Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-15
Two StOric. of Lamb.

tMorford's New Monthly Magazine
Lamb was invited to meet somewhat mixed
company. One was Mr.. D. retired cheese
monger, who had been for years in some com
mission connected wiz the poor laws. He was
pompouS man, with a grand affectattOn OF
having been born to the exalted position. At
one time Ia the course OF the dinner, opinions
ran at variance as to the proper method OF
dealing with pauperdom, and Mr.. D. as
sumo d very high manner. Gentlemen" ne
said. thrustiDg his thumbs into the arm holes
OF his vest. lying back in his chair, and in
Eating his lungs to their utmost capacity
gentlemen. should know what 1 am speak
service, ard with my opportunities for study
ing the dispositions or these miserable aid
troublesome paupers, Gentlemen, they are as
worthless and ungrateful as they are and have
Geen 1mproyident. The time has been gentle
men. when had some OF the milk of human
IndneSs In my breast for these wretches: but
now and he paused for moment In order to
1T the conclusion come in more overwhelrn-
1ngly. ''N-nOW," broke in Lamb, with his poor
TIM face all childish innocence-"n-now, MI
D. suppose that m-milk Is all Hl-rnada
up into cb-ch-cheese.' Lamb received an invi-
taiiOn On certain evening to be present at a
breakfast al Rogers the following morning to
meet young author, whose first volume or
poetry LEFT the press that day. He went tribe
ear y and reached the Walt1ng-rOOm while it
was vacant, Rogers not having come down and
none OF the other guests having arrived. on a
table lay copy o. the young POETS new book.
Lamb picked 1t up. ran through It, saw that il
contained nothing OF any special mark and then
Ia lew minutes yet remaining, amused him
sell Dy committing TO memory three or four OF
the short poems II contained. The guests ar
IlVed-am0Gg them the young aSpira nj for hon
0is. Some or the leading men OF the London
world or letters were among the number
Rogers descended, the young man was intro
Cuced. and the breakfast was served. Some lit
tfdfy matters came under discussion, pending
tie after Introduction OF the young poets booE
With the 3rayest Of faces after few moments
Il NIB said: Il DIDN'T think, g-gentlempn Ihat
Ih-hhVe ever r-ftpeated 10 you one OF my b-best
poems. What ssay? VIII YOU h-have it?' No
body quite understood what was coming out
all could read the mischieyOu5 flash in the
eye that was usually so kindly; and the
CeLlahd ior tie poem was general. Limb
quietly repeated, word for word, one or the
poems from the young mans book. The
key was furnished to the rest, when they saw
the young poet pale then redden, and then
ran IA back in his chair, as astonishe1 as if
Loud cheers, clapping of hands, and demands
for more. Lamb bowed his thanks pretended
NOT TO remember anyt Thing else that he had lately
written, and tte?, under urging. repeated
another, ana yet anOther-Of the poems from
the young mans boOk-the budding poet mani
testing symptoms OF doubt whether he was him.
sell, whether anything on the earth was real.
whether he had really written the poems thai
up TO that time he had believed that ne had
until he heard a man declaimlng them and
claiming them for his own: q man who co,,Id
not even have seen his unpublished book,
Louder cheers, and still louder demand for vet
another. The fuD with all the odd unS" now
thoroughly instructed, began to grow fast ami
furious" Lamb, who had previously retained
his sitting position. now rose and said
G-gentelDen, have only been giving you
s-some Little bits OF m-ny poetry. But h-have
one p-poen mat l am little p-proud OF. |
"[."Iote II a &. good n many years ago. This
Is h-how ii hegiuS:
~ or m mans first dsotedience and the fruit
Brought d death into the world With all our woe
The recitation was doomed TO 90 no further
for the previous few minutes the young poet
crazed with wonder, and yet aware that 10 some
Ghaccountaole manner he was being robbed
Hau simply been tearing his hair. But at this
tuncture he could restrain himself no longer.
he spraDg TO his feet, his face abiaze and burst
out:
Gentlemen, this is too much. have sat here.
gentlemen ana heard that man repeat poem
ailer poem OF mine, claiming them for his own,
and have borne It, But when hear him at,
tempt 10 claim the opening lines of Millions
Paradise Lost
That address, too was doomed to be cut short
Ike the recitation. Rogers averred that never
beneath his roof, with all the merry madness
that that breakfast table knew, had sucn a
storm OF laughter and applause gone over 1t, a;
hs CHAIR Ia or be tina ami fen the young man to
lutte maniac, under the pressure of Lambs
GROWING atrocity.
THE Iowa RAILROADS have suffered loss and
annoyance by the habit OF farmers in approprl-
ating iron rails lying along the roads to crush
down cornstalks, and forgetting to put them
back. Agents are now looking up these stray
rails and when one is found on a farmers pre-
misses he is notified to return it. II he fails an
action OF replevin and damages Is begun, and
the farmer has to dance to the tune OF s. or $40.
The Chicago and Northwestern have recovered
nearly $1,000 damages in this way and the COM
panfes propose TO stop this larceny.
There are said to be at this moment more
EDITORS IN than out OF prison In Russia.
q More than twenty cellulo,d companies In
'hls country are doing successful business
ts "A young darwinian.-Jack ito his mar
iled slSter)-Ht! Polly, LOOk!ii Here's your