davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
.onGE C1LM4N,s WLrTIcMNS.

From BCig1GCM
Lori william LenuON, IN Goie6lities nave
Euoy,I" avs: Colnlan was in his hfty-hfth, year
when / FIRST met him, but he was as play III anu
lively as "a kitten and never ceased IRON inc mo
msuf we sab down until the boar OF departure
which was not an carly one, to keep the table IN
roar Some Of his good things which have been
handed down 60 us are worth repeating az specI-
mrus OF his humOr. musical ianaJic was DUt'nB
a company with his ecstasies over some No" pai i
Whenever hear IT, It quite carries me away! ne
exclaimed "Cau anybody whistle IL ,tnquIou
Colman A mciodrama, entitled The Mysteries
of the Castle was being played TO very rb30
houses suppose 10 is owing To- the war, re-
marked one Of the actors. No 10 10 owing 10 uEo
piece retOrtcd tho manager. QuiLe as severe Wac
his comment upon a dCbtttgnt who was HaNhg
miserable failure n Octayian," and who, whcn
he came to the line q shall weep soon. and then
shall be BETTER was answered SOTO roc oy 9 Iim
author. who was hdgeting In the wings viii y
be id if you will il you weep your eyes QUIZ
One day while dining with Lord Ershine, the OK
Chancellor was boasting that he owned nearly one
thousand sheep. perceive thon, thar your Loru-
ship has still an eye TO the woOsack, SAID OoIAah
Like FoOtc, he was no rospecter OF pefeohs, anu
as soon as Inc would at that Of more humble toIks.
In 1925 George the Fourth appointed h'm 10 TUE
post of Lieutenant of Ills Majestys Ie0men OF tAs
Gnard. Your uniform is not well made, George,
remarked the King the first time he appeared be-
tore him ia his official dress, and don't see the
hooks and eyes.n Here are my eyes; where are
yours p retorted the wit, unlocking his coat.
why, Colman, You are older than am" said the
Prince Regent ono day. oh, no. SIR. could never
have taken the liberty IN come INTO the world ee-
fore your Royal Highnsss' was the quick reply.
Sometimes his wit degenerated into ll-breedlng, as
n specimen of which Peake relstes the following
story: In the year 1911. when he was In the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
H4Ir9R SC0TI,S Tux.


cInsao,, YeralI's Rerie1 n Tyelrs Life.
Tho f,linvVinQ account of a breakfast November,
1sosl with khart and Scott will at least amuse
10 rood,r who NAV at the same time feel Ilttle
snrnrised at LyelPs notion of gentliity and re-
dDement OF Language. My breakfast with Lock-
hart this morpng was exceedingly pleasant,
Sir Waiter Scott is in the first place, far moro
gentsel-looking man than Phillips has represented
INN in his portrait, which, as / had supposed tldt
To be hattering surprised me considerably. Ills
hobbLng was much greater than i had taneied.
Sir Walter was very cheerful, told NUMBER
of GOOD stories Oh subjects always started Dy otefs'
They were more remarkable Tor the rich fund no
had of them than for anything else. None OF them
were brilliant. but ali pleasant For instance
Mr. SimnSon was talked of. All! how IL JCmmy
shall not forget bis coming into tao theatre just az
Mira Slddons had entered her box and been received
bv a ronnd OF applause Jenny, seeing no one on tire
81 ,ge inouIred the cause Ii is marx OF esteem.
AMI consideration the public have for you Mr.. 81
said a friend. Jenny went 10 the front OF ms box
aud made three low bows, 10 the infinite amusemens
nj alI who knew him. Now that was cruel joke.
MS lan0uaee is remarkably far from being re-
iIned-there is positively blunt simplicity IN IL.
The French he sain, are certainly In better
hnmOr with the English than formeriy-we are Hp
there, When the increasing catholicism was
talked of he said think IL will not go beyond
a party, but trust tho royal family may not run
their heads against that thing \. Ana
here we may remark that Lyeli. with all DIS hDer.
alitv never seems 60 have got nd OF the Ideas on
prOprety peculiar TO the middle class 10 which ne
belonged gentility and respectabillty were eytt
IDENTIFY dear TO him he would no more have talked
in scotsIs tree and easy style than he would havd
bean guilty Of rudeneSsb
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

Kings Bench, the Duke of York. with whom, ne
was q great fayorte, obtained for him Gay Iio
erty that he might dine at Carlton House. IheIe
were several guests. and the Prince, who presided,
took scarcely any notice of his theatrical ylsitor
Colman was annoyed and when the wine began 70 70
circulate he INQUIRED of the Duke, who sat next 10
him. Who is that fine looking fellow at the head q
the table ~ Hush, George" whispered his goSl-
natured friend; you'll get into scrape" NO,
nor Colman went on in loud voice; have come
to enjoy myself, and want TO know who that hne,
square-shonldered magnificent fellow is at the
II is the PripceD replied the Duke. " Well, then"
persisted Colman, he is your elder bro her: he
doesn't look half your age | remember the time
lark for only one day if he Is the same fellow he
used to be, no would not refuse old playfellow'
The Prince. rather enjoying the joke, complied.
" What magnificent voice. exclaimed CONAN
Al have heard nothing like 1t for years. III be
hanged if don't engage him for my theatre"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
VII

Itr;ed to omen conversation with him; but Narkiz
had not deceived The poor OLD man, IN TACT
had become very weak Of comprehension. lie IN
ouired the name of my family, made me repeat 1t
two CT three times, seemed to reflect ana crled OUT
suddenly:
wasn't there such Judge ch
Yes, yes, my little father Nassih fomltch; yes,
your Grace answered Cucumber, who seemed 10
treat him like "A child yes there was Judgci Out
give me your line-l believe The worm Is eaten. IL
did YOU know the Lomof family" said the
brgadIer suddenly to me, making great enOft
What family q said !.
How! what family! Fedor Ivanitch. Andre
Ivanitch, Alexis lvanitch the Jew, IheoIuhe
Ivanovna the pluudere;S. and besides
The bngadier bruSIuely interrupted himself anu
They were bis greatest Intimates,' said Narkiz
in low voice, leaning toward me. IL II thanks 10
them. thanks TO that Alexis lyautch, whom he Just
spoke Of rs jew and especially thanks 70 ahothef
sister, AIatena lyaGovna, that lie has lost All ms
WHAT are YOU muttering there about Agrafeua
IyanOvna cried the brigadier suddenly. Aud MS
head raised itself and his white eyebrows contrac'e
Take care that . . how dare you name her with
that clownish impolitenessf Agraienaf AgrIp-
pima, you should say
You do not know theu what the poet MilOnOi
wrote in her honorP continued the old man; who
was entered ~ an agitation haq nor Desn aoiJ 70
anticipate. And he bean TO declaim with einph1-
sis prcnOuncug the syllabies an anu en- IN "a
sub-nasa tone in French manner, as did our an
cient lctits- md'trcs.
=" No: the lamng hymeneal torches" that's
not it, but this: No; II l. not he vain idol OF
fraIlty, j. Is not amarsnth LOT porIhyry which ny
them with their charms" them. do YOU hear
II il us two that it Is all about. Their only care
without inpedinent. agreeable, delectahle full OF
languor, j. rather to nou1,h ID their Dlopd a
mutual flame And you dare to say AgTafcnaP
NarkiZ smiled with an air half Indifferent, half
dislaiufuI Bnt the brigadcr had already again
let his head tail upon has breast and the line gldcd
trom his hand into the water.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
vii.

L see il is not worth the trouble said Cucuu Der
suadenly. The fish do not rise, and his Grace Il
inst seized with an excess OF melancholy. Let rs
20 in-that will be better' -
He drew from hls pocket with precaution little
tin bottle stopped with a wooden peg, aud poured
ON the back Of his hand several pInchcs of bad
tobacco mixed with ashes, which lie stuffed IN both
nostrIs at the same Time .
ION! divine tobacco cried he, coming to himself
az from an ecstasy, 1t gives you thrill right To
the teeth Come. my little pigeon, Nassill Fomltch
dejgn 70 nse.
The GrgadirT rose from his scat
do You live far from here ? asked Cucumber.
His Grace does not 1--we far away, less than a
verste.' .
'Will Won permit me TO see you home asked of
the biigadIer not wishing to separate from him 80
soon. go ,
He regarded me fxedly. aud smiled with that
particular saile-grave, polished and slightly
aflected-which | have never seen but Oh the faces
of very old men, aud which always reminds me-
don't know why-Of powder and French coat with
brass buttona in a word, of the last century. Then
be added laying stress on each syllable he would
be enchanted, and Immediately fell again into his
torpor The gallant cheyaiIer of the time OF Cath
crime had Tor an instant rcappoared.
Narkiz was aaiOnished at my inSistencf; but /
gave no heed 10 the disappearing shakes CT his tall
CAP and left the garden, following the bIigadIcr,
whom Cucumber supported by tho arm. The Old
man walked fast enough, but with short steps,
quick and still Is IL with stlts.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

The glass of brandy had, rs we say, nnscrewed
Cucumber He began TO lavish his consolation on
the brgsdier, who fastened to Walk IN ron' VIII"
his short steps. tremulous ana stlH; -
oh vour Grace my httle father, why are you
not gayf Why do You let your nose hahg nJWl ,
Permit to sing You niue song i9u It NJ, 80 "a ~
great satisfaction with II ut once. No douot Oh IL,
resumed he turning To my side, our master IL d
Great lauqher Ont Great Cod what a iaugntr,
Yesterday saw peasant woman "t A. unssa uo
woman il was And our master, VINO KePt oeninu,
died of laughing at ner, | swear to you But permit
me do you know the song of the hare Ncner
mind nv appearance We have in the town DO
hemian woman. "a regular guy. She begins 10 slng
"Quck! a coffin he down ia ~ anu I'G III ~,
pcasurer' Cucumber opened wide ms thlcK WV
Inns. aud with head thrown back and eyes nall
closed. chanted the following song; III. CANA
The hare is crouchng under bush sone
spurtsmen cross the fields; the hare hardly
breathes; he is content to raise one ear LOT Nc
looks Tor death.
How have I vexed you nv dear sportsnen J
What trouble have | caused youi IL ~ true VISIT
the cabbagcs. but | eat only one leaf al . tine'
and that is in the popes kitchen garden, alas'
Cucumbers voice rose higher and higher
THE har. leaped in the sOmbre forest and showed
in derlson his tail to the sp0rtsmen ..;,
&" Adieu, dear spoTtsmen, contemplate NY '""'
to myself ! am Tree"
Cucumber 10 longer sang-he howled:
The sportSmcn wandered all day on the plain.
I ev discussed the haIe's actions They ended oy
insulting each other and fighting. 10000
:" The hare will moi be caught; the squln1eSou
villain has made fun of us"'
Cucumber sang the two first verses OF each stanza
I'm drawing voice; the three last on the contrary
with agility skipping and pushing his legs one be
fore the other. AZ the end OF each stanza he made
his Goriture that is say he struck himself behind
with his heels. After having screamed out the Iast
verse, he did a wheel. His hope was realized Inc
brigadier burst out suddenly into roar OF Laughter
trembling and fearful 1t was so strong that ne
could go no farther. and bent forward striking MS
knees with his feeble hands. ] regarded his face,
become purple and conyulsivcly twisted, ana IN
that moment more than before was seized WIN
GREAT compassion for the poor old man. Animated
6y sIcccss Cucumber began TO dance like Cos
sack. and ended by falling with his fa;e to inc
ground. The brlgadicr brusquely ceased laughing
and resumed his walk.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
Il l..

The day of nv arrival. Narkiz after having
cravely served my breakfast, stopped IN the door
way considered rue, moved his thick eyebrows
and said at last:
We'll sir. what are Won going 10 do nowP
L don't know. If Nicholas Petrovitch bad kept
his promise, we skould have gone ont shooting
Hum! then you hoped, sir, that he would Keep
his promise faithfuuyP
Certainly; counted ON 1t.
Natkiz regarded me anew fxedly, and shook his
head with an air q compassion.
If You feel inclined TO amuse yourself ny read-
ing. we still have some of the old masters looks
C1Iy. so far as I can suppose, You will not read
them
.WhyV 49,. ..
written for gentlemen of the present day.
You have read themp
If / had not read them, would not speak IF
Them a book OF dreams, for instance what sort
of a book is thatf There are others, truly; but
you would not read them, either
.Tbev are books of divinity
I remained silent and NarkZ also. sort OF IN
ward sheer moved his lips
What il above all dsa gveeable,' resumed !. IS
10 remain ir tho house in such fine weather
Walk in the garden 20 In the wood: we nave a
birch wood here. Or would you rather hshT
Have You any fshP
eyes. in the pool perch. tench, gudgeon. True
the season is over; we are near July. sui one
might try Shall line be prepared for your
DO me the pleasure
i will send you young boy to thread the
worms on the hook or must como with you
myselfP . ,r.. =. .
tlIrough the affair alone. ,
Yes, certainly, come come said 70 him.
He gave q broad smile in silence knit his bTows,
aud left the room.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
VI.

I set myself TO consider attentively, not himself
hut his image reflected III the water III was pre-
seuted 10 me as mirror, more sOnOre. anu ~ tne
same time more silvery. The vast surface Oh Tue
noo breathcd GOODNESS Us, which came also from
fhe huIuId earth on the bank all cracked ana as II
we're ploughed by the melting of the snow. TINS
cooluess was the more agreeable, that ABOVE, over
the SUBMITS of the bushy trees, one felt hanging ID
the gilded azure of the sky the burden OF MOTION
less heat. The water round the bank ana NOT sur
i'm the shadow east on il from the bushes on us
margin. shone ike little steel buttons. water
spiders describing their incessant rounds. Shgnt
rippes play cd round the floats when the iish uai-
lied with the bait; they did not bite In tue space
of an entire hour we took only two gudgcou.
| do not know why the brlg3dler 40 eAcllcd NV
c.IriOslty His rank could have no influence on me,
and in those tines q ruined gentleman was no rare
thing His exterior also had nothing IemarkaOle'
Under padded CAP which entirely covered hiS
head from neck to eyebrows, was seen round ana
red yjsarr with small nose, small lips, and small
ewes of clear gray. Simplicity feeblenrsS OF sprit
and | know not what ancient sorrow, surviving
without consolation and without relief, were eA-
pressed by this meek and almost childish Vlsage.
His hands while and plump, with snort stout
fingers als,, indicated an irremedable awkward
ness I coud not imagine how this poor ht'le ola
man could ever have been a warrior, have com
manded others and that during the rude age OF tue
great Catherine.
From time TO time be swelled his cheeks ana
pnfed as do little children then be seemed 10
make efforts TO see what was before HIM. AS do
decrepit old men. Once only lie opened VIDE ms
ewes which seemed 10 me larger than bad thought
them at first Their gaze was directed toward Ile
from the bottom Of the water and his gaze ap-
reared TO me strangely touching aud significant at
the same time.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

We approached the bank. The brigsdier raised
his eyes to US for an instant, and Immediately to
turned them TO his float. Cucumber leaped from
his place. pulled his line vita one hand, ana win
the other drew OH his greasy cap. Alter haVIhs
passed his trembling fingers over hrs rough yeiV'M
hair he made profound bow, giving ont httse
constrained laugh. The pul1ncss OF his race pc
toAel ed regular drunkaTd, and his Htte eyes
winked with timid humility. He gave his nelgh-
Dor a nudge rs u to rem md him that IL was u ii
to be OF. The bngadier began to Midget Oh LIS
seat :; o,r
Stay, beg you' cried I, you are not ID our
way. We will take this place. stay. -
Cucumber pulled up the .lap of his worn over over
coat, shrugged his shoulders ard shook ms %%nid
have preferred 10 20 away. But the brgadler " as
reabsorbed IN the contemplation of hls iipat. .a9
ex-snb-deacon coughed IN his hand. drew Ms nahed
feet under him covered his knees with his cap ana
modestly replaced his line IN The water.
DO they rise p gravey asked Narkiz.
we have caught FIVE little tench,' answered
Cucumber in a hoarse aud broken voice, ana MS
Grace Las taken large perch =. I'M
Yes, perch repeated the brigadier in a shflH
voice.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

We followed by-path hardly traced in grassy
dale between two knots OF bIrch-trees. The sun
was broiilns; orioles answered taGh 9thef ln ILe
green thcket; landraIls gave forth their stridcnt
Cry little blue butterflies duttercd IN troops on the
clover flowers; bees as If asleep entaDgied them
gelycs and hunlucd IN the mOtlonlesS grass Gu
ciuber shook himself and recovered his spirits; he
feared NariZ, under whose ewes he had TO live. As
To me was to him nothing but stranger pasScr
See sald he in his hurried, thick voice, his
Grace is certainly very moderate; but how could
YOU expect single fish TO satisfy him, unless your
honor deign TO make us a little giftI There IS,
round the turning. a famous Inn where che can get
yeiy good rolls OF brown bread, and II you should
wish 10 ex tend your benevolCnoe TO me- fisherman
/ should treat myself 10 a little glass to your
health, to wish sou length Of days
gave him piece OF twenty kOpecks, and had
hardly time TO withdraw my hand, which hc had
snatched to kiss. He learned that was sports
man and began 10 relate that he had a good ac-
Quaintance. retired officer who possessed q true
Swedish frelOck, Min.din-den-ger with copper
barrel regular cannon added he, for you fire
shot and you stand quite stunned and dreamy. IL
was found after the retreat of the French IN 1912
This officer had q dog OF which | only say
single thing: it was freak Of nature. Myself
have o veritable passion for sport, and my pope
finds nothing 10 blame in IL. Far from that. One
night both placed ourselves IN our shirts, 70 go
and catch some quail by call-note but our arch
bishop is an implacable tyrant As TO NaEkiz
Seneniteh, added he with bitter smile : If ac-
cording 20 his judgment / have become man of
little account shall have tie honor to object that
he has forced his eyebrows out like a blackjack,
and magines by that he has traveISed al the
scienceS.'
Uiscoursing in this manner we approached the
inn, an old solitary isba without courtyard or IN
closure A lean dog was cur!ed W under the win
dow, and fowl no less emaciated scratched the
dust under his nose. Cucumber seated the 6riga-
der on a little bank of earth. and disappeared i'm
mediatciy behind the door Of the inn. While be
was buying his rolls and treating himself to
glass Of brandy, did not take my eyes of the
brigadier, whom / persisted In regarding as an
enigma l am sure, said II myself, that some:
thing extraordinary has taken place In the life Of
tbis man. As to him. he did not seem even TO
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

do at least TO impress The world the signii
canoe Of both good and evil in stronger coiors thar
ever. Broken-d0wn characters imply broken
down society, society unable TO engraye on thn
minds, even OF lis weakest members, the great
mands essential 10 its health and growth.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

notice me- He was seated on the bank with
nrehsd hach and mo rolled in his fingers several
pHRs gathered f in my friends garden; Cucumber
reappeaTed at last with string Of rolls His lace,
astonishment az if he had Just learned something
very agreeable and unexpected. One of the rolls
he Immediately offered to the breadier, WAC put IL
between his teeth, and we set out again.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

Several years later | again visited my lpend
domain. The brigaUer had long since ccasou 10
exist; he lied soon after had known INN. Cuculh-
Der wa still Hou1aning He conducted rue TO tu9
tomb OF gIalcua Iyanoyna. An iron Iau surIouhueu
iarcr sIaL n,trinu an epitaph in trilng and pom
pous words; and there quite near as ~ were at tu5
loot Of the deceased little mound shIInouh!eu
by a wooden cross already decayInE anu bearing
brigaIier and choValier, rests beneath. Ills re-
mains had at last found final shelter near those Oh
tho being he had loved with love Deyohd tho Io'o
o. mo. t.lis.- emplo Bar.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18

everybody calls him So and as TO his true name,
God alone can know. A good-for -nothng, ten
you-a regular vagabond.
They live togetherP
No but the devil, as they say, has Joined them by
a cord
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
y | |.

tried again to resume conversation with the
brgadicr, but he visbY fltigucd hc let HIM
self fall gruaning sort OF truCklc-Lud, and AFTER
having said in a doefnl voice: oh my poor bones
my poor dear bones he began TO uutlsten HIS
carriers. | remember beng much surprised ~
man wearing carriers, but had forgotten that ~
hls time IL was the general custom. The bugader
began 70 cape lcngthiy and naiycly, without tax
ing from me his eyes which were become troubled; ;
very little childcn do The poor old man seemed
lad taken Praga 10 was he who, sword ia hand,
through the smoke and dust, flag rddlcd viii
balls about his head, mutilatct cOrp5cs under ms
feet had led the soldiers Of Suyarovi
1t was he, he! is IL net stranger But lt seemed
10 me that IN the life Of the brigader there must
have passed something stranger still.
Cucumber brought some bad white ErGAS IN m IRON
pitcher. The brigadicr drank with aSidlty. iIi'
hands tremblcd Cucumber supported the bottom
of the pitcher. The old man carefully wiped ms
tOOthles, mouth with the palm OF his hand, am
after having looked fiXedly, he began 10 humble
with his lips ] understood that he wished u s.ccP'
made him bow and left.
His Grace will go TO rest now, said Cucumber,
who had come out after me. : He ~ very tpti-ued
to-day he has made ms pilgrimage
What pilcflmagep
ooh! 10 the tomb Of Agrafena Ivanoyna, five
verstes away IN the parish burylng ground.
Vassih FOmitch goes there every week without
fail
Has she been dead lonPr
1T will soon be twenty years at least
Then she his mstrossY 80
Don't yOu know she passed all her life win
but it appears there were between them, things
things SIR said he precipitately, seeing that l
was going away, won't yon give mo some
thing more 10 drink your valuable bealthP
/ gave Cucumber another piece Of twenty kopecks
and returned TO the house.