Caesar and struck him with a dirk； Caesar grabbing him by the arm with
his right hand； and launching a blow straight from the shoulder with his
left； that sent the reptile bleeding to the earth。 He then backed up
against Pompey's statue； and squared himself to receive his assailants。
Cassias and Cimber and Cinna rushed； upon him with their daggers drawn；
and the former succeeded in inflicting a wound upon his body； but before
he could strike again； and before either of the others could strike at
all； Caesar stretched the three miscreants at his feet with as many blows
of his powerful fist。 By this time the Senate was in an indescribable
uproar； the throng of citizens is the lobbies had blockaded the doors in
their frantic efforts to escape from the building； the sergeant…at…arms
and his assistants were struggling with the assassins； venerable senators
had cast aside their encumbering robes； and were leaping over benches and
flying down the aisles in wild confusion toward the shelter of the
committee…rooms； and a thousand voices were shouting 〃Po…lice！ Po…lice！〃
in discordant tones that rose above the frightful din like shrieking
winds above the roaring of a tempest。 And amid it all great Caesar stood
with his back against the statue； like a lion at bay； and fought his
assailants weaponless and hand to hand； with the defiant bearing and the
unwavering courage which he had shown before on many a bloody field。
Billy Trebonius and Caius Legarius struck him with their daggers and
fell； as their brother…conspirators before them had fallen。 But at last；
when Caesar saw his old friend Brutus step forward armed with a murderous
knife； it is said he seemed utterly overpowered with grief and amazement；
and； dropping his invincible left arm by his side； he hid his face in the
folds of his mantle and received the treacherous blow without an effort
to stay the hand that gave it。 He only said； 〃Et tu； Brute？〃 and fell
lifeless on the marble pavement。
We learn that the coat deceased had on when he was killed was the same
one he wore in his tent on the afternoon of the day he overcame the
Nervii； and that when it was removed from the corpse it was found to be
cut and gashed in no less than seven different places。 There was nothing
in the pockets。 It will be exhibited at the coroner's inquest； and will
be damning proof of the fact of the killing。 These latter facts may be
relied on； as we get them from Mark Antony； whose position enables him to
learn every item of news connected with the one subject of absorbing
interest of…to…day。
LATER： While the coroner was summoning a jury； Mark Antony and other
friends of the late Caesar got hold of the body； and lugged it off to the
Forum； and at last accounts Antony and Brutus were making speeches over
it and raising such a row among the people that； as we go to press； the
chief of police is satisfied there is going to be a riot； and is taking
measures accordingly。
THE WIDOW'S PROTEST
One of the saddest things that ever came under my notice （said the
banker's clerk） was there in Corning during the war。 Dan Murphy enlisted
as a private； and fought very bravely。 The boys all liked him； and when
a wound by and by weakened him down till carrying a musket was too heavy
work for him； they clubbed together and fixed him up as a sutler。 He
made money then； and sent it always to his wife to bank for him。 She was
a washer and ironer； and knew enough by hard experience to keep money
when she got it。 She didn't waste a penny。
On the contrary； she began to get miserly as her bank…account grew。 She
grieved to part with a cent； poor creature； for twice in her hard…working
life she had known what it was to be hungry； cold； friendless； sick； and
without a dollar in the world； and she had a haunting dread of suffering
so again。 Well； at last Dan died； and the boys； in testimony of their
esteem and respect for him； telegraphed to Mrs。 Murphy to know if she
would like to have him embalmed and sent home； when you know the usual
custom was to dump a poor devil like him into a shallow hole； and then
inform his friends what had become of him。 Mrs。 Murphy jumped to the
conclusion that it would only cost two or three dollars to embalm her
dead husband； and so she telegraphed 〃Yes。〃 It was at the 〃wake〃 that
the bill for embalming arrived and was presented to the widow。
She uttered a wild； sad wail that pierced every heart； and said；
〃Sivinty…foive dollars for stooffin' Dan； blister their sowls！ Did thim
divils suppose I was goin' to stairt a Museim； that I'd be dalin' in such
expinsive curiassities ！〃
The banker's clerk said there was not a dry eye in the house。
THE SCRIPTURAL PANORAMIST ＇Written about 1866。＇
There was a fellow traveling around in that country；〃 said Mr。
Nickerson； 〃with a moral…religious showa sort of scriptural panorama
and he hired a wooden…headed old slab to play the piano for him。 After
the first night's performance the showman says：
〃'My friend； you seem to know pretty much all the tunes there are； and
you worry along first rate。 But then； didn't you notice that sometimes
last night the piece you happened to be playing was a little rough on the
proprieties； so to speakdidn't seem to jibe with the general gait of
the picture that was passing at the time； as it werewas a little
foreign to the subject； you knowas if you didn't either trump or follow
suit； you understand？'
〃'Well； no；' the fellow said； 'he hadn't noticed； but it might be； he had
played along just as it came handy。'
〃So they put it up that the simple old dummy was to keep his eye on the
panorama after that； and as soon as a stunning picture was reeled out he
was to fit it to a dot with a piece of music that would help the audience
to get the idea of the subject； and warm them up like a camp…meeting
revival。 That sort of thing would corral their sympathies； the showman
said。
〃There was a big audience that night…mostly middle…aged and old people
who belong to the church； and took a strong interest in Bible matters；
and the balance were pretty much young bucks and heifersthey always
come out strong on panoramas； you know； because it gives them a chance to
taste one another's complexions in the dark。
〃Well； the showman began to swell himself up for his lecture； and the old
mud…Jobber tackled the piano and ran his fingers up and down once or
twice to see that she was all right； and the fellows behind the curtain
commenced to grind out the panorama。 The showman balanced his weight on
his right foot； and propped his hands over his hips； and flung his eyes
over his shoulder at the scenery； and said：
〃'Ladies and gentlemen； the painting now before you illustrates the
beautiful and touching parable of the Prodigal Son。 Observe the happy
expression just breaking over the features of the poor； suffering youth
so worn and weary with his long march； note also the ecstasy beaming from
the uplifted countenance of the aged father； and the joy that sparkles in
the eyes of the excited group of youths and maidens； and seems ready to
burst into the welcoming chorus from their lips。 The lesson； my friends；
is as solemn and instructive as the story is tender and beautiful。'
〃The mud…Jobber was all ready； and when the second speech was finished；
struck up：
〃Oh； we'll all get blind drunk
When Johnny comes marching home！
〃Some of the people giggled； and some groaned a little。 The showman
couldn't say a word； he looked at the pianist sharp； but he was all
lovely and serenehe didn't know there was anything out of gear。
〃The panorama moved on； and the showman drummed up his grit and started
in fresh。
〃'Ladies and gentlemen； the fine picture now unfolding itself to your
gaze exhibits one of the most notable events in Bible historyour
Saviour and His disciples upon the Sea of Galilee。 How grand； how awe…
inspiring are the reflections which the subject invokes！ What sublimity
of faith is revealed to us in this lesson from the sacred writings！ The
Saviour rebukes the angry waves； and walks securely upon the bosom of the
deep！'
〃All around the house they were whispering； 'Oh； how lovely； how
beautiful！' and the orchestra let himself out again：
〃A life on the ocean wave；
And a home on the rolling deep！
〃There was a good deal of honest snickering turned on this time； and
considerable groaning； and one or two old deacons got up and went out。
The showman grated his teeth； and cursed the piano man to himself； but
the fellow sat there like a knot on a log； and seemed to think he was
doing first…rate。
〃After things got quiet the showman thought he would make one more
stagger at it； anyway； though his confidence was beginning to get mighty
shaky。 The supes started the panorama grinding along again； and he says：
〃'Ladies and gentlemen； this exquisite painting represents the raising of
Lazarus from the dead by our Saviour。 The subject has been handled with
marvelous skill by the artist； and such touching sweetness and tenderness
of expression has he thrown into it that I have known peculiarly
sensitive persons to be even affected to tears by looking at it。 Observe
the half…confused； half…inquiring look upon the countenance of the
awakened Lazarus。 Observe； also； the attitude and expression of the
Saviour； who takes him gently by the sleeve of his shroud with one hand；
while He points with the other toward the distant city。'
〃Before anybody could get off an opinion in the case the innocent old ass
at the piano struck up：
〃Come rise up； William Ri…i…ley；
And go along with me！
〃Whe…ew！ All the solemn old flats got up in a huff to go； and everybody
else laughed till the windows rattled。
〃The showman went down and grabbed the orchestra and shook him up and
says：
〃'That lets you out； you know； you chowder…headed old clam。 Go to the
doorkeeper and get your money； and cut your stickvamose the ranch！
Ladies and gentlemen； circumstances over which I have no control compel
me prematurely to dismiss the house。'〃
CURING