In arranging these verses for publication I have thought it needless to classify them according to character, as "Serious," "Comic," "Sentimental," "Satirical," and so forth. I do the reader the honor to think that he will readily discern the nature of what he is reading; and I entertain the hope that his mood will accommodate itself without disappointment to that of his author. AMBROSE BIERCE. CONTENTS. THE PASSING SHOW ELIXIR VITAE CONVALESCENT AT THE CLOSE OF THE CANVASS NOVUM ORGANUM GEOTHEOS YORICK A VISION OF DOOM POLITICS POESY IN DEFENSE AN INVOCATION RELIGION A MORNING FANCY VISIONS OF SIN THE TOWN OF DAE AN ANARCHIST AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE ARMA VIRUMQUE ON A PROPOSED CREMATORY A DEMAND THE WEATHER WIGHT T.A.H. MY MONUMENT MAD HOSPITALITY FOR A CERTAIN CRITIC RELIGIOUS PROGRESS MAGNANIMITY TO HER TO A SUMMER POET ARTHUR MCEWEN CHARLES AND PETER CONTEMPLATION CREATION BUSINESS A POSSIBILITY TO A CENSOR THE HESITATING VETERAN A YEAR'S CASUALTIES INSPIRATION TO-DAY AN ALIBI REBUKE J.F.B. THE DYING STATESMAN THE DEATH OF GRANT THE FOUNTAIN REFILLED LAUS LUCIS NANINE TECHNOLOGY A REPLY TO A LETTER TO OSCAR WILDE PRAYER A "BORN LEADER OF MEN" TO THE BARTHOLDI STATUE AN UNMERRY CHRISTMAS BY A DEFEATED LITIGANT AN EPITAPH THE POLITICIAN AN INSCRIPTION FROM VIRGINIA TO PARIS A "MUTE INGLORIOUS MILTON" THE FREE TRADER'S LAMENT SUBTERRANEAN PHANTASIES IN MEMORIAM THE STATESMEN THE BROTHERS THE CYNIC'S BEQUEST CORRECTED NEWS AN EXPLANATION JUSTICE MR. FINK'S DEBATING DONKEY TO MY LAUNDRESS FAME OMNES VANITAS ASPIRATION DEMOCRACY THE NEW "ULALUME" CONSOLATION FATE PHILOSOPHER BIMM REMINDED SALVINI IN AMERICA ANOTHER WAY ART AN ENEMY TO LAW AND ORDER TO ONE ACROSS THE WAY THE DEBTOR ABROAD FORESIGHT A FAIR DIVISION GENESIS LIBERTY THE PASSING OF "BOSS" SHEPHERD TO MAUDE THE BIRTH OF VIRTUE STONEMAN IN HEAVEN THE SCURRIL PRESS STANLEY ONE OF THE UNFAIR SEX THE LORD'S PRAYER ON A COIN A LACKING FACTOR THE ROYAL JESTER A CAREER IN LETTERS THE FOLLOWING PAIR POLITICAL ECONOMY VANISHED AT COCK-CROW THE UNPARDONABLE SIN INDUSTRIAL DISCONTENT TEMPORA MUTANTUR CONTENTMENT THE NEW ENOCH DISAVOWAL AN AVERAGE WOMAN INCURABLE THE PUN A PARTISAN'S PROTEST TO NANINE VICE VERSA A BLACK-LIST A BEQUEST TO MUSIC AUTHORITY THE PSORIAD ONEIROMANCY PEACE THANKSGIVING L'AUDACE THE GOD'S VIEW-POINT THE AESTHETES JULY FOURTH WITH MINE OWN PETARD CONSTANCY SIRES AND SONS A CHALLENGE TWO SHOWS A POET'S HOPE THE WOMAN AND THE DEVIL TWO ROGUES BEECHER NOT GUILTY PRESENTIMENT A STUDY IN GRAY A PARADOX FOR MERIT A BIT OF SCIENCE