The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-03
from Mark Twain Charity Lecture.I

from Mark Twain's Charity Lecture.l
Virginia City was bloodthirsty place, and
the FIRST twenty men planted in its burylng
ground were murdered. Dueling here was a
pastime. The man who fought a duel was
more respected than if he had murdered two
men. have a tale to tell you about dueling
which has moral in it. People who pay a
dollar for lecture ticket have right to
something with a moral in it.
For two years was city editor OF news
paper in Virginia City. was then promoted
to be the editor. / lasted week, but made
an uncommon lively sheet of it while lasted
brought on q quarrel With the editor OF an
opposing paper. 1 suppose called him q
thief or body-snatcher It was customary
for the man who offered the insult to make
the challenge. So challenged the editor
whom had quarreled with. will call him
Mr.. Lord. My party were anxious for me to
fight. knew Lord wouldn't SO l sent the
challenge.
Shortly after received note from him,
declining to meet me. This disguised the
bows and exasperated them, but was calm.
am always calm. sent another challenge,
and another, and another Lord began to
grow holder. and at length accepted. was
mortified, but began to practice. went out
to the barn. set up q rail against the barn
door, first putting squash on the end OF it.
This was to represent Mr.. Lord. In regard to
intellect, the chances between Lord and the
squash were in favor Of the latter. began
to practice, first at the rail, and then at the
squash. and at last settled on hitting the barn
door, but missed all three.
NV friends were with me, but after had
shot away awhile, we heard Lord party prac
ticinc on the other side of the barn. It
looked bad, for, if they should find out what
l had been doing, there wasn't any sight for
me. But just at that juncture small bird
flew by, and my second, who was major and
was beautiful shot fired at him, cutting away
his head as clean as q knife would have DONE
He picked up the bird, and Lords second
came running up to see how the thing had
been done. Says he, That's fine shot.
How far was he when he fired About thirty
PAGES, the maj or answered.
The seconds face was picturesque at this.
1t was rich to see him grow sick-to get blue
under the gills. Does he do that often? the
fellow next inquired. Well. said my second,
about four times cut Of five. ! knew the ma.
jor vas lying, but couldn't interrupt him
Lords second returned to his gang and took
his man home. On examining it was found
that Lord had hit the mark fourteen times
out of seventeen, and if he had fired these
fourteen shots about my system my skin
would not have held my principles Now
think dueling had custom, and | want to
warn the young against it wouldn't fight
a duel now. If man should send me
challenge, 4 would take him by the hand and
lead him TO quiet place and kill him.
One Of the peculiarities OF Nevada is that
there are only few indigenous animals
there. l want to emphasize that word ;ndi-
genous. 1t isn't often that you get q lecturer
who has such tinency as that. Well, the
only indigenous animals are Iahlesnakes,
Indians and the horned frog. The horned
frog, they Say. spits vitriol at you. 1t doesn't
make any difference whether he has seen You
or not They never did SO to me. l wouldn't
take that from frog. You may think have
exaggerated. differ from George Washing
ton. He couldn't tell lie. ] can, but
won't.