Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-20
A scripturaI Panorama.

| The following entertaining history o
an scriptural panorama, is one of Mari
Twain's best contributions to humorou
literature: A
"There was fellow travelling arounC
in that country (said Mrs Nickerson
with moral religious show-a sort o
scriptural panorama-and he hired {
wooden-headed old slab to play the piano
for him. After the first nights perform
ance the Snowman says: lofftnkN
My friend, you seem to know pretty
much all the tunes there are, and you
worry along first rate. But, then, didn'
you notice that sometimes last night, the
piece you happened to be playing was
little rough on the proprieties, so tC
speak-didn't seem to jibe with the gen
eral gait of the picture that was passing
at the time, as it were-was little for
eign to the subject, you know-as if you
didn't either trump or follow suit, you
understand
"Well, no" the fellow said; he hadn't
noticed but it might be; he played along
just as it came handy, 81, ~
$50 they put it up that the simple old
dummy was to keep his eye on the pano-
rama, after that, and as soon as a stun
ming picture was reeled out, he was to fit
it to dot with a piece of music that
would help the audience to get the idea
of the subject, and warm them up like a
camp meeting revival. That sort of
thing would corral their their sympa-
thies, the Snowman said.
There was big audience that night
mostly middle aged and old people
who belonged to the church, and took a
strong interest in Bible matters, and the
balance pretty much young bucks and
heifers--they always come out strong on
panoramas, you know, because it gives
them a 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 all was right, and the fellows
behind the curtain commenced to grind
out the panorama. The Snowman bal
aneed his weight on his right foot, and
propped his hands on his hips, and flung
his eyes over his shoulder at the scenery
and said:
Ladies and gentlemen; The paint
ing now before you illustrates the beau
tiful and touching parable Of the Prodi-
gal Son. Observe the happy expressions
Just breaking over the face of the poor,
suffering youth-so worn and weary with
his long march; note also the ecstacy
beaming from the uplifted countenance
of the aged father, and the JOY that
sparkles in the eyes Of the excited
youths and maidens, and seems ready to
burst in a welcoming chorus from their
lips. The lesson, my friends, is as sol
emn and instructive as the theory is ten
der and beautiful.
"The mud-dobber was all ready, and
the second the speech was finished he
strnck up; VHF FUW U4aW WNa
b '.''s Obi wen all ret blind drunk
When Johnny comes marching homeF
Some Of the people giggled and some
rroand a little. The Snowman couldn't
say a word. He looked at the piano
sharp, but he was all lovely and serene
he didn't know there was anything out
Of gear. .ffoff il4aH
"The panorama moved on, and the
Snowman drummed up his grit and
started IN afresh
Ladies and gentlemen, the fine pic
ture now unfolding itself 10 your gaze
exhibits one Of the most notable events
in Bible history-Our Savior and his dis
cipies upon the Sea Of Galilee. How
grand. how ave-inspiFing are the reAec-
tons which the subject invokesl What
sublimity Of faith is revealed tons in this
lesson from the sacred writingsl The
Savior rshukes the angry waves, and
walks securely upon the bosom Of the
deep ffin q itllll9a