The Project Gutenberg eBook ofShapes of ClayThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Shapes of ClayAuthor: Ambrose BierceRelease date: June 1, 2004 [eBook #12658]Most recently updated: October 28, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: Etext produced by Rick Niles, Kat Jeter, John Hagerson and PG DistributedProofreadersHTML file produced by David Widger*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHAPES OF CLAY ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Shapes of ClayAuthor: Ambrose BierceRelease date: June 1, 2004 [eBook #12658]Most recently updated: October 28, 2024Language: EnglishCredits: Etext produced by Rick Niles, Kat Jeter, John Hagerson and PG DistributedProofreadersHTML file produced by David Widger
Title: Shapes of Clay
Author: Ambrose Bierce
Author: Ambrose Bierce
Release date: June 1, 2004 [eBook #12658]Most recently updated: October 28, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Etext produced by Rick Niles, Kat Jeter, John Hagerson and PG DistributedProofreadersHTML file produced by David Widger
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHAPES OF CLAY ***
CONTENTS
DEDICATION.
PREFACE.
SHAPES OF CLAY
THE PASSING SHOW.
ELIXER 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE TABLES TURNED.
TO A DEJECTED POET.
A FOOL.
THE HUMORIST.
MONTEFIORE.
A WARNING.
DISCRETION.
AN EXILE.
THE DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT.
PSYCHOGRAPHS.
TO A PROFESSIONAL EULOGIST.
FOR WOUNDS.
ELECTION DAY.
THE MILITIAMAN.
A WELCOME.
A SERENADE.
THE WISE AND GOOD.
THE LOST COLONEL.
FOR TAT.
A DILEMMA.
METEMPSYCHOSIS.
THE SAINT AND THE MONK.
THE OPPOSING SEX.
A WHIPPER-IN.
JUDGMENT.
THE FALL OF MISS LARKIN.
IN HIGH LIFE.
A BUBBLE.
A RENDEZVOUS.
FRANCINE.
AN EXAMPLE.
REVENGE.
THE GENESIS OF EMBARRASSMENT.
IN CONTUMACIAM.
RE-EDIFIED.
A BULLETIN.
FROM THE MINUTES.
WOMAN IN POLITICS.
TO AN ASPIRANT.
A BALLAD OF PIKEVILLE.
A BUILDER.
AN AUGURY.
LUSUS POLITICUS.
BEREAVEMENT.
AN INSCRIPTION
A PICKBRAIN.
CONVALESCENT.
THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.
DETECTED.
BIMETALISM.
THE RICH TESTATOR.
TWO METHODS.
FOUNDATIONS OF THE STATE
AN IMPOSTER.
UNEXPOUNDED.
FRANCE.
THE EASTERN QUESTION.
A GUEST.
A FALSE PROPHECY.
TWO TYPES.
SOME ANTE-MORTEM EPITAPHS.
A HYMN OF THE MANY.
ONE MORNING.
AN ERROR.
AT THE "NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT."
THE KING OF BORES.
HISTORY.
THE HERMIT.
TO A CRITIC OF TENNYSON.
THE YEARLY LIE.
COOPERATION.
AN APOLOGUE.
DIAGNOSIS.
FALLEN.
DIES IRAE.
ONE MOOD'S EXPRESSION.
SOMETHING IN THE PAPERS.
IN THE BINNACLE.
HUMILITY.
ONE PRESIDENT.
THE BRIDE.
STRAINED RELATIONS.
THE MAN BORN BLIND.
A NIGHTMARE.
A WET SEASON.
THE CONFEDERATE FLAGS.
HAEC FABULA DOCET.
EXONERATION.
AZRAEL.
AGAIN.
HOMO PODUNKENSIS.
A SOCIAL CALL.
WITH PRIDE IN THEIR WORK, FAITH IN THEIR FUTURE AND AFFECTION FOR THEMSELVES, AN OLD WRITER DEDICATES THIS BOOK TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS AND PUPILS, GEORGE STERLING AND HERMAN SCHEFFAUER. A.B.
Some small part of this book being personally censorious, and in that part the names of real persons being used without their assent, it seems fit that a few words be said of the matter in sober prose. What it seems well to say I have already said with sufficient clarity in the preface of another book, somewhat allied to this by that feature of its character. I quote from "Black Beetles in Amber:"
"Many of the verses in this book are republished, with considerable alterations, from various newspapers. Of my motives in writing and in now republishing I do not care to make either defence or explanation, except with reference to those who since my first censure of them have passed away. To one having only a reader's interest in the matter it may easily seem that the verses relating to those might properly have been omitted from this collection. But if these pieces, or indeed, if any considerable part of my work in literature, have the intrinsic worth which by this attempt to preserve some of it I have assumed, their permanent suppression is impossible, and it is only a question of when and by whom they will be republished. Some one will surely search them out and put them in circulation.
"I conceive it the right of an author to have his fugitive work collected in his lifetime; and this seems to me especially true of one whose work, necessarily engendering animosities, is peculiarly exposed to challenge as unjust. That is a charge that can best be examined before time has effaced the evidence. For the death of a man of whom I have written what I may venture to think worthy to live I am no way responsible; and however sincerely I may regret it, I can hardly consent that it shall affect my literary fortunes. If the satirist who does not accept the remarkable doctrine that, while condemning the sin he should spare the sinner, were bound to let the life of his work be coterminous with that of his subject his were a lot of peculiar hardship.
"Persuaded of the validity of all this I have not hesitated to reprint even certain 'epitaphs' which, once of the living, are now of the dead, as all the others must eventually be. The objection inheres in all forms of applied satire—my understanding of whose laws and liberties is at least derived from reverent study of the masters. That in respect of matters herein mentioned I have but followed their practice can be shown by abundant instance and example."
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.