Wichita eagle., 1888-10-05


my eyes to the fact that was failing to hold
| my own in the estimation Of Ulysses From
cyclopedia Of literature which happened to
be in my library Ulysses had stored his mind
with an enormous fund of information on
| subjects of which was completely ignorant.
| In this field / was continually falling into
traps. There were also translations Of Comte
and Hegel to which he had devoted consider
| able study, but checkmated him there by
| talking learned nonsense, which was sure
| he could not distinguish from deep meta
physics. It was evident, however, that he
was beginning to appreciate that something
was the matter. Although he had not come
to the point Of ranking me with Briggs, still
my position was getting to be precarious
| one, and saw the necessity for great care.
| For some time avoided being drawn into
conversation with Ulysses, keeping him at
bay with number of new books, which I
had brought with me from Madras. He was
not long in appreciating that there was some
purpose lying back of this policy, and de-
nlanded an explanation Of me. was con-
fused by his point blank questions, and only
managed to make things worse. After that
| l was clay in bis hands. Every day he
branched out into some new field of discus
sion, tested me AID found me wanting. l
tried in vain to conceal my failures under
digni1ed exterior. Ulysses at first seemed
panied and surprised, but there finally showed
itself in his bearing toward me an air of sat
isfaction and triumph which was not easy
to endure To have been arrogantly treated
by member Of my OWL species would have
been a new experience to me, and one which
should have vigorously resented; this exhi-
bition Of superciliousness from an animal
below me in the scale of creation was more
than I proposed to put up with.
One morning, as l sauntered out to the
banyan tree, wondering in my mind as to
what was to be the outcome of this absurd
situation, Ulysses motioned to me, and
pointed to blackboard, which l saw was COW
cred with finally written characters.
mo, Ulysses" / said, II am tired this
morning, and it is very hot. l do not want
to get into discussion with you"
Ulysses waved his trunk emphatically, and
pointed again to the blackboard. Then he
gave fierce trumpet, and glared at me in
way that gave me a start f terror.
saw that some sort of crisis was ahead,
and determined to defer it, if possible, until
could decide what was the best course to
pursue. l therefore approached the board,
and read the following message, addressed to
myself:
''Master-You are deceived if you think
am ignorant Of the change which has grad
ually been coming to pass in our relation
ship to one another. You have been my su-
perior thus far in life, not by reason Of
greater physical power, for 1 can strike you
dead with ono blow, whereas you, without
tho aid of tools, could not give me even ex-
ternal pain. Your sole claim to command
over me lay in your intellectual superiority.
This superiority / am now compelled to Ques-
tion. Yesterday you admitted that you had
never read any Of Henry Mackenles novels;
you showed complete ignorance concerning
Bishop Berkeleys Alciphron, and when I
asked why Henry Vaughn, the poet, was
called the 'Silrrist,' you had no answer to
give me. In the conversations Of the last
few days you have made countless blunders
IN matters of history, science and literature.
Your ideas, in metaphysics are those of a
dotard, and your judgment in belles-lettres
is eXecrable. do not see on what ground
you arrogate to yourself position above
me- If you are not entitled to the place
which have given you in my consideration,
if the idea which l have entertained with re-
gard to our respective positions is erroneous,
then it is clearly matter Of justice that we
should straightway strange places. will be
the master hereafter and you the servant.
Can you show me any good reason why this
revolution should not come to passf'
There was no mistaking the tone and pur-
port OF this communication. 1t was at once
declaration of independence and mani
festo of sovereignty. Not merely must 1 ex-
ercise no moro authority over Ulysses, but
must yield gracefully and subnissively to
his rule. / did not know, either by expert
ence or hearsay, what kind Of master an
elephant would make, but from the intensely
logical disposition which Ulysses had always
shown, had a suspicion that he would prove
at least severe and intolerant.
The dilemma was a hard one took up
the chalk, intending to write my answer
rather than speak it. that might have time
for reflection. As l did SO, an idea suddenly
occurred to ne-a plan by which 1 could
beat Ulysses at his own game l immedi-
ately became so confident Of its success that
did not hesitate to stake my personal Liberty
ON the chance of his discontinue.
Ulysses said, 81 cannot deny that in
many directions you have shown a mental
grasp which never expected to see developed
elsewhere than among the best of my own
species But all this is not enough. There
is still one test the last and severest TO which
culture and intelligence can be compelled to
submit. If you can meet this satisfactorily,
l shall no longer question your superiority
over myself"
''That is all I ask" wrote Ulysses: "a fair
trial"
stepped into the house and returned with
book which l had recently brought from
Madras, and which Ulysses had not seen.
laid it open upon the rock before him. He
brought UP his monocle, and glanced at tho
title and the author.
"Ahan he wrote: ~ have heard of this
man, and have long wished to see some of his
work"
''You know what position he occupies in
lettersS" asked
81 do" wrote Ulysses; Il have read what
his admirers say of him"
every well,n l answered; ''you know,
then, what is demanded of you-that you
should understand and enjoy this work. II
you cannot meat both these requirements
then you have failed"
ulysses shrugged els trunk with easy In
difference raised his eyeglass and began to
read l lay some distance away, doing in
my hammock, and awaited results. They
were not long in coming
At the end of about half an hour be
trumpeted to me in an indignant tone Of
voice, and inquired on the blackboard
whether had given him the original English
or some kind of translation
l answered this satisfactorily, and for more
than an hour he toiled away, breathing hard
at times and swaying from side to side when
ever be thought he was about to gain a cew.
Presently he called to me again
~ forcot to ask said be .Mhefher this