'You'll find Jefferson Brick at his usual post in the van of
human civilization and moral purity.'
The colonel was by this time seated on the table again. Mr Brick also
took up a position on that same piece of furniture; and they fell to
drinking pretty hard. They often looked at Martin as he read the paper,
and then at each other. When he laid it down, which was not until they
had finished a second bottle, the colonel asked him what he thought of
it.
'Why, it's horribly personal,' said Martin.
The colonel seemed much flattered by this remark; and said he hoped it
was.
'We are independent here, sir,' said Mr Jefferson Brick. 'We do as we
like.'
'If I may judge from this specimen,' returned Martin, 'there must be a
few thousands here, rather the reverse of independent, who do as they
don't like.'
'Well! They yield to the popular mind of the Popular Instructor, sir,'
said the colonel. 'They rile up, sometimes; but in general we have a
hold upon our citizens, both in public and in private life, which is as
much one of the ennobling institutions of our happy country as--'
'As nigger slavery itself,' suggested Mr Brick.
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