The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-11-12
DEAD AND BURIED.
Mark Twatn'S Funeral Grafton Over
the Democratic Corpse.


During a Republican jollifcation
meeting in the Opera House, at Hart
ford, Ct, on the night of the election,
Mark Twain was called upon for speech,
and delivered what he termed a funeral
Grafton over the Democratic party. Com
ing as it did Immediately after an adj
dress by two clergymen, and beginning
in rather .lugubrious way, the assem-
blage did not first know how to receive
it. As the speaker went on, however,
the queer political hit began to be APP
preciated. Almost every sentence was
greeted with roars of laughter. Follow
ing is the address:
There are occasions which are so solemn, so
weighted with the deep concerns of life that
even the licensed jester must lay aside his cap
and bells and remember that he is man and
| mortal that even his light, butterfly career of
folly has Its serious seasons, and lie cannot flee
| them or ignore them. Such time, my friends,
Is this, for We are in the near presence of one
| who Is passenger from this life. one whom
we have known long and well. but shall know
no more forever. About the couch of him who
lies stricken ere gathered those who hold him
| dear, and who await the oncoming of great sor-
row. His breathing is faint, and grows fainter; his
| voice is become a whisper his pulses scarcely
| record the languishing ebb and flow of the
wasted current of his life his lips are pallid,
and the froth of dissolution gathers upon
| them; his face is drawn; his cheeks are
| sunken; the roses are gone from them and
ashes are in their plaza; his form is still his
| feet are ice his eyes are vacant beaded sweat
is on his brow he picks at the coverlet with
| unconscious fingers; he "babbles O. green
Il
is at hand. Every breeze that comes to us
| out of the distances, near and far, and
| from every segment Of the wide horizon, is
| heavy with voice mourning for sorrow accom-
| plished and the burden of the mourning is,
''The aged and stricken Democratic party is
| dying !" and the burden of the lament will be,
''The mighty is fallen; the Democratic party
| is dead" And who and what is he that is dy-
| ing and will presently be dead? A foot-sore
political wanderer, hoary political tramp, an
itnerant poor actor familiar with many dis
| guises, a butcher of many parts.
In the North he played Protection" and
| "Hard Money" In the West he played PRO
lection" ''Free Trade Hard Money" and
"Soft Money" changing DISCUSSES and parts
| according to the eXlgencies Of the occasion.
In the South lie played Tariff for Revenue;''
in the North and the West he played "The
| Apostle of Freedom" In the South he PLAYED
| 1He hSndoSln u pI6euOuls duu uOuIueu
the sacred shibboleths of liberty with cruel
and bloody lips. His latest and final appear
ance upon the nations stage was in the
new piece entitled "Forgery, Farce" in
which he was assisted by the whole strength
| of the company. 1t was poor piece. It was
indifferently played so it failed, and he was
Missed and abused by the audience. But he
lies low now, and blame and praise are to him
alike. The charitable will spare the one, the
iudicious will reserve the other. Oh, friends
this is not time for jests and levity, but q
time for Bonded forms and uncovered heads
for we stand in the presence of majestic DEATH
| momentous and memorable death grisly
| and awful death. For it is a death from which
there is no resurrection. Heaven bless us, one
and all Heaven temper the blow to the
afflicted family. Heaven grant them change
| of heart and a better life