17/03/2026 19:51

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It was a bleak, desolateevening; nobody was buying anything, and as he pulled the string and keptthose little roosters dancing and fighting his remarks grew more and morecheerless and sardonic. It's out, and my father is whitewashed. I remember with satisfaction [he wrote] our joint success in keeping awayfrom the Concord Centennial in 1875, and I have been thinking we mighthelp each other in this matter of the Yale Anniversary. Culture has hardly a new idol but I long to hurl things at it.

Then, early in August, there came a greatcelebration of some municipal anniversary, and for two or three daysthere were processions, mass-meetings, and so on by day, with fireworksat night. He was unfailing copy if they couldbut get a word with him. He did notmake use of it, however. of an air-blast, and itwas all taken down again and the air-blast, which required months toinvent and perfect, was added.