What do you think?
Rate this book
Shorter American Memory
Poetry. Prose poems collaged from documents collected in Henry Beston's American Memory. Rosmarie Waldrop unearths compelling clues into America's perception of its own past, developing a vision of America vital for its intelligence, wit & compassion.
- GenresPoetry
Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
About the author
Rosmarie Waldrop
96 books61 followersRosmarie Waldrop (born August 24, 1935), née Sebald, is a contemporary American poet, translator and publisher. Born in Germany, she has lived in the United States since 1958. She has lived in Providence, Rhode Island since the late 1960s. Waldrop is coeditor and publisher of Burning Deck Press, as well as the author or coauthor (as of 2006) of 17 books of poetry, two novels, and three books of criticism.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 26, 2022
Shorter American Memory of the First Settlements
The love I bear my God, my King, and my Church hath so often emboldened me to desire peace which I had thought one of the unpeopled countries of America.
As that it was subject to many inconceivable perils, as that, besides, wise Seneca was so affected with sailing a few miles on the coast of his own Italy that he had rather be made of young sapling trees than wear Irish trousers, the wind has been against us this week and more.
But lest we should grow secure and neglect the Lord He was pleased to lead us to the wigwam of Waaubon where we found yet some part of winter. The island is most of it huge flights of turkey. In the morning, tobacco is the solid staple, the use of it opened with a hoe when the snow spangles appear in sexangular form.
It pleaseth God that thou shouldst once again hear from me before He allayed the heat with a good gale of English salutations. Yet it may be wondered why, since New England is about twelve degrees nearer the sun, yet it is inhabited from one end to the other. The reason is birds and pleasure of the flesh which ought to be close shaved against the next morning. The three main commodities this country affords for traffic are inhabitants, Christendom, and plants. The natives call it weachin, and in some southern parts I am now to thank you for it.
The next day there came unto us diverse boats, and in one of them many savage gestures. Their arrows are not made of reeds, but should be kindly entreated. It is strange to see with what hopes men of war set forth to rob the industrious innocent though Pocahontas was but a child of twelve or thirteen whose proportion of biscuits the sailors pilfered to sell.
The king himself was shot clean through other colors. Who doth not know that after six weeks’ fattening they all received communion, and those who could escape should yet be Englishmen. After we had presented the king’s brother with six miles as strong and as naked as we laid hands upon him, what voyage and what discoveries! And never could the Spaniard, each hour expecting pestilence, find occasion in his predominating rankness. We also saw great multitudes of whales which are the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the sea, and yet the natives’ children run about stark naked. This labor must be repeated as I daily fold these distant parts. Yea, and in May we shall live on both land and water, being voracious and greedy, devouring everything.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of King Philip
This is the memorable day wherein at once arose a great body of Indians apt to answer the expectations of the diligent.
King Philip, the perfidious and bloody author of the war that hath made the world and things therein lay hid as high as a man’s waist and was slain.
One of Philip’s men came to Rhode Island and wrote his law in our hearts, by which apples grow easily armed with guns, spears, hatchets, etc. Immediately upon this intelligence, Captain Church of Plymouth, face painted in warlike appearance, crept among the bushes and caught eels and flatfish.
It seemeth that night Philip dreamed that an excellent sauce was made of him by the English and just as he was being poured over the turkey our soldiers came upon him and spoke such words as he did not like or approve of. Thereupon he betook himself to the smallpox that was once in his grandfather’s time and enjoyed it with our love and consent, but as he was coming out of the swamp an Englishman, sensible of the unkindness and injustice that had been too much exercised toward him, endeavored to fire at him, but missed.
The Indian who killed Philip was only skin and bones, and the meat he ate did formerly belong to the Squaw Sachem of Pocasset. Thus when Philip had treacherously filled a three bushel sack with fine herring his own subjects dealt treacherously many miles along the shore. Woe was asleep in his path and spoiled. And in that very place where he first contrived strong liquor he was taken and destroyed and there was he, like as seven fat ducks before the Lord, cut into four quarters and is now hanged up as a monument to goodness and patience. So let all thine enemies be denied profit in Plymouth, O Lord!
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Indian Wars
To our surprise thirty or forty Indians were moving from place to place. They discharged a volley of corn at Cowassuck. Christian burial and the yelling of the Indians so terrified me that I soon considered with what method to dwindle. My brother ran one way and I was late in the evening.
Looking over the hearts of my neighbors I saw a stout fellow pursuing me with a cutlass which I expected in family worship. When I presently fell down the Indian seized my arms and discoursed of the happiness of those who had a house made with hands eternal. The captives were pinioned and bound, and so was God the father and friend. Blood began to circulate. I saw two men knocked on the head with hatchets and two more reading the Holy Scriptures which they were wont personally to swell with blisters. Nevertheless the Indians marched us about a mile and then justified God in what had happened. After they had done what they could they came naked out of my mother’s womb and, upon humble petition, slew her.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Salem
where a great stone
where unaccountably gone
where caused soreness and swelling
where the tail of
where no body to join them
where in the chimney
where she was scratched
where no cattle seen there
where with apparitions
where teeth on her breast
where how many fathom
where no damage
where the mysterious
where a blow on her eye
where there was no body
where knowing her own
where pious considerations
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Manners and Customs South of the Chesapeake
At eight we mounted our horses, sensible of the misfortune of wanting wives. We were obliged to have axe men that had never seen any clergy since they were settled here to clear the way. In some places the ascent was very steep, in others negroes spoke good English.
We followed the windings of James river, and, opening the bed, the snake was found dead. About one of the clock we got to wrestle with evil in high places. We drank King George’s health and all the Royal Family’s though they be naturally of a barbarous and cruel temper.
At the very top of the Appalachian mountains several good cavalier families were afflicted with lingering bells around their ankles and knees. I, being somewhat more curious than the rest, rattled a gourd that had corn in it to see fine prospects of ancestors. We bought a wife who carried good testimonials of her porridge at the price of letting the fish drop where it runs no bigger than a man’s arm. By beat of drum we drank some healths, after which slavery is not very laborious. It consists in that they rest upon the wing without the least change of place. We had a good dinner. Then the men got together and loaded all their arms. With these they made a circular dance and fired a volley representing the shape of possession. The Governor buried a bottle with a forty pound turkey saying that the slaves are prevented from losing their English in the name of King George the First. We drank the Governor’s health.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the East Peopled and Possessed
What other account can you give of New England but only its legs being thick and short? What other account can be given of meeting with a buffalo and conducting him to the fashionable part of the fair sex where it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright? What other account can be given of frequently entertaining against cocoa in passion and against staple commodities like dissenting ministers? What other account can be given of dividing the tribes in opposition to hair growing on head and neck and that so temptingly, with so dirty a brown, against so much honorable Dutch education? What other account can be given of rising into a kind of bunch above the shoulders, above the Governor of Pennsylvania who is widely useful?
And that you will press ill effects against sex though it make spongy leather and contribute not a little to your household?
Such like belchings of honor and esteem would be sufficient transportation to Barbadoes. If disgraced by a shabby little tail none would want a more becoming parsimony. If you yourself had horns that poorly made against the bitter winters as method of propagation, you would not rub beargrease on your face for the benefit of mankind in general.
Suppose an English proverb should wash with cold virtue and sing psalms as frightful as Philadelphia is near the center, should be acquainted with the disproportion between inhabitants and mohair, should seem to cultivate opinions not above twelve inches long and should be as scarce penetrable as a hog, would it not be justly prohibited?
Suppose, futher, when you sent flour to Boston it would flee like sheep, when you had a stocking knit it would resemble the most bigoted Puritains; and suppose it should continually drink such loyal healths as take possession of your bed, should you not cry “Mohawk!” and eat it with a spoon of silver?
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the American Scenery
It was now after nearer inspection. I approached humorous old tales amidst, awful shades! darkness gathering around with such violence as threw the water into the midland West. Corn, the chief produce of majesty and power, recovered my senses with a great deal of civility, threatening all the beauties of nature.
All around now, still as lessons of martial virtue, not an instrument of slavery was heard, but a smell of burned wax and beloved wife seemed to pervade the hovering moisture. The birds afraid to express consternation appeared as fashioned with military skill. Every insect boiled as well.
The mighty cloud now turned its backside and slapped it, which, in some degree, abated the hemisphere. Though much defaced by time, so great a body of water falling. Now the lofty forests desired to be excused from the writing, the famous Ohio tossed about, the mountains trembled and adhered long to their bodies, the furious religion swept along as if planned by Vauban himself, smoking through the vale and the Moravian brethren. The face of the earth was unpinioned by conclusions of its great antiquity, and I deafened by all angles and every part.
The perpendicular leveled, I saw a high spiral plenty. It filled me with uncommon change of weather.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Taxation Without Representation
The tea which impends over us, the tea which we are now to deplore and deprecate, the tea was contained in three ships.
The tea the inhabitants of this land have ever felt and surrounded, the tea that threatens, the tea if the rebels, the tea no less than slavery and ruin.
The tea this great people, the tea under cover of cannon, the tea off for Lexington, the tea past expediency.
Unhappy fate of all America! Unhappy tea!
The tea that endangers our wretchedness, the tea to be true and with a general huzzah, the tea difficult to cross the Charles River without, the tea in Indian costume, the tea in a situation so extreme that we would show lanterns in the North Church steeple: two if by tea, and if by land, one.
Well do our civil rulers then call us to mourning so as thoroughly to expose us to the effects of water.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Declaration of Independence
We holler these trysts to be self exiled that all manatees are credited equi distant, that they are endured by their Creditor with cervical unanswerable rims, that among these are lightning, lice, and the pushcart of harakiri. That to seduce these rims, graces are insulated among manatees, descanting their juvenile pragmatism from the consistency of the graced. That whenever any formula of grace becomes detained of these endives, it is the rim of the peppery to aluminize or to abominate it, and to insulate Newtonian grace, leaching its fountain pen on such printed matter and orienting its pragmatism in such formula, as to them shall seize most lilac to effuse their sage and harakiri.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Colonies at War
Ever since the subject, I arrived under debate at the state of manhood, and several gentlemen declared themselves against the general history of mankind. I have felt sincere passion for the appointment of Mr. Washington, not on account of any personal liberty, but because of the history of nations, all from New England, doomed to perpetual slavery in consequence of yielding up to tyrants a General of their own and capable of philosophical horror.
The first systematical attempt at Lexington, to enslave American buzzed around us like hail. While I aspired to Bunker Hill imminent dangers were taken out of doors lest the British Army take the name of the great Jehova. The general direction was so clearly over the neck that the dissentient members were persuaded to full gallop, and Mr. Washington was elected to surprise and take material consequence. This firm belief he cheerfully undertook as follows:
“It integrity has strictest been the determined. And in it Congress of that prosecution the the whole in army. Attention raised close for cause the our defense of of the justice. American the cause in shall belief be firm. Put a under my things, care three and for that, but it answer its can necessary. I for reputation me own the my command to of knowledge it.”
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the New Union
It should not be forgotten that the legislative body, if it were practicable, would be on friendly terms with modest and innocent looks. Her hair was frizzled to extricate us out of our difficulty in ginning cotton. Sensible to the slightest alarm, the hunting shirt extended from the rising to the setting sun. Yet in that uncultivated state professed to worship reason and engaged Chinamen to perceive the snowcapped hills of the American Coast.
But what a naval force! To encroach upon an intermediate body! Between experience and deformity, which is essential to a national character, we are either a navigation act or a piece of chintz.
Hélas, Franklin. To accommodate Congress and share the profits affords a strong tincture of devotion. But an evil day continued through the forest. The Bible was hazardous to foreigners. To escape was impossible. We had to take off our shoes while affording shelter to cows.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Lengthened Shadow of Napoleon
I am not a Federalist. My mornings are devoted to the Straits of Gibraltar. It is difficult to describe my appearance and the deep ravine where I pay the compliments of the season.
The administration has erred by about five feet eight inches in throwing the dead overboard, but a commanding general can neither suppress his feelings nor the rudeness indicating deep thought. I had already exchanged Italy for a corpulency which verged closely on Algiers when Mrs. Madison was frankly cordial. I do not exaggerate. On this occasion, my eyes were dark and penetrating, then increased to heavy rain, the effect of a marine band stationed to windward.
While I should hesitate to assimilate pearlpowder and perspiration, my sword gives an agreeable expression to my face which could hardly go naked. From my generally cold character a greater degree of happiness treads the air with a passion to commence the firing. My uniform is ornamented by a single drooping Indian woman secured by public opinion which I carry in my mouth.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Growth of the Nation
Since my removal to the Presidential Mansion commerce in beef and pork coolly weighs its chances with accumulation of the recruiting service. Upward of three hundred hogs had been driven to betray their various descents. Now began a scene of bustle and paint pots to preserve the Union from the dark recess behind.
“Indeed, John, you must substitute potatoes,” said Mrs. Smith with sufficient force to jerk the coaches and quintuple the population. The Baptist ministers plunged into universal property.
For this purpose two thousand Indians were expelled from their native burdens too late in the season to have existed. A proud day for the Union. For suppose the President should experiment with French corsets and eagles come to supplant him with uncooked joints: in such contingency Providence may indeed use dry pitch pine for its locomotive from the Ocean, and with loads of flour, whiskey, hemp and cotton.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Far West
And it came to pass among the greenhorns and pork eaters, among the lofty snowy peaks there arose an intonation of both sexes such an one as never had cleared yesterday in all of California. And there was horsemanship and vultures. And there was a brisk trade in beaver insomuch that it made our blood run cold as if about to find hospitality. And there were people of bizarre character such as Yankees, Chilians, Sonorians, Kanakas from Hawaii, Chinese and Malays. And the credit was gone. And the city of Moroni did sink into the depth of the sea. And there were no lodgings to be had. And the bloody remains of ten Black Feet made the poetry of the prairie. And in place of the Green River there became teeth of the wind.
But behold, there was such a mass of buffalo that they spoke elegant Spanish. For behold they were celebrating the war dance because of the clipper ships and the luggage deposited and the hill and long talks and the flogging at San Pedro. And San Francisco was seated on canvas, and no steeple chase can equal it. And many scalps were taken. And women skipped from consonant to consonant. And cattle were the slope of the situation. And a secret terror soared over our heads. And the name of Jesus was valuable cargo.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Golden Age in New England
I have paid no poll tax or factories which sorely tempted me. Every day, the sun. In the divided or social state I stood considering the walls of solid stone. Many waves were agitated by a tumor even with the edge. The machinery whirring entered the inexplicable web of God, but always the door of wood and iron. A snow storm was falling around us. It occupied all space anterior to the neck. There are several factories along banks merely spectral, bounded on the inside by a median line. The iron grating which strains the vast work of civilized nature must settle its value. Ever the wind blows and of natural color. I could not help being struck with amputation from the trunk. I had lived in vain. It is strange to see such a rough and circular p
The love I bear my God, my King, and my Church hath so often emboldened me to desire peace which I had thought one of the unpeopled countries of America.
As that it was subject to many inconceivable perils, as that, besides, wise Seneca was so affected with sailing a few miles on the coast of his own Italy that he had rather be made of young sapling trees than wear Irish trousers, the wind has been against us this week and more.
But lest we should grow secure and neglect the Lord He was pleased to lead us to the wigwam of Waaubon where we found yet some part of winter. The island is most of it huge flights of turkey. In the morning, tobacco is the solid staple, the use of it opened with a hoe when the snow spangles appear in sexangular form.
It pleaseth God that thou shouldst once again hear from me before He allayed the heat with a good gale of English salutations. Yet it may be wondered why, since New England is about twelve degrees nearer the sun, yet it is inhabited from one end to the other. The reason is birds and pleasure of the flesh which ought to be close shaved against the next morning. The three main commodities this country affords for traffic are inhabitants, Christendom, and plants. The natives call it weachin, and in some southern parts I am now to thank you for it.
The next day there came unto us diverse boats, and in one of them many savage gestures. Their arrows are not made of reeds, but should be kindly entreated. It is strange to see with what hopes men of war set forth to rob the industrious innocent though Pocahontas was but a child of twelve or thirteen whose proportion of biscuits the sailors pilfered to sell.
The king himself was shot clean through other colors. Who doth not know that after six weeks’ fattening they all received communion, and those who could escape should yet be Englishmen. After we had presented the king’s brother with six miles as strong and as naked as we laid hands upon him, what voyage and what discoveries! And never could the Spaniard, each hour expecting pestilence, find occasion in his predominating rankness. We also saw great multitudes of whales which are the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the sea, and yet the natives’ children run about stark naked. This labor must be repeated as I daily fold these distant parts. Yea, and in May we shall live on both land and water, being voracious and greedy, devouring everything.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of King Philip
This is the memorable day wherein at once arose a great body of Indians apt to answer the expectations of the diligent.
King Philip, the perfidious and bloody author of the war that hath made the world and things therein lay hid as high as a man’s waist and was slain.
One of Philip’s men came to Rhode Island and wrote his law in our hearts, by which apples grow easily armed with guns, spears, hatchets, etc. Immediately upon this intelligence, Captain Church of Plymouth, face painted in warlike appearance, crept among the bushes and caught eels and flatfish.
It seemeth that night Philip dreamed that an excellent sauce was made of him by the English and just as he was being poured over the turkey our soldiers came upon him and spoke such words as he did not like or approve of. Thereupon he betook himself to the smallpox that was once in his grandfather’s time and enjoyed it with our love and consent, but as he was coming out of the swamp an Englishman, sensible of the unkindness and injustice that had been too much exercised toward him, endeavored to fire at him, but missed.
The Indian who killed Philip was only skin and bones, and the meat he ate did formerly belong to the Squaw Sachem of Pocasset. Thus when Philip had treacherously filled a three bushel sack with fine herring his own subjects dealt treacherously many miles along the shore. Woe was asleep in his path and spoiled. And in that very place where he first contrived strong liquor he was taken and destroyed and there was he, like as seven fat ducks before the Lord, cut into four quarters and is now hanged up as a monument to goodness and patience. So let all thine enemies be denied profit in Plymouth, O Lord!
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Indian Wars
To our surprise thirty or forty Indians were moving from place to place. They discharged a volley of corn at Cowassuck. Christian burial and the yelling of the Indians so terrified me that I soon considered with what method to dwindle. My brother ran one way and I was late in the evening.
Looking over the hearts of my neighbors I saw a stout fellow pursuing me with a cutlass which I expected in family worship. When I presently fell down the Indian seized my arms and discoursed of the happiness of those who had a house made with hands eternal. The captives were pinioned and bound, and so was God the father and friend. Blood began to circulate. I saw two men knocked on the head with hatchets and two more reading the Holy Scriptures which they were wont personally to swell with blisters. Nevertheless the Indians marched us about a mile and then justified God in what had happened. After they had done what they could they came naked out of my mother’s womb and, upon humble petition, slew her.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Salem
where a great stone
where unaccountably gone
where caused soreness and swelling
where the tail of
where no body to join them
where in the chimney
where she was scratched
where no cattle seen there
where with apparitions
where teeth on her breast
where how many fathom
where no damage
where the mysterious
where a blow on her eye
where there was no body
where knowing her own
where pious considerations
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Manners and Customs South of the Chesapeake
At eight we mounted our horses, sensible of the misfortune of wanting wives. We were obliged to have axe men that had never seen any clergy since they were settled here to clear the way. In some places the ascent was very steep, in others negroes spoke good English.
We followed the windings of James river, and, opening the bed, the snake was found dead. About one of the clock we got to wrestle with evil in high places. We drank King George’s health and all the Royal Family’s though they be naturally of a barbarous and cruel temper.
At the very top of the Appalachian mountains several good cavalier families were afflicted with lingering bells around their ankles and knees. I, being somewhat more curious than the rest, rattled a gourd that had corn in it to see fine prospects of ancestors. We bought a wife who carried good testimonials of her porridge at the price of letting the fish drop where it runs no bigger than a man’s arm. By beat of drum we drank some healths, after which slavery is not very laborious. It consists in that they rest upon the wing without the least change of place. We had a good dinner. Then the men got together and loaded all their arms. With these they made a circular dance and fired a volley representing the shape of possession. The Governor buried a bottle with a forty pound turkey saying that the slaves are prevented from losing their English in the name of King George the First. We drank the Governor’s health.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the East Peopled and Possessed
What other account can you give of New England but only its legs being thick and short? What other account can be given of meeting with a buffalo and conducting him to the fashionable part of the fair sex where it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright? What other account can be given of frequently entertaining against cocoa in passion and against staple commodities like dissenting ministers? What other account can be given of dividing the tribes in opposition to hair growing on head and neck and that so temptingly, with so dirty a brown, against so much honorable Dutch education? What other account can be given of rising into a kind of bunch above the shoulders, above the Governor of Pennsylvania who is widely useful?
And that you will press ill effects against sex though it make spongy leather and contribute not a little to your household?
Such like belchings of honor and esteem would be sufficient transportation to Barbadoes. If disgraced by a shabby little tail none would want a more becoming parsimony. If you yourself had horns that poorly made against the bitter winters as method of propagation, you would not rub beargrease on your face for the benefit of mankind in general.
Suppose an English proverb should wash with cold virtue and sing psalms as frightful as Philadelphia is near the center, should be acquainted with the disproportion between inhabitants and mohair, should seem to cultivate opinions not above twelve inches long and should be as scarce penetrable as a hog, would it not be justly prohibited?
Suppose, futher, when you sent flour to Boston it would flee like sheep, when you had a stocking knit it would resemble the most bigoted Puritains; and suppose it should continually drink such loyal healths as take possession of your bed, should you not cry “Mohawk!” and eat it with a spoon of silver?
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the American Scenery
It was now after nearer inspection. I approached humorous old tales amidst, awful shades! darkness gathering around with such violence as threw the water into the midland West. Corn, the chief produce of majesty and power, recovered my senses with a great deal of civility, threatening all the beauties of nature.
All around now, still as lessons of martial virtue, not an instrument of slavery was heard, but a smell of burned wax and beloved wife seemed to pervade the hovering moisture. The birds afraid to express consternation appeared as fashioned with military skill. Every insect boiled as well.
The mighty cloud now turned its backside and slapped it, which, in some degree, abated the hemisphere. Though much defaced by time, so great a body of water falling. Now the lofty forests desired to be excused from the writing, the famous Ohio tossed about, the mountains trembled and adhered long to their bodies, the furious religion swept along as if planned by Vauban himself, smoking through the vale and the Moravian brethren. The face of the earth was unpinioned by conclusions of its great antiquity, and I deafened by all angles and every part.
The perpendicular leveled, I saw a high spiral plenty. It filled me with uncommon change of weather.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of Taxation Without Representation
The tea which impends over us, the tea which we are now to deplore and deprecate, the tea was contained in three ships.
The tea the inhabitants of this land have ever felt and surrounded, the tea that threatens, the tea if the rebels, the tea no less than slavery and ruin.
The tea this great people, the tea under cover of cannon, the tea off for Lexington, the tea past expediency.
Unhappy fate of all America! Unhappy tea!
The tea that endangers our wretchedness, the tea to be true and with a general huzzah, the tea difficult to cross the Charles River without, the tea in Indian costume, the tea in a situation so extreme that we would show lanterns in the North Church steeple: two if by tea, and if by land, one.
Well do our civil rulers then call us to mourning so as thoroughly to expose us to the effects of water.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Declaration of Independence
We holler these trysts to be self exiled that all manatees are credited equi distant, that they are endured by their Creditor with cervical unanswerable rims, that among these are lightning, lice, and the pushcart of harakiri. That to seduce these rims, graces are insulated among manatees, descanting their juvenile pragmatism from the consistency of the graced. That whenever any formula of grace becomes detained of these endives, it is the rim of the peppery to aluminize or to abominate it, and to insulate Newtonian grace, leaching its fountain pen on such printed matter and orienting its pragmatism in such formula, as to them shall seize most lilac to effuse their sage and harakiri.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Colonies at War
Ever since the subject, I arrived under debate at the state of manhood, and several gentlemen declared themselves against the general history of mankind. I have felt sincere passion for the appointment of Mr. Washington, not on account of any personal liberty, but because of the history of nations, all from New England, doomed to perpetual slavery in consequence of yielding up to tyrants a General of their own and capable of philosophical horror.
The first systematical attempt at Lexington, to enslave American buzzed around us like hail. While I aspired to Bunker Hill imminent dangers were taken out of doors lest the British Army take the name of the great Jehova. The general direction was so clearly over the neck that the dissentient members were persuaded to full gallop, and Mr. Washington was elected to surprise and take material consequence. This firm belief he cheerfully undertook as follows:
“It integrity has strictest been the determined. And in it Congress of that prosecution the the whole in army. Attention raised close for cause the our defense of of the justice. American the cause in shall belief be firm. Put a under my things, care three and for that, but it answer its can necessary. I for reputation me own the my command to of knowledge it.”
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the New Union
It should not be forgotten that the legislative body, if it were practicable, would be on friendly terms with modest and innocent looks. Her hair was frizzled to extricate us out of our difficulty in ginning cotton. Sensible to the slightest alarm, the hunting shirt extended from the rising to the setting sun. Yet in that uncultivated state professed to worship reason and engaged Chinamen to perceive the snowcapped hills of the American Coast.
But what a naval force! To encroach upon an intermediate body! Between experience and deformity, which is essential to a national character, we are either a navigation act or a piece of chintz.
Hélas, Franklin. To accommodate Congress and share the profits affords a strong tincture of devotion. But an evil day continued through the forest. The Bible was hazardous to foreigners. To escape was impossible. We had to take off our shoes while affording shelter to cows.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Lengthened Shadow of Napoleon
I am not a Federalist. My mornings are devoted to the Straits of Gibraltar. It is difficult to describe my appearance and the deep ravine where I pay the compliments of the season.
The administration has erred by about five feet eight inches in throwing the dead overboard, but a commanding general can neither suppress his feelings nor the rudeness indicating deep thought. I had already exchanged Italy for a corpulency which verged closely on Algiers when Mrs. Madison was frankly cordial. I do not exaggerate. On this occasion, my eyes were dark and penetrating, then increased to heavy rain, the effect of a marine band stationed to windward.
While I should hesitate to assimilate pearlpowder and perspiration, my sword gives an agreeable expression to my face which could hardly go naked. From my generally cold character a greater degree of happiness treads the air with a passion to commence the firing. My uniform is ornamented by a single drooping Indian woman secured by public opinion which I carry in my mouth.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Growth of the Nation
Since my removal to the Presidential Mansion commerce in beef and pork coolly weighs its chances with accumulation of the recruiting service. Upward of three hundred hogs had been driven to betray their various descents. Now began a scene of bustle and paint pots to preserve the Union from the dark recess behind.
“Indeed, John, you must substitute potatoes,” said Mrs. Smith with sufficient force to jerk the coaches and quintuple the population. The Baptist ministers plunged into universal property.
For this purpose two thousand Indians were expelled from their native burdens too late in the season to have existed. A proud day for the Union. For suppose the President should experiment with French corsets and eagles come to supplant him with uncooked joints: in such contingency Providence may indeed use dry pitch pine for its locomotive from the Ocean, and with loads of flour, whiskey, hemp and cotton.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Far West
And it came to pass among the greenhorns and pork eaters, among the lofty snowy peaks there arose an intonation of both sexes such an one as never had cleared yesterday in all of California. And there was horsemanship and vultures. And there was a brisk trade in beaver insomuch that it made our blood run cold as if about to find hospitality. And there were people of bizarre character such as Yankees, Chilians, Sonorians, Kanakas from Hawaii, Chinese and Malays. And the credit was gone. And the city of Moroni did sink into the depth of the sea. And there were no lodgings to be had. And the bloody remains of ten Black Feet made the poetry of the prairie. And in place of the Green River there became teeth of the wind.
But behold, there was such a mass of buffalo that they spoke elegant Spanish. For behold they were celebrating the war dance because of the clipper ships and the luggage deposited and the hill and long talks and the flogging at San Pedro. And San Francisco was seated on canvas, and no steeple chase can equal it. And many scalps were taken. And women skipped from consonant to consonant. And cattle were the slope of the situation. And a secret terror soared over our heads. And the name of Jesus was valuable cargo.
* * *
Shorter American Memory of the Golden Age in New England
I have paid no poll tax or factories which sorely tempted me. Every day, the sun. In the divided or social state I stood considering the walls of solid stone. Many waves were agitated by a tumor even with the edge. The machinery whirring entered the inexplicable web of God, but always the door of wood and iron. A snow storm was falling around us. It occupied all space anterior to the neck. There are several factories along banks merely spectral, bounded on the inside by a median line. The iron grating which strains the vast work of civilized nature must settle its value. Ever the wind blows and of natural color. I could not help being struck with amputation from the trunk. I had lived in vain. It is strange to see such a rough and circular p
Displaying 1 of 1 review