The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-17
THE PRINCE OF BAccAEAT.
American Republic Intensely Interested
In the Nasty British AristocTaey.
Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce-
The American republic is profoundly
agitated-an English baronet is accused OF
dishonesty in gambIingl Tothe considera-
ton Of this grave charge the eounirymen
of Washington and Lincoln are applying
their best intellectual powers; IN the con-
| ception Of the attendant circumstances
they are oyersfraining their imaginations,
| to the imminent peril of their mental
health. Il is Gods truth that, with
exceptions insignificant in number,
though significant enough and TO
spare in character. this great, rich.
powerful and enlightened nation
of the New World is experiencing quick
and lively interest in the long-past doings
of a handful Of he and she vulgarians and
detestabIes around card-tabIe on the
other side of the sea, for no other reason
than that the group is headed by a black
guard prince and comprises his notorious
mistress and several other persons Of what
our more nearly arboreal grandfathers
called quality" Let US ''itemize the ac-
count" The group consists, then, Of the
persons herein below described as they
appear in the light Of their own revela-
tions. First. prince who carries about
for playing an unlawful game;
who plays it TO win money from his
future subjects. his host, hostess,
and fellow guests at a country house; who
has his notorious mistress invited there
before himself accepting an invitation; and
who, charged with secret affecting the
honor of his friend. betrays him by bah
bling 1t. Second, the notorious mistress of
such prince. Third. the complscent host
ess who invited her, rather than not have
him. Fourth. the host who, conscientiously
opposed TO gambling in his own house, but
permitting it in concession 10 the taste OF
his distinguished guest. makes the highest
bets made and-stands the notorious mis-
tress. Fifth, the unspeakable baronet who
cheats at cards as diligently IS any Ameri-
can clubman. We need not particularize
further; there is hot a pennywoTth of
moral difference between any member Of
this disreputable gang and any other. In
every red corpuscle Of their illustrious
blood are . promise and potency of q
moral degradation that might bring
blush TO the cheek Of an oyster on ice.
My cOuntrymen, | am proud of you;
your interest in these people shows that
you are incontestibly superior TO the in
curious hog and the indolent cat. To ''be-
gin 10 take notice. has ever been consid-
CASu, IA tbr young Va OAE opSCleSs syitlp-
tom of dawning intelligence AS with the
individual, so with the race of which
he is but the concrete expression. AS a
tribe we Americans are young; we
are but a child-a kidd dambrat
We lie in the cradle OF Fate, earn
estIy cumming away at our precious
thumb, with almost human voracity, and
we begin to take noticel" We observe
king. prince, nobleman, a baronet,
even axnight. Attesting their conspicu-
businesses in the main and general sum of
things, We knock OF work upon the edi-
bic thumb and stare with both our beady
eyes. o, we're a sweet young thing. and
II has been wisely pointed ont by one of
our most lliustrous wet-nurses that our
future is all before us. It looks at present
as if our national career might be as
striking and picturesque as that of the
Gadarene swine