Sketches New and Old


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by incomplete election returns.  
It is pleasant to note that the city of Blathersville is endeavoring  
to contract with some New York gentlemen to pave its well-nigh  
impassable streets with the Nicholson pavement. The Daily Hurrah  
urges the measure with ability, and seems confident of ultimate  
success.  
I passed my manuscript over to the chief editor for acceptance,  
alteration, or destruction. He glanced at it and his face clouded. He  
ran his eye down the pages, and his countenance grew portentous. It was  
easy to see that something was wrong. Presently he sprang up and said:  
"
Thunder and lightning! Do you suppose I am going to speak of those  
cattle that way? Do you suppose my subscribers are going to stand such  
gruel as that? Give me the pen!"  
I never saw a pen scrape and scratch its way so viciously, or plow  
through another man's verbs and adjectives so relentlessly. While he was  
in the midst of his work, somebody shot at him through the open window,  
and marred the symmetry of my ear.  
"Ah," said he, "that is that scoundrel Smith, of the Moral Volcano--he  
was due yesterday." And he snatched a navy revolver from his belt and  
fired--Smith dropped, shot in the thigh. The shot spoiled Smith's aim,  
who was just taking a second chance and he crippled a stranger. It was  
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Quick Jump
1 101 201 302 402