The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-08-31
History of a Scriptural Panorama.

history OF ocrlpLuTal TdAoI dAha'
Mark Twain. in the Alta California, tells tie follow
ing story of Scriptura Panorama, which we give to
our readers as relief from and politics Some OF
our venerable lady friends think we do not put enough
piey in the paper but we are determined from TINS
out not to render ourselves obnoxious to the critcsH
There was a fellow travelling around in that country,
said Mr.. Nickerson, with moral religious shoW--a
sort of scriptura panorama-and he hired a wooden
headed old slab to play the piano fer him Alter the
first nights performance the Snowman says:
MY friend, you seem to know pretty much all the
tunes there are and you worry along hrst rate But
then don't you notice that times last night the
piece you happened to be playing was little rough
on the prophecies; so to speak-didnt seem to joe
with the general gait of the picture that was passing
at the time, it little foreign to the SUBJ
iect, you know-as if you didn't trump or follow suit,
you understand"
"Wel no." the fellow said che hadn't noticed,
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 bis eye the panorama after that, and soon
stunning picture reeled out, he to fit it to
a dot with piece of music that would help the audi
to get the idea of the subject and them up
like campmeeting revival That sort of thing would
corral their sympathes, the Snowman said.
There was big audience that night-mostly middle
aged and old people who belonged to the church, and
took very strong interest in Bible matters, and the
balance were pretty much young bucks and heifers-
they always come out strong on panoraas, you know
because it gives them chance to taste anothers
mug in the dark.
Well the Snowman began to swell himself up for his
lecture and the old muddobber tackled the piano and
run his fingers up and down twice to that
she all right, and the fellows behind the curtain
commenced to grind out the panorama. The Snowman
balanced his weight 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 before
you illustrates the beautiful and touching parable of
the Prodigal Son. Observe the happy expression
just breaking over the features of the poor suffering
youth-so worn and weary With his long march note
also the ecstasy beaming from the upifted counten
ance OF tie aged father, and the Joy that sparkles in
the eyes of the excited groups of youths and madens
and seems ready to burst the welcoming chorus
from their lips. The lesson, my friends is as solemn
and instructive as the story is tender and beautiful"
The mud dobber all ready, end when the second
speech was finished struck up:
"Oh, we'll all get blind drunk,
When Johnny comes marching homer
Some of the people gigged, and groaned
little. The Snowman couldn't say word. He looked
at the pianist sharp, but be all lovely and serene
he didn't know there was anything out of gear.
The panorama moved on, and the Snowman drum |
med up his grit and started in fresh:
Ladies' and gentlemen, the fine picture now I'M
folding itself to your gaze exhibits of the most
notable events in the Bible history-our Saviour and
bis discp pies upon the Sea of Galilee How grand, |
how inspiring are the reflections which the subject
invokes What sublimty of faith is revealed to US in
this lesson from the sacred writings? The Saviour
rebukes the angry waves and walks securely upon the
bosom OF the deepr'
All around the house they were whispering: ooh,
how lovely, how beautiful and the orchestra let him
self out again
" Oh, life on the ocean waTe
And a home on the rolling deep ~
There good deal of honest snickering turned
on this time, and considerable groanng, and one or
two old deacons got up and went out. The Snowman
grated his teeth and cursed the piano to himself
but the fellow sat there like a knot on a log and
seemed to think he doing first rate
After things got quiet, tbs Snowman thought he
would make one more stagger at it, anyhow, though
his confidence was beginning to get mighty shaky.
The supes started the panorama to grinding along
again, and he says
Ladies and gentlemen this exquisite painting Illus
traes the raising of Lazarus from the dead BY our
Savior. The subject has been handled with rare ability
by the artist and such touching sweetness and tender
ness OF expression 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
halt nquring look upon the couDtenance of the awak.
ened Lazarus Observe Also the attitude and express
sion of the Saviour, who takes him gently by the
sleeve of his shroud with hand, while he points
with the other towards the distant city,
Before anybody colld get off an opinion in the case
the innocent old chap at the piano struck up:
Come, rise up, William Ri-ley,
And go along with 2?
1t was rough on the audience, you bet. All the
solemn old flats got up in huff CO. 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 stck-vamoose the rancho Ladies
and gentlemen, circumstances over which have no
control, compel me prematurely to dismiss"