The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1877-09-12

would leave but 100000 men really
unemployed in the whole country, Of
whom at least halt are southern whites
who won't work, tramps, lazy young
men living on their fathers, etc. We
then arrive at the conclusion that not
over 100000 men in the United States
are really unemployed. PHtsbwg Lcddcr
MARK TWAIN'S SPEECH. ON THE
| PRBSEN1A TIOE or HIS NEW
PB4K, AH-SIN, IN
4 lszzE.zs EsssSKEW HoRR.
Ladies' and Gentlemen: In view Of
this admirable success, it Ia meet that
should try to express to you our hearty
thanks for the large share which your
encouraging applause has had in pro-
ducing this success. This office | take
upon me with great pleasure. This is
a very remarkable play. You may not
have noticed It, but assure you it is SO.
The construction Of this play Was n work
of great labor and research also Of GO
MUS and invention and plagiarism. When
the authors of this play began their
work they were resolved that it should
not lack blood.curdling disasters, acCi-
dents and caIamities, for these things al
ways help out play. But we wanted
them to be new ones, brilliant, unhacb-
neyed, In lucky moment we hit upon
the breaking down Of stage coach as
being something perfectly fresh and ap-
palling It seemed a stroke of genius
an inspiration. We were charmed with 1t,
30 we naturally overdid it little Con
quently, when the play was first COM
pleted, we found we had that stage break
down seven times in the first act.
We saw that that wouldn't do, the piece
was going to be too STACEY. Il didn't
notice that; that is very gsod,) Yes,
the critics and everybody would say this
sort of thing argued poverty of inven.
tion. And (confdentially) it did resem-
bic that, 80 OF course we set to work and
put some limitations upon that accident
and we threw little variety into the
style of it, too. Originally the stage
coach came in about every seven min
utes, and broke down ut the foot-ighta,
and spilled the passengers down among
the musicians. But we fixed all that.
At present the stage coach only breaks
down once, and the horses OF another
carriage run away once. We could have
left out one or two of these, but we had
the horses and vehicles on our hands and
we couldn't afford to throw them away on
a mere quibble. ! am making this ex
planation In the hope that it will recon-
cile you to the repetition of that accident.
This play is more didactic than other
wise. For the instruction OF the young |
we have introduced game of poker in
the first act The game of poker is all
too little understood in the higher cir
cles of this country. Here and there
you find an ambassador that has some
idea Of the game; but you take the gem
eral average of the nation and our igno-
rance ought to make us blush. Why, /
have even known a clergyman, estimable,
pure hearted man, and most excellent
husband aud father, who didn't value an
ace full above two pair and jack. Such
ignorance as this is brutalizing. Who.
ever sees Mr. Parsloe in this piece sees
as good and consistent Chinamsn as he
could see in San Francisco. | think his
portrayal of the character reaches per
fection. The whole purpose of the piece
is to afford an opportunity for the illus
tration Of this character. The Chinaman
ia going to become a frequent spectacle
all over America, by and by, and
difficult political problem too. There.
fore, it seems well enough to let the
public study him little on the stage
beforehand. The actors, the manage
ment, and the authors have done their
best to begin this course Of public in
struction effectually this evening, | will
say only one word more about this re-
markable play. Itisthis When this play
was originally completed It was so long,
and 10 wide, and so deep (in places),
and 30 comprehensive, that it would
have taken two weeks to. play it. And
/ thought this was a good feature. !
supposed we could have sign on the
curtain, ITO be continued, and it would
be oil right; but the manager said no,
that wouldn't do; TO play two weeks
would be sure to get us into trouble with
the government; because the eonstitu-
ton says you shall not inflict cruel and
unusual punishments. So he set to
work to cut 1t down and cart the refuse
to the paper mill. Now that was a good
thing; Inever saw play improve as this
one did. The more he cut out of It, the
better it got, right along. He cut out,
and cut out, and cut out, and do be-
lieve this would be one of the best plays
in the world to-day it bis strength had
held out aud he could have gone on and
cut out the rest Of it. With this brief
but necessary explanation of the plot
and purpose and moral Of this excellent
work, make my bow, repeat my thanks,
and remark that The scissors have been
and the work Of improvement
will still 90 on.
/
THE police jury Of Point Coupee
La, has passed levee ordinance. Tbey
divide the parish into six leyee districts
corresponding with the police jury wards,
appoint one superintendent for each, he
10 have the nririIege TO appoint two