The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-06-06
IDAHO WORLD.
A NEVADA FUNERAL.

Fanshaw when he died. He was 9
representative citizen. He had "killec
his man"-not in his own quarrel it is
true, but in the defence of stranger
beset by numbers. He had kept a
sumptuous saloon. He had been the
proprietor of dashing helpmeet, whom
he could have discarded without the
formality of divorce. He had held a
high position in the fire department,
and been very Warwick in politics.
When he died there was great lamen-
tation throughout the town, but espe-
cially in the vast stratum of society.
On the inquest it was shown that
Buck Fanshaw, in the delirium of a
wasting typhoid fever, had taken ar
senic, shot himself through the body,
cut his throat, and jumped out of a
four-story window and broken his neck;
and after due deliberation the jury, sad
and fearful, but with intelligence I'M
blinded by its sorrow, brought in q
verdict of death "by the visitation of
God" What could the world do with
out juries?
Prodigious preparations were made
for the funeral. All the vehicles in
town were hired, and all the saloons
were put in mourning, all the municip-
al and fire company flags were hung
at halfmast, and all the tiremen ordered
to muster in uniform, and bring their
machines duly draped in black.
Regretful resolutions were passed
and various committees were appoint
ed; among others a committee of one
was appointed to call on a minister
fragile, gentle, spiritual new Hedging
from an Eastern theological seminary;
and as yet unacquainted with the ways
of the mines The committeeman,
"Scotty' Briggs, made his visit.
Being admitted to his presence, he
sat down before the clergyman, placed
his fire-hat on an unfinished manuscript
sermon under the minister's nose, took
from it red silk handkerchief, wiped |
his brow and heaved sigh of dismal
impressiveness explanatory of his bus
mess. He choked and even shed tears,
but with an effort he mastered his voice,
and said, in lugubrious tones:
"Are you the duck that runs the
gospel-mill next door,"
Gam | the-pardon me, | believed |
/ do not understand"
With another sigh and half sob
Scotty rcjoined:
"Why, you see, we are in a bit Of
trouble, and the boys thought NAV be
you'd give us lift, if we'd tackle you.
that is, if I've got the rights of it and
you arc the head clerk of the doxology
works next door.
g am the shepherd in charge Of the
flock whose fold is next door"
"The which,"
1.-THE spiritual adviser of the little
company of believers whose sanctuary
adjoins these premises"
Scotty scratched his head, reflected
o moment and then said:
" You rather hold over me, pard. IIC
reckon | can't call that hand Ante
and pass the buck"
How? beg your pardon. What
did | understand you to say?" {
Well, you've rather got the bulge 5
on me. Or maybe we've both got the
bulge, somehow You don't smoke me
and [ don't smoke you. You see, one {
of the boys has passed in his checks, i
and we want to give him a good send $
off, and so the thing Pm on now is to t
rout out somebody to jerk out little t
for us, and waltz him through r
G
"My friend, | seem to grow more t
and more bewildered. Your observa- n
tons are wholly incomprehensible to b
me. Cannot you simplify them some a
way? At first thought perhaps I'M {
1erstood you, but now grope. Would c
It not expedite matters if you restricted v
yourself to categorical statements of s
act unincumbered with obstructing y
accumulations of metaphor and ale Ii
sory?" c
Another pause, and more reflection. s.
Then Scotty said:
"I'll have to pass, | judge ID
"How? a
you've raised me out, pard." d
IL still fail to catch your meaning" I
411A l. l. e Il.