The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)Ward, Artemus
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The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)
Ward, Artemus
American wit and humor
"I'm sorry for that," said the lan'lord with a sigh, "but you think he
was a man who would wish to see licensed vittlers respected in their
rights?"
"No doubt."
"Wall," said the lan'lord, "jest you keep a eye on me." Then risin
to his feet he said, in somewhat husky yet tol'bly distink voice, "Mr.
Crumbwell!"
"Cromwell!" I cried.
"Yes, Mr. Cromwell: that's the man I mean, Mr. Cromble! won't you
please advise that gen'l'man who you're talkin through; won't you
advise'im during your elekant speech to settle his bill at my 'ouse
tonight, Mr. Crumbles," said the lan'lord, glarin' savigely round on the
peple, "because if he don't there'll be a punched 'ed to be seen at the
Green Lion, where I don't want no more of this everlastin nonsens. I'LL
talk through 'im! Here's a sperrit," said the lan'lord, a smile once
more beamin on his face, "which will talk through him like a Dutch
father! I'm the sperrit for you, young feller!"
"You're a helthy old sperret," I remarkt; and then I saw the necessity
of gettin him out of the hall. The wimin was yellin and screaming, and
the men was hollerin' perlice. A perliceman really came and collerd my
fat fren.
"It's only a fit, Sir Richard," I said. I always call the perlice Sir
Richard. It pleases them to think I'm the victim of a deloosion; and
they always treat me perlitely. This one did, certainly, for he let us
go. We saw no more of the Trans-Mejim.
It's diffikilt, of course, to say how long these noosances will be
allowed to prowl round. I should say, however, if pressed for a answer
that they will prob'ly continner on jest about as long as they can find
peple to lis'en to 'em. Am I right? Yours, faithfull,
Artemus Ward
_______________
IV.
AT THE TOMB OF SHAKSPEARE.
Mr. Punch, My dear Sir,--I've been lingerin by the Tomb of the lamentid
Shakspeare.
It is a success.
I do not hes'tate to pronounce it as such.
You may make any use of this opinion that you see fit. If you think its
publication will subswerve the cause of litteraoor, you may publicate
it.
I told my wife Betsy when I left home that I should go to the birthplace
of the orthur of "Otheller" and other Plays. She said that as long as I
kept out of Newgate she didn't care where I went. "But," I said, "don't
you know he was the greatest Poit that ever lived? Not one of these
common poits, like that young idyit who writes verses to our daughter,
about the Roses as growses, and the Breezes as blowses--but a Boss
Poit--also a philosopher, also a man who knew a great deal about
everything."
She was packing my things at the time, and the only answer she made was
to ask me if I was goin to carry both of my red flannel night-caps.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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