The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-05-01
Something Like a UlysleTy.
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 l. k ver> probable that to the readers ot thl> extraordinary narrative the name of Nathaniel k Tompkln~ may not be altogether unfamiliar although tho real explanation ot what occurred k l am aware known only Ia myself feed that the tune has now Colnr when the truth ot the matter should be declared and aS a member uf the nitrd Inter national AS~uCtatiuu tor the ENtcrulua tion ot 'sNchlcal Fhcuomena. l hasten to E}A, the facts ot tht> rrmat kahle aud mysterious tiiair the publicity which theN deserve Fortunately. thcr, are many people Ill th, nlted States who rceoll,ct the intense excitement Hnd iu# torv>t which wero aroused al the tune. and Who can bear witness ta thy truth ut my statements otherwise l nm well awar, that few or nonv oi uN feHdcts wouii he inchncd c. etcdit mN .taN
 Nevertheless tra that owe Il tu poSterltN to ltve the matter thr utmost puthcIty m mN power let ~tttcrots aud scotlrt~ saN what they will Ma not Galllr" treated a~ 4 ltat and a hrrrtt, Wa not Rorrr Bacon regarded a> a >or,.rrr and madman' Nnd ana uot content ta ~uiier in >ueh company and for -ueh Il caus,t2 Listen then wh,l, m the interest, of -,icuee and humanity proe lam tli" tae,~ ut this lnercilhls and astounding ntlail
 had been familiar with Mir Nathan lel L Tompkln~ from his Eoshood and an teads to declare upon cath that ur "a thr tune at which l am >peal,irr when lie wa> III his ~lNt> first vcnIl he |. tlrc never read anything heNeud Il novel or newspaper never studlei ae much IL | lne ot .eirnee and never written two word- ot poetry 'fo sum the matter up in q sentelle.. eI. taa--tl tlt person he Was fat red nnsed square laweI and untntcrestinr. and ill mlnd vulgar. ignorant and illitcratr caring for nothing beyond eating dflnkinp making money. and slrrping Ihc>, facts must be carefully borne m uInd hy IL" reader as It k in ,icN ot them hat what occurred attorward seems 60 incredible and astounding
 one das-ono rcd letter ,iay iu the anHal~ ot p-lchicnl research lolnrkius suddenly aui uucN poet"llv burst forth a- au intellectual prniu- of tho no-t a~ touu'lIng and lucouoeiyall" attalu m"nt- II" contributed ;o thr l,-s.eing ! learned review of the | nitcd States an article displaying such extraordinary talent and ability a~ to completely rlcos ! trtY tn" whole scientific world ti rg1st- -iu1furtttntt.l, .,H..r..e.tA- -ih..i.-ai,- roar"d III another magazine a paper bearing th" signature Nathnnia r. Tonpkins. which must have been the work ot Nent- oi patient and profound -tudy iud then som" halfdpleu periodicals Were published all contain ing contributions from h., pen. which attracted the attention ot th, nhoi. reading puhlle ot tnerIca II.rr wn- a ~rrmon which for power and pathu- exceeded anything ,i,ht had h",u "rit ten tol years here wa,- a sonnet full oi fire and i"rlot pi au ardent and pa> -iohatc poet, nud her. a story winch kept half th" states up after midnIghi to finch Il The strang"-t pert of II wa that there seemed absolutely no limnt to Tomp<in- boundley- .taf. ot information Hewtotc upon every COD c.i> able and iii ii'"iie.iyahl" suiijrct
 theology. hpr-'. racing ru"tnphysir carlplaNlng poetry, cooking .,Iouro dancing nothing cam" aini-s to hl- ai- most infinite mind providing only and always that he received hAnd-nur cheek in return At fret the majority of hi- acquaIntaHccs openly ridicul"d the id"a that Totnpkin- depended upet hl- own brain for the Knowledge and ability he dispIaycd lt wa- simply i'm possible they argued ty"ry fairly enough tool that hiY one man could Iu--'--- such fitiit. wisdom and hen the one man III question Was known by all hi- friends to have been for sixty Sear- A low vulgar. ignorant and Illit- crate fellow it was inter childishnr-e to suppose that l." could acqnir" zuch gigantic learning m th" couT-o ot iow wcck- Ii wa- yrr} evident. they said that he appropriated hI- articles tn tpt1 from the wOrk- of other wrl,ers--that wa the only explanation Of the matter But then. it wa- pointed out that if # were SO some one would undoubtedly have detected the fraud "A t was inn po--ible that Tompkin. could be the onl. man acquainted with the works from which his information wa. taken and then. again there ws~ another fact which completely upset their theories IL vas known beyond all doubt that when Tompkin. had -ibject in hand upon which he intended writing he would retire tD bir own bedroom winch didn't contain I Look of any .ort from floor to ceiling beyond an English die ,innaryl and in the course of few hour he would reappear with the article ready written and signed for the press There were others who shook their heads wisely and said that they alway. i hnd seen the signs of extraordinary ability in Tompkins and that they had mentioned the fact repeatedly 70 their : friends and acguaintances
 Didn't l say only last Christmas -aid Ponderby to hi- wife. when the