The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-08-04
CANoNIzED.
MARX TwAIN's NEW STORY AND IT'S NOR
Al.

The Atlantic Monthly for August con
tains the tale of Edward Mills and Georg'
Benton. bv Mark Twain, which Is as eleFel
a satire on the sentimentality over crime a
/ that sort of gush has ever received Ed
ward Mills minded from bovhood George
/ Benton never did. Edward prospered
+ George always had TO be helped. They hao
! the saLAe adopted parents, who left all the
properly to George because Edward could
/ take care of himself So it went in all
/ things-even the girl that Edward was en-
gagged to dropped him, as it was her duty u
/ save George Hard times threw Edward
/ out Of regular work. and he relapsed to COM
mon labor ii while; but George became a
furnishing drunkard. We give the last
part of the story, leaving it to the readers
Of the Atlantic to get the full enjoyment oil
the whole:
4 grand temperance revival was got up,
and after some rousing speeches had been
made. the Chairman said, ImpressIyely /:
1--WE are now about To call for signers; ana
[ think there is a spectacle in store for You
which not many in this house will be able
to view with dry eyes" There was an elo-
quent pause, and then George Benton, es-
cortod by red-sashed detachment Of the
ladies of the refuge, stepped forward upon
the platform and signed the pledge. The
ar WAS rent Will tBFtdoS, anu S'Ci 49,
cried for Joy. Everybody wrung the hand
OF the new convert when the meeting was
over; his salary was enlarged next day he
was the talk of the town, and its hero. An
account Of it was published
George Benton fell, regularly, every three
months, but was faithfully rescued and
wrought with every time, and good sltua-
tions were found for him. Finally, he was
taken around the country featuring a re-
4 no, I'D
and did an immense amount OF good.
He was so popular at home and SO trusted
during his sober intervals-that he was
enabled to use the name of principal cltI-
zen and get large sum Of money at the
bank \ mighty pressure was brought to
bear To save him from tie consequences OF
his forgery, and it was partially successful
he was sent up for only two years.
When, at the end OF i year, the tIreless
efforts of the benevolent were crowned with
success. and he emerged from the Peniten-
tiarv with pardon in his pocket, the
Prisoners Friend Society met him at the
door with a situation and comfortable
salary, and all the other benevolent people
came forward and gave him advice, encour-
agemeut, and help. Edward Mills had once
applied to the Prisoners Friend Society for
a situation, when in dire need, but the
question, Have you been a prisoner? p
made brief work of MS case.
While all these things were going on, Ed
ward Mills mad been quietly making head
against adversely. He was still poor, but
was in receipt of a steady and sufficient sal
arv. as the respected and trusted Cashier of
Il Bank George Benton never came near
him, and was never heard to inquire about
him. George had got to indulge in long abb
sences from the town; there were Ill reports
about him. but nothing definite.
One winters night some masked burglars
forced their way into the bank, and found
Edward Mills there alone. They command
ed him to reveal the COMBINATION, so that
they could get into the safe. He refused.
They threatened his life. He said his em-
blowers trusted him. and he could not be
traitor to his trust. He could die, II he
must, but while he lived he would be faith
full; he would not yield up the "combina-
alton" The burglars killed him.
The detectives hunted down the Grimm
ais: tile chief one proved to be George Ben
ton wide sympathy was felt for the
widow and orphans of the dead man, and
all the newspapers IN the land begged that
all the banks in the land would testify their
appreciation of the fidelity and heroism of
the murdered Cashier by coming forward
with a generous contribution of money in
aid of his family, now bereft of support.
The result was a mass of solid cash, amount
ing To upward Of S500-an average of nearly
] of a cent for each bank in the Union.
The Cashiers own bank testified it's graft
tude by endeayoring to show (but humlila-
tingly failed in t) that the peerless servants
accounts were not square, and that he him
self knocked his brains out with bludgeon
to escape detection and punishment
George Benton was araigned for trial |
Then everybody seemed to forget the widow, |
and orphans in their sOhcltude for poor |
George Everything that money and int1u- |
ence could do was done to save him, but 1t |
all failed; he was sentenced to death. |
Straightway the Governor was besleged with |
petitions for Communication or pardon they |
were brought by fearful young girls; by |
old maids; by Populations of pa |
thetic widows; by shoals Of impressive or |
phans. But no. the Governor-for once
would not yield.
Now, George Benton experienced religion. |
The glad news flew all around. From that
time forth his cell was always full of girls /
and women and fresh flowers: all the day |
long there was prayer, and hymn-singing, |
and thanksgivings, and homilles, and tears,
with never an interruption, except an oc>
five-minute internfis5ion for refresh |
ments.
This sort of thing continued up to the |
very gallows, and George Benton went |
proudly home, in the black cap, before a
wailing audience of the sweetest and best |
that the region could produce. His grave |
had fresh flowers on it every day, for while, |
and the maidstone bore these words under
a hand pointing aloft "He has fought the
good fight"
The brave Cachier's maidstone has this |
inscription; "Be pure, honest, sober, indus !
trious, considerable, and you will never
Nobody knows who gave the order to leave
it that way, but it was so given.
The Cashiers family are in stringent cir
now, it is said but no matter ; |
a lot of appreciatiye people, who We're not |
willing that an act so brave and true his |
should go unrewarded, have collected -42, |
000-and built memorial church with it. |
MARK TWAIN.