Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-13

WAHAMMN - 02a3A
A recent number Of the Fargo
Argus contained the following article,
which il general tone and sentiment
and as far as we know anything OF the
facts We heartily endorse;
Wheni il vas announced By the press
a The country that Colonel Donan,
he managing ediAr OF The Argus,
wss engaged in wrioga book 70 Be
issued under The auspices OF the Chi.
. Burlington and Quincy railroad
company, with the high sounding title
Of The Heart Of the Continent and
the Uolonel's beautiful little book Of
Msckinsc Island, issued by the geneT.
Al passenger department Of the Mich
gan Genital railroa2 had been 30 f.
Sorabiy, even extravagantly, com
mented 90 throughout this country
aud IN Europe; aud had given the
world such glowing idea Of his ability
in this line that great expectations
we're excited Colonel DOMAIN him
self had declared, according to re-
ports in the newspapers, that this
book was 10 be the most elaborate
effort OF his lite in that department Of
literary labor. and SO the public antic.
ipated something eRtirely out Of the
ordinary run Of railroad publications
The book is out. |; is a magnificent
specimen OF typographical aud picto-
rial art. Tee lithograpic cover is as
beautiful as the choicest Christmas
book. tut the little volume as a whole
is Disappointment. There is here and
there achap;er or = page or a paragraph
ia Colonel Donsn's most brilliant
style, sand Eiched in With a dreary lot
Of cl Imsy aud stnpid stgN that could
not have emanlted from bis brilliant
pea. IL seems 3 complete wreck Of
what should have been a magnificent
book. one that would have been cred
liable alike 10 its author and the com
pzny which issued IT, Its appearance
and the known fact that Colonel
Donan was to write it excited an
interest which turhs almost q disgust
On 4 perusal Of The he3gepodge IT IN
coaU1oas matter. The explanation is
found 10 an Inscription on the last
p.gs Of the cover. which says. Com
Piled from The original m%2Ruserip; Of
Ca.o1G P. DOlan." The Managers
Oiths Chieae9. Burlington and Quincy
rllroaE havs sUienig made 4 mis-
take OF solc false principle q eeoho
rs o. ealliug 10 q blacksmith % patch
Cd tia Eolk Of 6 5sEsler. taCy have
al 8 uDe sheer 70 u1ken1g viii.
the ztsislts machinery 81 ehr01on
g;u e1is1es watch No Eon1sr their
b11k has fallen Eat; DO wonder the
Cas7a feels intensely disguised IN
regard e the outcome Of this pr0inc
uoa As literary artist the Colonel
has 10 s1pensT IRthe country, and his
Erlde has lesa shaken b the eiTcum
stances sumcnnding she issue Of this
volume u tie ChicaEO, Burlington
aaa Q1iHcy The Maekinac book, far
less ~pretentious Ia title, received
thousands Of columns OF free advertis-
ing for the Michigan Central road in
all the leading papers in the country
This book has received nothing and
deserves nothing. The Chicago
Burlington and Quincy have evidently
committed a very grave error,
This reminds us Of the cOuRtr,
pumpkin who bought a watch. l
was such a wonder that when he 20
home be concluded 10 take it all t
pieces and explain its anatomy to th
old woman and the children, II
could take it apart very well; an
fool with a pocket knife or a sore,
driver could do tLat. After explain
ing the mechanism to a wonderin
group standing around be undertook
to put it together and start the thin
running again After many painful.
slow experiments he had the case luI
Of wheels and enough left over t
make about two more watches. Thi
is no doubt the condition with tina
railroad, After some dapper younj
clerk or cOnceited old bald heade,
dutfer around the general ticket oficr
got through compiling" from Col
Pat Donan's original manuscript be nj
doubt imagined that be had enough
left over to make two or three NOR,
watches. No doubt he has enough t
make a dozen such as he furnishe
the news butchers, but the trouble i
that they will not run. They are a
dumb as the fellows watch with tn
main spring left out. The new versioI
will not take. The homely simplicit
and the Greek fire are left out; tn
oakeis dough; Hamlet is left out OF tn
play; it is the farce Of John SmitI
minus Pocahontas; it is Mulberr
Sellers offering his guests a feast Q
cold turnips and water; anothe
case Of foolish virgins with no oil i
their lamps, However, it is the rail
roads own funeral procession, an
they have a right to invite til
mousners to eat the baked meats an
sit around the corpse of Pat Donan
mutilated manuscript. But shoul
the remains happen to rise and spea
in natural tones during the progre,
OF the wake, what a Settlement thel
would be.
Ha,Semsn Comfy TrAn.lerre'