Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-21
The Monitor and the Merrimac

When crossing the lake from Veyay to Geneva
encountered on the steamboat Swiss gentle
man whose unusual size attracted my attention.
He Was larger than Judge Davis, OF Illinois
quite as large j think, as the wax figure of
Daniel Lambert that formerly aStOnishcd Wis
Ann street.
This passenger was SO big and the steamer so
little that whenever he approached the rail On
either side trembled with apprehension lest he
should upset the craft and plunge us all into the
lake. For a man OF his great weight he was
uncommOnly restless. He moved Continually
about the deck, prOnenading with nervous tread
from bow TO stern, picking his " ay through and
around the various groups OF passengers and
piles or baggage, exchanging bows with many
persons on board. but entering into conversation
with nobody This reSOlute taciturnity seemed
appropriate 70 the expression of his face, which
wore look of unvarytng gloom.
In the course OF voyage Of several hours
duration had cause once or twice to address
some commonplace remark to my heavy and
melancholy felow-passenger. In each instance
he responded politely and in excellent English,
but with the brevlty OF Geographic dispatch.
Ii was clear afternoon, and when In our
progress westward Mont Blanc came out into
iull view from behind the nearer mountains.
the rare opal tint on the peaks was plainly dis
cernible. The GeneyeSe recognize ii as prin-
ciple Of etiquette that the appearance or non
appearance OF Mont Blanc. the atmosphprit,
conditions surrounding that mountain, and all
topics directly or indirectly relating thereto,
constitute sort of conversational neutral
ground upo1 which people may meet and freely
converse without the formality OF an introduC-
ton Under any circumstances il is permits
Sible 70 speak OF Mont Blanc ON the rare oc-
caSiOns when the opal tint appears. social re
serve entirely disappears, and perfect strangers
talk Familiarity and almost affectiOnately of IN
phenomenon Therefore, when turned TO my
next neighb0r and expressed my satisfaction
with the spectacle, had every reason TO expec
hearty response.
Until after had spoken did not observe
that Ii was the large Swiss gentleman who stood
beside me. His eyes followed mine to the noun
tam. was surprised at the change that came
a. afrr.a "a
ai1ght with enthusiasm. No longer coluly re-
pelant, his manner became cordial and COM
municative. Beaming upon me with the friend
Hest OF smiles, and slowly raising his p0nderous
arm until IL pointed directly at Mont Blanc, he
began 70 speak, with the deliberate emphasis
OF one who begins an address OF considerable
length
Monsieur" said be, lit Is now thirteen
years since l. accompanied by the guides JO-
hann Markl, Francois Pierre Groz, Jean Bap
An at once the heavy gentleman's face under
went another sudden transition. His features,
an instant before so animated and expressive
settled back into the stony calm that had pre-
SiOusly distinguished them. His eyes were
liked on the mountain with a faF-away look that
seemed to so beyond IL and behind IL TO some
memory OF appalling portent A slight shiver
shook his elephantIne frame. Beneath the
douoly and triply thick layers OF adipoSe de-
post, struggle OF some sort was evidently 90
ing on. l fancied that heard mufried sigh
Your narrative interests me exceedingly,
Monsieur, ] remarked. by way OF encourage
But il was of no use. He shook his head
Inournfully. avoiding my gaze. With bow of
irreproaehable poiiteness he dismissed the sub
tect- went over 10 the other side OF the steam
boat, and soon after debarked al one of the
village landings near Geneva-at Coppet, be-
neye.
An American gentleman who was sitting On a
bench near BY. and had witnessed my diocon-
htu1e, invited me with smile to the vacant
seat beside him.
lie paid you" said the American. 1.-THE CON-
pliinent OF going further with his story than
usual. He seldom gets beyond the 1rst guides
name
.sYou know the gentlemen Them
have lived in Geneva number OF years"
said the American. everybody hereabouts
notary, good Protestant, and most worthy
man. assure you. But. as you have seen. he Is
merely wreck OF his former self"
an, see, said |, touching my forehead
significantly.
My new acquaintance laughed heartily.
= No.. he said. lyon misunderstood me- NJ
was formerly celebrated as the most insatiate
talker In switzerland. happened TO be present
at the crisis that shattered his reputation
Would you like 10 hear the story
II you will be - good
Up TO about six years ago, my informant
began, SPECIFY Burgers fame rested upon
TWO points In The first place. as / have mi
mated. he was known far and wide as a con-
teTSationalst He cOnyerSed huently in three
languages. His command OF words was ann
ing. His perseverance, wind, and bottom IL
may so call II, put him far ahead OF his most
ambitious rival in the conversational arena
What talker he was IN his prime, Give him
but an opening and his iOguacfty was inylnci-
Die. Give him listener, or better still party
OF listeners, and his remarks flowed In 4 swift
STEADY torrent. Nike the river Rhone Oace
started upon favorite topic he was relentless
uDremittils. ildeIar.able
What did he talk ab0ut?" asked
. That question" replied my friend .invoIyeS
VI. Specify Burgers second claim TO SlpeI,a,ni-
hence. In the latter part or his career aS a con-
Sers2tlOnaliSt his monoloSueS in public and for
aughI know, In the bosom of his family Also
You Will not wonder at this when tell you that
Monsieur prtded himself especially OF being the
heaviest man, in pounds avoirdupOis. that ever
climbed the mount ain. In the year 1868 he ac-
tually made the ascent, with the help OF seven
teen guides. Heaven only knows how they gnt
him up or how Mont Blanc sustained the incu-
bus when he was once on top. BY JOve il WAS
piling OSSa on Peiion, But II Is a matter OF re
cord that he did reach the summit He has a
certificate TO that effect, signed and sealed by
the cure at Chamouni. and also bearing the sir.
nature or sign manual Of each Of his seventeen
guides.
'.Yor tan readily imagine to what eonren-
tional uses so iilustriouS and unprecedented an
achievement would be put BY man OF NJ.
Specify Burgers parts OF speech. On the street,
at tables dhote, in railway carriages, In private
salons, in general society, anywhere, every
where, the slightest alluS0n TO Mont Blanc, or
even 10 physical endurance, inclined planes,
glacial action, snow, clouds, cold, heat, hero
Ism, or any other abstract or concrete subject
that afforded a pretext for NJ. Specky- Burgers
narrative, entailed awful consequences. His
Il III s<l.l