Shapes of Clay

Shapes of Clay

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Shapes of Clay, by Ambrose Bierce
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Title: Shapes of Clay
Author: Ambrose Bierce
Release Date: June 19, 2004 [EBook #12658]
Language: English
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[Illustration: Ambrose Bierce.]
SHAPES OF CLAY
BY
AMBROSE BIERCE
AUTHOR OF "IN THE MIDST OF LIFE," "CAN SUCH THINGS
BE?" "BLACK BEETLES IN AMBER," AND "FANTASTIC
FABLES"
1903

DEDICATION.

WITH PRIDE IN THEIR WORK, FAITH IN THEIR FUTURE AND
AFFECTION FOR THEMSELVES, AN OLD WRITER DEDICATES
THIS BOOK TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS AND PUPILS, GEORGE
STERLING AND HERMAN SCHEFFAUER. A.B.

PREFACE.
Some small part of this book being personally censorious, and in that
part the names of real persons being used without their assent, it seems
fit that a few words be said of the matter in sober prose. What it seems
well to say I have already said with sufficient clarity in the preface of
another book, somewhat allied to this by that feature of its character. I
quote from "Black Beetles in Amber:"
"Many of the verses in this book are republished, with considerable
alterations, from various newspapers. Of my motives in writing and in
now republishing I do not care to make either defence or explanation,
except with reference to those who since my first censure of them have
passed away. To one having only a reader's interest in the matter it may
easily seem that the verses relating to those might properly have been
omitted from this collection. But if these pieces, or indeed, if any
considerable part of my work in literature, have the intrinsic worth
which by this attempt to preserve some of it I have assumed, their
permanent suppression is impossible, and it is only a question of when
and by whom they will be republished. Some one will surely search
them out and put them in circulation.
"I conceive it the right of an author to have his fugitive work collected
in his lifetime; and this seems to me especially true of one whose work,
necessarily engendering animosities, is peculiarly exposed to challenge
as unjust. That is a charge that can best be examined before time has
effaced the evidence. For the death of a man of whom I have written
what I may venture to think worthy to live I am no way responsible;
and however sincerely I may regret it, I can hardly consent that it shall
affect my literary fortunes. If the satirist who does not accept the
remarkable doctrine that, while condemning the sin he should spare the
sinner, were bound to let the life of his work be coterminous with that
of his subject his were a lot of peculiar hardship.
"Persuaded of the validity of all this I have not hesitated to reprint even
certain 'epitaphs' which, once of the living, are now of the dead, as all

the others must eventually be. The objection inheres in all forms of
applied satire--my understanding of whose laws and liberties is at least
derived from reverent study of the masters. That in respect of matters
herein mentioned I have but followed their practice can be shown by
abundant instance and example."
In arranging these verses for publication I have thought it needless to
classify them according to character, as "Serious," "Comic,"
"Sentimental," "Satirical," and so forth. I do the reader the honor to
think that he will readily discern the nature of what he is reading; and I
entertain the hope that his mood will accommodate itself without
disappointment to that of his author.
AMBROSE BIERCE.

CONTENTS.
THE PASSING SHOW ELIXIR VITAE CONVALESCENT AT THE
CLOSE OF THE CANVASS NOVUM ORGANUM GEOTHEOS
YORICK A VISION OF DOOM POLITICS POESY IN DEFENSE
AN INVOCATION RELIGION A MORNING FANCY VISIONS OF
SIN THE TOWN OF DAE AN ANARCHIST AN OFFER OF
MARRIAGE ARMA VIRUMQUE ON A PROPOSED CREMATORY
A DEMAND THE WEATHER WIGHT T.A.H. MY MONUMENT
MAD HOSPITALITY FOR A CERTAIN CRITIC RELIGIOUS
PROGRESS MAGNANIMITY TO HER TO A SUMMER POET
ARTHUR MCEWEN CHARLES AND PETER CONTEMPLATION
CREATION BUSINESS A POSSIBILITY TO A CENSOR THE
HESITATING VETERAN A YEAR'S CASUALTIES INSPIRATION
TO-DAY AN ALIBI REBUKE J.F.B. THE DYING STATESMAN
THE DEATH OF GRANT THE FOUNTAIN REFILLED LAUS
LUCIS NANINE TECHNOLOGY A REPLY TO A LETTER TO
OSCAR WILDE PRAYER A "BORN LEADER OF MEN" TO THE
BARTHOLDI STATUE AN UNMERRY CHRISTMAS BY A
DEFEATED LITIGANT