and when the
second 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
little. The Snowman couldn't say word;
He looked at the pianist sharp, but he was all
lovely and serene-he didn't know there was
anything out of gear.
The panorama moved on, and the Snowman
drummed up his grit and started in fresh:
Ladies and gentlemen, the fine picture now
unfolding itself to your gaze exhibits one OF
the most notable events in Bible history-our
Saviour and his disciples upon the sea of Gal
lice. How grand, how awe-inspiring are the
reflections which the subject invokes !! What
sublimity of faith is revealed to us in this les
son from the sacred writings! The Saviour re-
Dukes 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:
ooh, life on the ocean wave,
And home the rolling deep"
| There was good deal of honest snickering
turned on this time, and considerable groanlng,
and one or two old deacons got up and went out.
The Snowman grated his teeth and cursed the
piano man to himself, but the fellow sat there
like knot on leg, and seemed to think he
was doing first rate. :.
After things got quiet, the Snowman thought
he would make one more stagger at 1t, an yhow,
though his confidence was beginning to get
mighty shaky. The supes started the pano-
rama to grinding along again, and lie says:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this exquisite paint
ing illustrates the raising of Lazarus from the
dead by our Saviour. The subject has been
handled with rare ability by the artist, and such
touching sweetness and tenderness of express
sion has he thrown into it, that have known
peculiarly sensitive persons to be even affected
TO tears by looking at it. Observe the half
confused, half inquiring look upon the coun-
tenance of the awakened Lazarus Observe,
also, the attitude and expression of the Saviour,
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 Ri-i-i-ley,
And so along with me"
1t was rough on the audience, you bet. All
the solemn old flats got up in huff to 60, and
everybody else laughed till the windows rat
tied.
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, circum-
stances, over which have no control, compel
me prematurely to dismiss"
NEWSPAPER DEcIsIoN.-At recent term OF
our District Court, suit was determined at
the suit of the Galveston Ne,cs, involving a
question of some interest to publishers of news
papers and their subscribers. The defendant
had prepaid his subscription to the News for
air nonths after the exniration of which time,