The Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 2: WarWard, Artemus
General
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 2: War
Ward, Artemus
American wit and humor
I'm not a politician and my other habits air good. I've no
enemys to reward, nor friends to sponge. But I'm a Union man.
I luv the Union--it is a Big thing--and it makes my hart bleed
to see a lot of ornery peple a-movin heaven--no, not heaven,
but the other place--and earth, to bust it up. Toe much good
blud was spilt in courtin and marryin that hily respectable
female the Goddess of Liberty, to git a divorce from her now.
My own State of Injianny is celebrated for unhitchin marrid
peple with neatness and dispatch, but you can't get a divorce
from the Goddess up there. Not by no means. The old gal has
behaved herself too well to cast her off now. I'm sorry the
picters don't give her no shoes or stockins, but the band of
stars upon her hed must continner to shine undimd, forever.
I'm for the Union as she air, and withered be the arm of every
ornery cuss who attempts to bust her up. That's me. I hav
sed! [It was a very sweaty day, and at this pint of the
orashun a man fell down with sunstroke. I told the awjince
that considerin the large number of putty gals present I was
more afraid of a DAWTER STROKE. This was impromptoo, and
seemed to amoose them very much.]
Feller Citizens--I hain't got time to notis the growth of
Ameriky frum the time when the Mayflowers cum over in the
Pilgrim and brawt Plymouth Rock with them, but every skool boy
nose our kareer has been tremenjis. You will excuse me if I
don't prase the erly settlers of the Kolonies. Peple which
hung idiotic old wimin for witches, burnt holes in Quakers'
tongues and consined their feller critters to the tredmill and
pillery on the slitest provocashun may hav bin very nice folks
in their way, but I must confess I don't admire their stile,
and will pass them by. I spose they ment well, and so, in the
novel and techin langwidge of the nusepapers, "peas to their
ashis." Thare was no diskount, however, on them brave men who
fit, bled and died in the American Revolushun. We needn't be
afraid of setting 'em up two steep. Like my show, they will
stand any amount of prase. G. Washington was abowt the best
man this world ever sot eyes on. He was a clear-heded,
warm-harted, and stiddy goin man. He never slopt over! The
prevailin weakness of most public men is to SLOP OVER! [Put
them words in large letters--A. W.] They git filled up and
slop. They Rush Things. They travel too much on the high
presher principle. They git on to the fust poplar hobbyhoss
whitch trots along, not carin a sent whether the beest is even
goin, clear sited and sound or spavined, blind and bawky. Of
course they git throwed eventooally, if not sooner. When they
see the multitood goin it blind they go Pel Mel with it,
instid of exerting theirselves to set it right. They can't
see that the crowd which is now bearin them triumfantly on its
shoulders will soon diskiver its error and cast them into the
hoss pond of Oblivyun, without the slitest hesitashun.
Washington never slopt over.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account