Parker Adderson

foreign Dewhurst Parker Addison philosopher is the work of Ambrose Beers a Civil War veteran turned journalist beerus never got over his experience of War he was still writing about it in 1891 when this story was published for war changes things but those who fight and those who stay at home after every major war fought by the United States its people have discovered that life will not again be as it was before after our civil war we were still torn apart our Nations seemed more diverse in its regions each with different needs and different politics it was harder to think of us as one people a certain American innocence had vanished bitter beers as he was called Never ceased mocking the Illusions by which men live Illusions no experience will strip away more quickly than battle what is bravery what is courage they must be redefined after every war like Ernest Hemingway beerus rejected the old definitions the old rhetoric in the world of Parker Addison philosopher there is no place for the rules and regulations normally followed no time for the nice observances there's only time to strip away illusions from the innocent young Lieutenant a cynical Yankee spy the detached civilized General [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] the enemy is richer than us in all things save in the gallantry of our men that is the true source of our strength and that is why Victory shall be ours never doubted men these glorious dead shall not have died in vain and whatever sacrifice is yet required of us the living we will gladly make it until the inevitable Triumph of our sacred cause so help us God [Applause] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] yes I want you to break their backs you hear me yes sir General what is it man can't you see I'm busy I'm sorry sir I have this prisoner he's a Yankee spy spy you say yes sir capture just inside our lines I see [Applause] you're in the wrong uniform it would appear I'll deal with you later take him to guard Corporal yes sir come on you ready man yes sir now you bring them down are you here yes sir I sure will come on [Applause] fine man fine hey looky here oppos knocked itself cold wake up boy hey come on man wake up you hear me hey wake up boy and button your tunic Soldier yes uh you're on guard Duty man look shocked there ain't nothing or nobody to guard sir well uh no matter I expect you to comport yourself properly at all times yes uh stop right there boy lieutenant we bring you something prisoner prisoner well who is he what has he done I'd appreciate it if you gave me a proper report sir core pollution's Alan Beaumont reporting to capture this prisoner sir well the Yankee spy sir spy yes I see yeah uh the general isn't here right now yes sir we know that sir um well uh you may transfer the prisoner into my authority yes sir dismissed guard shall I get the shackles uh no um I think not thank you [Applause] it seemed that I have small hope of Escape no of course not water God your canteen [Applause] they've never seen a spy before lieutenant no basically a captured spy the man who knows exactly when and how he's going to die as opposed to those more fortunate whom that takes by surprise I'm sorry I don't mean to be no don't be embarrassed lieutenant you can regard me as for nucleus you please I'm not a marriage we've seen and thought too much about death to be shy about it forgive me [Music] oh yeah yeah yeah just watch me boy nothing to it at all stop John with the boy and get on with her smooth like you don't know nothing she don't expect nothing said what it's an innocent life stroke it real nice real easy calm her down can you see boy you see calm her down quiet the innocent life so nice thank you how did you determine he was a spy Corporal we found maps on him showing the disposition of our forces sir what do you have to say for himself well we had him red-handed sir he messed up with the truth you offer any resistance yes sir I might Oh Captain make sure these dispatches get to the regimental commandment sure so you say you got him red-handed yes sir well then he must die yes sir in the morning as is proper president what is your name because I have to lose it to Daylight tomorrow morning it hardly seems worthwhile concealing Parker Addison it rang a somewhat humble one I'm a sergeant commissioned officers are too precious to be risked in the perilous business of the Spy of what regiment oh you must excuse me General such knowledge is that is what I came into your lines to obtain not to impart you are not without wit well if you have the patience to wait you will find me dull enough tomorrow morning I dare say I will I repeat of what regimen I repeat I cannot tell you you force me to be hard man harder than the Noose with all due respect I think not I think I'll have my supper now Lieutenant sir conduct this gentleman to maintain and an hour and put him in leg irons yes sir almighty God we thank thee for this food for the nourishment of our bodies that we may move to thy great Glory bless us O Lord and these gifts which we have received this day from thy bounty the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ amen [Music] back inside Yankee not a pleasant place to die can't help it the general came by there'd be hell to pay ah carry on man lieutenant is a fine supper you've ranged thank you pork I can't imagine where an earthy that is well uh it wasn't easy does everyone in the camp dine so well no except for the general generals and spies well it's a fine Last Supper oh I'm sorry lieutenant it's my thoughts have a morose coloration so have you eaten no would you join me please really I I can't finish it it's very good well all right thank you tasty hmm would you sit down sorry sir [Music] foreign where are you from Boston do you have family there yes question is does my family have me and you loved ones waiting for you yes parents brothers and sisters a large family well you must be proud of such a son well I'm new to the service but I hope they will have cost to be proud of me are you afraid lieutenant okay no of course not oh of course not and you are you afraid of stuff no pain cruelty yes is there someone else who Waits For You Back Home someone pretty yes it's beautiful [Music] thank you in Charlottetown not far from here was a fair made dwelling [Music] and she was known both far and wide and her name was Bobby Allen [Music] he sent his man down into town to the place where he was dwelling [Music] and when she came back [Music] said young man foreign don't you remember not long ago in a place down in the tavern you tossed it off the lady's there but you slide it Brianna [Music] you admit then you're a spy that you came behind our lines disguised as you are in a Confederate uniform to obtain information secretly on the number and disposition of my troops regarding particularly their number a disposition I already knew is morose do you know what I must do hang me in the morning among spies captured by evening that is the custom is one of the nice observances of the profession take this to the captain of the Guard and then return immediately and the Prisoner General do as I say yes be a bad night my man for me yes do you guess what I've written something worth reading I dare say and perhaps it is my vanity I venture to suppose that I am mentioned in it you are man you are it is a memorandum concerning your execution in general I hope the spectacle is intelligently arranged for I'll be attending it myself you have any Arrangements you wish to make of your own you wish to see a chaplain for example I could hardly secure a longer rest for myself by depriving him of some of his God man do you mean to go to your death with nothing but jokes on your lips do you not know this is a serious matter or how can I know that General I've never been dead in all my life they have heard that that is a serious matter but never from any of those who've experienced it death is at least a loss a loss of such happiness as we have or the opportunities for more and the loss of which we shall never be conscious can be born with composure you must have observed General that of all the dead men with whom it is your soldierly pleasure to screw your path none showed signs of regret if being dead is not a regrettable condition appears to be distinctly disagreeable to one who has not lost the power to feel pain is disagreeable no doubt I never suffer it without more or less discomfort that he who lives longest is most exposed to it would you call dying is simply the last pain there's really no such thing as dying suppose for illustration I attempt to escape you lift the revolver that you're courteously concealing in your lap foreign I have that in my stomach which I did not swallow I fall that I am not dead after half an hour of Agony I am dead but at any given instant of that half hour I am alive there's no transition period when I'm hanging tomorrow morning will be quite the same when conscious alive when dead unconscious nature appears to have ordered the matter quite in my favor the way I should have ordered it myself simple General it hardly seems worthwhile being hanged at all that is horrible horrible oh General death is horrible to us because we've inherited the tendency to think itself from our Savage ancestors counting for that notion by fanciful theories of another world you can hang me General but they're your power of evil ends and not condemn me or hell I should not like to die not tonight sir Lieutenant sir this man is Yankee spy captured inside our lines with incriminating papers on him he has freely confessed how's the weather it is threatening sir but has yet no rain good take a file of men and conduct this spy at once to the parade ground and shoot him what do you forget that I'm not not to die until the morning I said nothing about the morning that was your own assumption as you die now I beg you I employ you to remember that spies are hanged it would take time to erect The Gallows two hours and not now what difference you said it yourself there is no transition period there is no such thing as dying at least you know I it was time is short Lieutenant sir observe my direction [Music] [Music] all right foreign [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] where's the prisoner he's here sir taking him to the parade ground and shooting take a man away come on take him away he's dead sir oh no that's easy oh rest easy take me there no General now it's impossible sir take me to the parade ground that's an aura yes sir man oh attention proceed with the execution sir ready aim fire [Applause] [Music] I'm silent at all it is so this must be death right shoulder arm left face [Music] [Music]