The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-05-27
Mark Twain.
A LITTLE GOOD IEADING-MARK DIS
CUSSES A MODERN APOSTLE.

Mark Twain begins in the May number
of the Galaxy series of contributions
which will add greatly TO the growing
popularity of that magazine. The arti-
cles in the number arc fine specimens of
the humor of Twain. The first Is spicy
discussion of q recent uttcrancc OF u fine
clergyman about smells, rs follows:
In recent issue of the Independent,
Rev. L. Dewitt Talmadge, of Brooklyn,
has the following uttcrancc on the sub
jcct of "Sniclls":-
81 have good Christian friend who, II
he sal in the front pew in church, and u
working man should enter thc.door Mt the
other end, would smell him instantly.
Ny friend Is not to blame for the sensitive
ness of his nose, any more than you would
fog pointer for being kcencr on tho
scent than stupid Watchdog. The fact
Is, if you had all the church free, by rca-
son of tho mixing up of the common pco-
pie with the uncommon, you keep one.
half of Christendom sick mt their stomach.
If you are going to kill the church thus
with bad smells, will have nothing to do
with this work of evnngelization."
We have reason to believe. that there
will bo laboring men In Heaven; and
also number ofnegroes, and Esquima-
ux, and Terra del Fucgans, and Arabs,
and few Indians, and possibly even somo
Spaniaryls and Portuguese. All things
are possible with God. We shall have all
these sorts ofpcople in Heaven; but, alas!
in getting them we shall lose the society
of DIR. Talmadge. Which Is to say, we
shall loose the company of one who
could give more real stone" TO Celestial
society than any other contribution Brook
lyn could furnish. And what would eter-
nal harpincss be without the doctor?
Blissful, unqucstionably-we know that
well enough-but would II be diainguC7
would Il be recherche without him? st.
Matthew without stockings or sandals; st.
Jerome barcheadcd. and with brown
blanket robe dragging the ground; st:
Seh,stion with scarcely any raimcnt Mt all
these we should see and enjoy seeing
them: but would we not miss IA spike
tailed coat and kids, and trrn away re-
grctfully. and say 10 parties from the
Orient: These are well enough. but you
ought to s,e Talmadgc, Of Brooklyn"
fear me that in tho better world we shall
not even have Dr.. 1almadge's good
Christian friend" For II hc were sitting
under the glory of the Throne. and the
keeper OF the keys admitted BENZ
amin Franklin or other laboring men, that
friend. with his fine natural powers inf
nitely augmented by emancipation from
ha,npcring flesh, would detect him with a
single sniff, and Immediately tax. his hat
and ask tn be excused.
To all outward seeming, tho Rev. I.
Dewitt Talmadgc Is of the same material
rs that used In the construction OF his
carly predecessors in the Ministry: and
yet one feels that there must bc differ
ence somewhere between him and the
the Saviour's first disciples. II may be
because here, In the nineteenth century.
DR.. T. has had advantages which Paul
and Peter aud tho others could not and
did not have. There was n lack ofpolisi
about them, and looseness Of etiquette
and want of exclusivencss, which ono
cannot help noticing. They healed tho
very beggars. and held intercourse with
people of u villainous ordor every day. III
the subject Of these remarks had been
chosen among the original Twelve Apos-