The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-15
Mark Twain Barbered.

The racy article by Mark Twain on 'Bar-
bers" In the GALAXY, last summer, will be re-
membered by all. The article was in the hui
morists happlest vein, and many man who
recognized Its truthful. If slightly overdrawn,
statements, enjoyed a hearty laugh while pc
rusing it. 1t fell like wet blanket on the
tonsoral profession, who, from one end of
the land to the other, vowed revenge upon its
author If he ever placed himself in any of
their clutches. Among the tonsOrial artists
IN Syracuse who longed for chance to 'go
for the writer was Jacob Gilger. "Only let
me get chance at Mark Twain" said Jake.
lie will stray into my shop, some day, as it
Is Is the best in town, and will fix him worse
Ihan % King William ever fixed Napoleon"
Probably Jake never expected to have an op-
Polsullty OF getting even with Twain, but
n ouen an opportunity did present ITSELF We'd
hesuay AFTERNOON, and this is how Jake i'm
proven N' Ihe great humOrist lectured in
Wleting opera house on Wednesday night,
ana, wishing 10 make presentable appear
ahee before ms audience, he strayed up into
Jake GilgeTs barber shop to get a clean
shave. A gentleman present whispered TO
Jake that the man in his chair was Mark
Twain, and on that hint Jake event for
him." Selecting the dullest razor in the
shop, he sharpened it up little, and
then seizing Twain by the nose with
grip that would bring down a bullock, he
commenced to lather him. He soaped him
from chin to eyebrows, and rushed the
lather brush about an inch up his nose
mist and the dawn slowly approaching when
the condemned descended from the wagons
in charge of the gendarmes. All marched
boldly to the three posts before them some
twenty-five yards apart-and about thirty
PAGES in front of which were the three firing
parties. Rossel was shot by a detachment of
the engineers, to which corps he belonged,
and the Ct-e, two by detachments of two reg
ments of the line, the firing party being COM
manded by Su-bLieutenants, an Adjutant
giving the signal with his sword. As he took
his place against the post Rossel asked leave
to command the fire, but this being refused
him, he asked if he could take the hand of
Col. Merlin, the President of the Court, to as
sure him there was no ill-feeing. He was
told that Col. Merlin was not present at
the moment, and that to wait
for him would be to prolong the mis-
cry of the others. Rossel said no more, but
stood calmly before the platoon awaiting the
signal to fire.
Meantime Bourgeois had marched gaily to
his post, saluting the troops as he passed, and
In business-lize way threw down his cigar
threw open his coat, and stood in an easy DO
siton, awaiting the word. Ferre was a po-
Seur to the last. A number of times he
changed his position, looking at his legs and
then at then at the few spectators, but no po-
sition seemed to satisfy him. He then cast
rapid glance toward Bourgeois, and immedi-
ately struck the soldiers attitude. Seeing
that Sergt. Bourgeois had thrown down his
KEPT, Ferre took of his tall, stove-pipe hat,
and only took the cigar from his mouth at
the moment Of the report.
The firing party were directed by motions
OF the Adjutants sword, and as he let it fall
the three platoons fired together. Rossel fell
dead, and almost without motion, with two
balls through his heart, one through the chin,
and both arms were said to have been broken.
Bourgeois fell, but, breathing still, Sergeant
gave him the coup de grace. Ferre was still
standing. As the Sergeant approached he
was shocked at the idea of firing thus upon a
living man standing upright before him, and
his hand faltered, but at that moment anoth-
er gun was fired, and Ferre fell to the ground.
1t was then only the Sergeant had the heart
to fire ball into his head, against which the
muzzle of the gun was placed. 1t was a
CHASTITY scene. As the Sergeant turned, two
white dogs burst through the line, and
bounding by the bodies of Rossel and Bour-
geois, pounced upon Ferre and began to lick
the blood from his face. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty they could be driven away
The drums were then beaten, and the de-
file of the troops began. As the noise died
away the Pastor Passa called Col. Merlin's
name in loud tones, and as that officer re-
sponded, he said, SIT was Rosseps last wish
that / should tell you that he felt you only
did your duty. 1t was that he desired to tell
you himself" "Pauure gdrc0np' said the
good Col. Merlin, raising his cap, and putting
himself at the head of his troops. BY 8 O'Clock
the detachments had entered the town, but
very strong force was kept under arms during
the daV.