Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-03-29
AN HOUR OF AGONY.

Has the reader ever had tussIe with
q Bengal tiger in full vigor and appe
tite? has it CHANGED him to be in bal
loon when perforated by Prussian bul.
| let's has it occurred OHM to have been
indulging q commendable curiosity in
the ,remoter recess of a coal mine, when
an explosion suddenly severed the con-
nection between himself and the world
without? These are forms of uneasiness
not to be lightly treated of. They
shrink into nothing beside that supreme
commingling of grief, astonishment,
and horror it was my lot to experience
on certain never-to be forgotten even
ing Of january, ,forty-nine. 81
Times soothing influence has wrought
its accustomed effect. All bitterness,
all self-reproach, have died gradually
away. In place of that mental tumult
which, for q long period, attended the
remembrance of the. incident in ques-
ton, now find myself able to narrate
with indifference to which but recently
my most intimate friends burst hardly
hazard an illusion.
The Guild of Lumpeters represents
one of the most ancient and honored
of London civic institutions. What
they are, Dhy they are, l have not the
remotest idea. Enough that, on a GER
tain day in November, they are seen in
their glory, their banners brighter, their
bands brassier, their knights more cor
pulent, themselves sleeker and more
redolent of wealth than any of their
prosperous rivals. They have hall
solely, it would seem, for purposes. of
hospitality. 6 They give dinners of in
conceivable succulency and toothsome-
ness. They invite mayors, nay, kings,
who don't always come, and princes,
who generally do, and they also invite
me. | go, for i like them. All the
Lumpeters. of my acquaintance are
noble, large-hear ted men, citizen gen
tlemen. on whom London, in need of
arm or purse, might confidently rely.
think if [ were other than what am,
would be Lumpeter. 9rr,r
Pretexts were never wanting for a
Lumpeter feed. The recovery of the
chief city magistrate from bilious at
tack, the breaking up of the frost, the
birth of a son and heir to the Ban of
Croatia, the arrival of piebald ele-
phant at the gardens of the Geological
Society, such were among the events
could recall as having suggested feastful
ITejoicings. But that to which [ have
now to refer was to be regarded as a
| peculiar gathering, almost in point of
fact, corporate family-feed, comprising
no more than ninety five guests. select.
led with discrimination, for the purpose
of testing the merits of a new head
cook. Thus it had rather the nature of
grave and sdispassionate de1iberation
than of dinner, certain sense of re-
sponsibility toning down the exuberant
mirth that usually waited on these
pleasant assemblies.
There were to be no speeches, no
music. The usual loyal toast; no more.
Above all, no ladies. The presence OF
beauty, chatting in the gallery, might
| haply distract the, attention of the
weaker brethren from the great object
OF the meeting.
Inc Lumpeters were particular-and
thought conservative in matters of
attire. They themselves to a man adj
hered to the fashion, moribund. but not
| defunct, of ankle buttoned pantaloons.
fgured-silk stockings, buckled shoes,
expansive white waistcoats, and the
mighty cravat patronized by his late