The situation may be the better understood when I add that “negro testimony”—the introduction to the courts of law of the newly made freedmen as witnesses—barred by the state constitution, was the burning issue.

Curiously enough this latter is mainly, almost exclusively, recruited from our countrywomen, who to an abnormal passion for foreign titles join surpassing ignorance of foreign society.

The Yankee girl with a dot had become before the world war a regular quarry for impecunious aristocrats and clever crooks, the matrimonial results tragic in their frequency and squalor.

He possessed the daring of the typical Kentuckian, with the dead calm of the stoic philosopher; imperturbable; never vexed or querulous or excited; denying himself none of the indulgences of the gentleman of leisure.

All I make we’ll divide, and all we lose I’ll pay.

I did not think I could afford to have you lose on my suggestion and I went to cover your loss, when I found five thousand shares of Texas Pacific transferred on the books of the company in your name.

Indignantly I replied: “Go to the devil—you have not money enough—there is not money enough in the universe—to buy an hour of my season’s loaf.

He spent it freely though not wastefully or joyously, for the possession of it rather flattered his vanity than made occasion for pleasure.

Ability of varying kinds and degrees he had, a veritable genius for journalism and a real capacity for affection.

She should be a beautiful and rich young lady,” he replied, “who buys the newspaper and marries the cub—rescuing genius from poverty and persecution.

I have thought over it, sworn over it, and prayed over it,” he said, “and I am going to pardon him!

Senator,” said I, “the terms are as cheap as dirt.

Substantially the terms had been agreed upon during the previous conferences—that is, the promise that if Hayes came in the troops should be withdrawn and the people of Louisiana be left free to set their house in order to suit themselves.

Now, gentlemen,” said I, half in jest, “I am here to represent South Carolina; and if the terms given to Louisiana are not equally applied to South Carolina I become a filibuster myself to-morrow morning.

In spite of his positiveness of opinion and amplitude of knowledge he was always courteous and deferential in debate.

Twice within the half hour death had looked him in the eye and found no blinking there.

Beneath his seeming cold exterior and admirable self-control—the discipline of the master artist—lay the moods and tenses of the musical temperament.

But he had been born, and had grown up, between the lids of history, and for all his learning and travel he never got very far outside them.

Wherever they were their house was a very home—a kind of Yankee shrine—of visiting Americans and militant Americanism.

Always the survival of the strong, nicknamed by Spencer and his ilk the “fittest.” Ten thousand heads were chopped off during the Terror in France to make room for whom?

In Dickens’ day “a tale of two cities” could only mean London and Paris then, and ever so unalike.

To be brought to date the title would have now to read “three,” or even “four,” cities, New York and Chicago putting in their claims for mundane recognition.

Jove’s thunder no longer terrifies, and we look elsewhere than the Medici Venus for the lights o’ love.

Hugo’s imps and Balzac’s bullies dance down the stage and shut from the view the tax-collectors and the court favorites.

Lord!” cried the most delightful of liars, “How this world is given to lying.” Yea, and how exigency quickens invention and promotes deceit.