Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-04-03
THE STORIES
OF THE
THREE BURGLARS.
By FRANK r. STOCKTON.
COPYRIGHT, 1891
ICONTINUED.i

CONTINUED.
hoped that my wife would put herself
on my side, and would say that we had
had enough of this sort of thing, but fe-
male curiosity is an unknown quantity,
and She unhesitatingly replied that she
would like to hear the young mans
story. | sat down in despair. 1t was
useless to en3cavor to withstand this
yearning for personal information-one
of the curses, | may say, of our present
civilization. The young man gave no
time for change of opinion, but immedi-
ately began. His voice was rich and
rather low, and his manner exceedingly
pleasing and gentle.
Il wish to state in the first place"
said he, that | am a reporter for the
press. In the exercise of my vocation |
have frequently found myself in
peculiar and unpleasant positions, but
never before have | been in a situation
so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this.
In the course of my studies and expert
ences | have found that in literature
and journalism, as we'll as in art, one
can make a true picture only of what
one has seen. Imagination is all very
well. often grand and beautiful, but
selves and not our outer world: there is
to-day demand for the real. and it is
demand which will be satisfied with
nothing but the truth. | have deter
mined. as far as IN me lies, TO endeavor
to supply this demand, and | have de-
voted myself to the study of Realism.
with this end in view, have made
it rule never to describe any thing |
1iron1
If we would thoroughly understand and
appreciate our fellow beings we must
know what they do and how they do it,
otherwise we can not give them credit
for their virtues nor Judge them proper
ly for their faults. If | could prevent
crime l would annihiIate it, and when
it ceased to exist the necessity for de-
scribing it would also cease. But itdoes
exist. 1t is powerful element in the
life of the human race. Being known
and acknowledged everywhere. itshould
be understood, therefore it should be dc
scribed. The grand reality OF which we
are part can never be truly comprc-
hendcd until we comprehend all its
parts. But l will not pnilosophize.
[ have devoted myself to Real
ism. and in order to be q conscientious
student l study it in all its branches.
[ am frequently called upon to
write accounts of burglars and burg
laries, and in order TO thoroughly I'M
derstand these people and their method
of action | determined, as soon as the
opportunity should Gtfcr itself. to ac-
company 4 bur~larious expedition. My
sole object was the acquisition of
knowledge of the Subiact-knowledg
which to me would be valuable ard.
may say. essential. [ engaged this
man, James Barlow, to take me with
aim the first time he should have on
land an affair of this kind, and thus it
that you find me here Tonight in this
company. As | came here for the pur-
pose of earnest and thorough inrestiga-
ton l Will frankly admit that | would
not have interfcrcd with his processes, |
but. at the same time, l would have |
made it my business to sec thar no |
material injuries should result 20 any |
members of this family"
THAT was very kind of YOU" said. az
which my wife looked at me somewhat !
reproachingly. |
IF he really intended it" she re-
marked, land do not see why that was |
not the case. it was kind in him"
''As for me-" said Aunt Martha, very |
enthusiastically. Il think that the study !
Of Realism may be carried 4 great deal |
too far. | do not think that there is the
slightest necessity for people to know
any thing about burglars. If people
keep talking and reading about diseases
they will get them, and if they keep |
talking and reading about crimes they
will find the iniquity is catching, the
same as some other things. Besides, |
this realistic description gets to be very
tiresomc If you really want to be
writer Young man, why don t you try |
your hand on some original compost |
ton? Then YOU might write something |
which would he interesting.
.Ah. madam" said the young man. !
casting his eyes on the floor, lit would !
be far beyond my power TO write amy |
thing more wonderful than what nave !
known or seen. If | may tell Eou some |
of the things which happened to me |
YOU will understand why ! have become |
convinced that in this world of amazing
realities imagination must always take |
a second place.
.sOf course we want to hear your
story" said Aunt Martha: that's what
we have been staying here for"
If I am unbound" said the young
man, looking at me, Il could speak
more freely.
No doubt of it," said L; but perhaps
YOU might run away before you finished
YOUR story [ wouldn's have that hap
pen for the world
Don't make fun of him." said Aunt
Martha. Il was going TO ask you to
cut him loose. but after what you say
think it would perhaps be just as we'll
to keep them all tied until the nara
tives are completed
With sigh of resignation the young
man began his story.
81 am American born, but my father,