Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-02-01
BURGLARS.
BY FRANK r. STOCKTON.
iCOPYR'GHT, 1881. |

and she unhesitatingly replied that she
would like to hear the young mans
story. l sat down in despair. 1t was
useless to endeavor to withstand this
ycarning for personal information-one
of the curses, l 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.
81 wish to state in the first place."
said he, that l am n reporter for the
press. In the exercise of my vocation l
have frequently found myself in
peculiar and unpleasant positions, but
never before have l been in a situation
so embarrassing, SO humiliating, as this.
In the course of my studies and expert
ences 1 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
we'll, often grand and beautiful, but
Imaginative authors show us their inner
selves and not our outer world; there is
to-day demand for the real, and it is q
demand which will be satisfied with
nothing but the truth. l have deter
mined, as far as in me lies, to endeavor
to supply this demand and l have de-
voted myself to the study Of Realism.
with this end in view, l have made
it rule never to describe any thing l
have not personally seen and examined.
If wo would thoroughly understand and
appreciate our follow 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 l could prevent
crime l would annihilatc it, and when
it ceased to exist the necessity for de-
scribing it would also cease. But itdoes
exist. 1t is a powerful element in the
life Of the human race. Being known
and acknowledged everywhere, it should
be understood, therefore itshould be de-
scribed Tho grand reality of which we
are part can never be truly compre-
hcnded until we comprehend all its
parts. But l will not philosophize.
have devoted myself to Real
ism, and in o. der to be u conscientious
student 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, rs soon as the
opportunity should offer itself, to ac-
company burglarious expedition. My
sole object was the acquisition of
knowledge of tho subject-knowledge
which to mo would be valuable and,
may say, essential. l engaged this
man, James Barlow, to take me with
him the first time he should have on
hand an affair Of this kind, and thus 1t
is that you find me here tonight in this
company. AS | came hero for the pur-
pose of earnest and thorough invcstiga-
ton ! will frankly admit that l would
not have interfered with his processes,
but, at the same time, l would have
made it my business to see that no
material injuries should result to any
members of this family
That was very kind OF you,' said, at
which my wife looked at me somewhat
reproachingly.
IF he really intended it," she re-
marked, and do not sec why that was
not tho case, it was kind in him
LAS for me- said Aunt Martha, very
alphabetically, Il think that the study
of Realism may be carried great deal
too far. | do not think that there is the
slightest necessity for people to know
any thing about burglars. II 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
tircsome. If you really want to be a
writer, young man, why don't you try
your hand on some original compost
ton? Then you might write something
which would be interesting
'Ah; madam" said the young man,
fasting his eyes on the floor, sit would
be far beyond my power to write any
thing more wonderful than what have
known or seen. If may tell you some
Of the things which happened to me
you will understand why l have become
that in this world of amazing
q second place.
"Of course we want to hear your
story" said Aunt Martha; that's what
We have been staying here for
IF 1 am unbound" said the young
man, looking at me, Il could speak
more freely
mo doubt of it," said L; ''but perhaps
you might run away before you finished
your story. L WOulun nave tnat nap
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 1
think it would perhaps be just as we'll
to keep them all tied until the nara
tives are completed"
With a sigh of resignation the young
man began his story.
II am American born, but my father,
who was a civil engineer and of high
rank in his profession, was obliged,
when was quite small boy, to go to
Austria, where we had extensive con.
tracts for the building of railroads. In
that country l spent the greater part of
my boyhood and youth. There l was
educated in the best schools. my father
sparing no money to have mo taught
every thing that n gentleman should