Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-27
A CALIFORNIA HUMoRIsr.

publication which possesses two decided
merits, viz. its cartoons, and its letter.
press. As the Wasp consists principally
of cartoons and letter-press, this may be
considered as equivalent to saying that it
is meritorious paper and we shall not
quarrel with that Interpretation. But
while there are several other weekly papers
which equal the Wasp in the matter of
cartoons, it stands alone and unapproach.
able in the matter of its letter.p press. And
the reason Of this is that its letter. press
is largely the work of man of true
genius. The name of this man of gerius
is Ambrose G.. Bierce, and his writing is
like that of no other writer, living or dead.
We have several times made the mistake
of trying to classify it. But its flavor re-
sembles that of the durion, in which the
most contradictory things seem blended in
a manner to defy gastronomic analysis.
In Mr.. Bierce's writings one is at diff
ferent times reminded of Rabelais,
of Swift, of Thackeray, of Heine,
of La Bruyere, of Rochefoucauld, of
many other satirists; yet it is never so
close resemblance as to suggest either
conscious imitation or that involuntary re-
production which results from complete
absorption of some favorite author thoughts
and mannerisms. Mr.. Bierce is at all times
himself, and never mere distorted copy OF
somebody else. His mastery of English is
a perpetual delight and wonder to the
open. minded reader of his writings, and
this mastery is best shown in the unfailing
fitness of his expressions. just as the feats
of the accomplished athlete are performed
with SO apparent an ease as to suggest the
absence OF all difficulty in the movements,
so the master of language only exhibits
his fullness by the precision with which
his every thought is appropriately clothed.
But evidently no mere mastery of language
could impart any charm to a style which
was deficient in IDEAS, aud we must not
therefore omit to express our admiration of
the quaint and outre turns of thought which
constantly surprise Mr.. Bierce's readers
His vein is satirical, and he appears to have
less pathos in his humor than is generally
associated with so keen and biting wit
There is metallic ring in his satire, in
deed, which does not suggest any thought
of mercy for its object. All his words are
sharp edged, and cut to the bone, and
nothing is more apparent than that they
were intended to do the most slaughter
possible, and that the writer derives deep
satisfaction from the contemplation of his
savage onslaughts. But there is at once
raciness and refinement about Mr..
Bierce's satire which seems to content the
artistic sense of the reader. His commit
nations are like those of Bishop Ernul-
plus, all.embracing and ali sufficient.
When he has once directed the lightnings
of his bitter wit against an object, it is as
effectually obliterated as was the antide.
luvian monster in Bulwer's looming
F." Race" when the Vril Staff had been
discharged upon it. Mr.. Bierce is
hater of shams, as every born satirist
must be. He is sometimes too impatient OF
literary weakness which his own great force
renders him incapable of sympathizing
with or tolerating. But in all that he
writes there is virile power, a concen-
trated lucidity, and a point so keen and
that the most exacting literary
taste is satisfied. Such writer ought to
have had a national, nay, world. wide rep.
utation, if the intellectual condition of the
time had been what it is conventionally
represented to be. But men whose minds
are not run in q familiar mold are seldom
by the dull mediocrity which
issues the worlds judgements, and perhaps
the writings of Mr.. Bierce will not be gen.
orally valued in accordance with their
merit until a generation has risen which is
more nearly on an intellectual level with
him than the present one. Ii he is Cont
ist this prospect may satisfy him. If
he is not it is more likely to increase the
causticity of his humor. But assuredly
in him California possesses a satlrist and
humorist whose like and whose equal will
be sought in vain throughout the republic
of letters.