The Life and Adventures of Major Roger Sherman Potter | Page 4

had not gone far
before Fame, I thought, replied for herself, and said: "Know, son of a

fisherman, that I am a capricious goddess; at least, I am so called by the
critics. And they, being adepts in deep knowledge, render verdicts the
world must not dispute. I have the world for my court: my shrine is
everywhere, and millions worship at it. Genius, learning, and valor, are
my handmaids. I have great and good men for my vassals; and upon
them it affords me comfort to bestow my gifts. I seek out the wise and
the virtuous, and place garlands of immortality upon their heads; I toy
with my victims, and then hurl them into merited obscurity. Little men
most beset me, most hang about my garments, and sigh most for my
smiles. The rich man would have me build monuments to his memory;
the ambitious poor man repines when I forget him. Novel-writing
damsels, their eyes bedimmed with bodkin shaped tears, and their
fingers steeled with envious pens it seems their love to dip in gall, cast
longing looks at me. Peter Parley, and other poets, have laid their
offerings low at my feet. I have crowned kings and emperors; and I
have cast a favor to a fool. With queens and princes have I coquetted,
and laughed when they were laid in common dust. I have dragged the
humble from his obscurity, and sent him forth to overthrow kingdoms
and guard the destinies of peoples. Millions have gone in search of me;
few have found me. Great men are content with small favors; small
men would, being the more ambitious of the two, take me all to
themselves. Millions have aspired to my hand; few have been found
worthy of it. Editors, critics, chambermaids and priests, (without whom
we would have no great wars,) annoy me much. I am generous enough
to forgive them, to charge their evil designs to want of discretion, to
think the world would scarce miss them, and certainly could get along
well enough without them.
"In my halcyon days there appeared before me one ’neas, who was
great of piety, which he laid at my feet, soliciting only a smile. After
him came Hector, whom I condoled for his misfortunes. Upon the head
of Achilles, who sought the smallest favor, I placed a garland. Eurylas,
a man of large friendship; and Alexander, who was known among the
nations for his liberality; and C‘sar, who had some valor; and Trajan,
whose probity no one doubted; and Topirus, a man of great fidelity;
and Cato, of whom it was said that he had some wisdom-these came,
and in humility bowed before me and accepted my offering. For the
delight and instruction of future generations, I have had their names

written on the pages of history, which is the world's gift. And this was
an age of the past.
"Then the age of modern poetry and oratory came in with one
Shakspeare, and a friend of his of the name of Bacon. And it went out
with Sheridan, and one Pitt, and a queer man of the name of Byron,
whose name I have written in letters of gold, and have placed where
envious bishops cannot take it down, though they build ladders of lawn.
I will watch over it, and it shall be bright when kings and bishops are
forgotten.
"Then there came the age of Washington; which was a new age, in a
new world, with new glories and new men, whose names I have
enshrined for the study of the young, the old, the great, and the good.
On Jefferson's brow I laid a laurel that shall be green in all coming time;
and the memories of Webster, Clay, and Calhoun shall long wear my
mantle, for they won it worthily.
"Latterly, I have been much annoyed by one Benton, who, being a man
of much light and shade, climbs my ladder only to break it down, and is
for ever mounting dragons he cannot ride. If I shake him from my skirts
to-day, he will to-morrow meet me upon the highway, and charge me
with ingratitude. Dancing-girls and politicians beset me on all sides,
reminding me that, without them, the world would go to ruin. Political
parsons and milliners daily make war upon me. And singing women,
and critics who herald their virtues for pennies, threaten to plunder me
of my glories. And, though I am not a vain dame, many of these think
me as cheaply bought as their own praise.
"I would not have you mourn over the age of poetry and oratory, for
that also is of the past. You must not forget that it is become
fashionable for men to give themselves to the getting of gold, which
they