, rented an office exactly opposite to that of the Gazette , and, on the third morning after his arrival, issued the first number of The Alexan —that is to say, of The Nopolis Teapot :—as nearly as I can recollect, this was the name of the new paper.
The leading article, I must admit, was brilliant—not to say severe. It was especially bitter about things in general—and as for the editor of The Gazette , he was torn all to pieces in particular. Some of Bullet-head’s remarks were really so fiery that I have always, since that time, been forced to look upon John Smith, who is still alive, in the light of a salamander. I cannot pretend to give all the Teapot ’s paragraphs verbatim , but one of them runs thus:
“Oh, yes!—Oh, we perceive! Oh, no doubt! The editor over the way is a genius—O, my! Oh, goodness, gracious!—what is this world coming to? Oh, tempora! Oh, Moses! ”
A philippic at once so caustic and so classical, alighted like a bombshell among the hitherto peaceful citizens of Nopolis. Groups of excited individuals gathered at the corners of the streets. Everyone awaited, with heartfelt anxiety, the reply of the dignified Smith. Next morning it appeared as follows:
“We quote from The Teapot of yesterday the subjoined paragraph: ‘ Oh , yes! Oh , we perceive! Oh , no doubt! Oh , my! Oh , goodness! Oh , tempora! Oh , Moses!’ Why, the fellow is all O ! That accounts for his reasoning in a circle, and explains why there is neither beginning nor end to him, nor to anything he says. We really do not believe the vagabond can write a word that hasn’t an O in it. Wonder if this O -ing is a habit of his? By the by, he came away from Down-East in a great hurry. Wonder if he O ’s as much there as he does here? ‘ O! it is pitiful.’ ”