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THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY Ambrose Bierce - Sunny Hills High School

THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY Ambrose Bierce - Sunny Hills High School

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<strong>Ambrose</strong> <strong>Bierce</strong> The Devil’s Dictionary<br />

Rear‐Admiral Schley and Representative Charles F. Joy were<br />

standing near the Peace Monument, in Washington, discussing the<br />

question, Is success a failure? Mr. Joy suddenly broke off in the<br />

middle of an eloquent sentence, exclaiming: "Hello! I've heard that<br />

band before. Santlemann's, I think."<br />

"I don't hear any band," said Schley.<br />

"Come to think, I don't either," said Joy; "but I see General<br />

Miles coming down the avenue, and that pageant always affects me in<br />

the same way as a brass band. One has to scrutinize one's impressions<br />

pretty closely, or one will mistake their origin."<br />

While the Admiral was digesting this hasty meal of philosophy<br />

General Miles passed in review, a spectacle of impressive dignity.<br />

When the tail of the seeming procession had passed and the two<br />

observers had recovered from the transient blindness caused by its<br />

effulgence‐‐<br />

"He seems to be enjoying himself," said the Admiral.<br />

"There is nothing," assented Joy, thoughtfully, "that he enjoys<br />

one‐half so well."<br />

Page | 334

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