Путешествие на Луну
Effect of the President’s Communication
Irish,Germans,French,Scotch,alltheheterogeneousunitswhichmakeupthepopulationofMarylandshoutedintheirrespectivevernaculars;andthe"vivas,""hurrahs,"and"bravos"wereintermingledininexpressibleenthusiasm.
Justatthiscrisis,asthoughshecomprehendedallthisagitationregardingherself,themoonshoneforthwithserenesplendor,eclipsingbyherintenseilluminationallthesurroundinglights.TheYankeesallturnedtheirgazetowardherresplendentorb,kissedtheirhands,calledherbyallkindsofendearingnames.Betweeneighto’clockandmidnightoneopticianinJones’-FallStreetmadehisfortunebythesaleofopera-glasses.
Midnightarrived,andtheenthusiasmshowednosignsofdiminution.Itspreadequallyamongallclassesofcitizens—menofscience,shopkeepers,merchants,porters,chair-men,aswellas"greenhorns,"werestirredintheirinnermostfibres.Anationalenterprisewasatstake.Thewholecity,highandlow,thequaysborderingthePatapsco,theshipslyinginthebasins,disgorgedacrowddrunkwithjoy,gin,andwhisky.Everyonechattered,argued,discussed,disputed,applauded,fromthegentlemanlounginguponthebarroomsetteewithhistumblerofsherry-cobblerbeforehimdowntothewatermanwhogotdrunkuponhis"knock-me-down"inthedingytavernsofFellPoint.
AbouttwoA.M.,however,theexcitementbegantosubside.PresidentBarbicanereachedhishouse,bruised,crushed,andsqueezedalmosttoamummy.Herculescouldnothaveresistedasimilaroutbreakofenthusiasm.