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President Barbicane’s Communication
Hisstronglymarkedfeaturesseemeddrawnbysquareandrule;andifitbetruethat,inordertojudgeaman’scharacteronemustlookathisprofile,Barbicane,soexamined,exhibitedthemostcertainindicationsofenergy,audacity,andsang-froid.
Atthismomenthewassittinginhisarmchair,silent,absorbed,lostinreflection,shelteredunderhishigh-crownedhat—akindofblackcylinderwhichalwaysseemsfirmlyscrewedupontheheadofanAmerican.
Justwhenthedeep-tonedclockinthegreathallstruckeight,Barbicane,asifhehadbeensetinmotionbyaspring,raisedhimselfup.Aprofoundsilenceensued,andthespeaker,inasomewhatemphatictoneofvoice,commencedasfollows:
"Mybrave,colleagues,toolongalreadyaparalyzingpeacehasplungedthemembersoftheGunClubindeplorableinactivity.Afteraperiodofyearsfullofincidentswehavebeencompelledtoabandonourlabors,andtostopshortontheroadofprogress.Idonothesitatetostate,baldly,thatanywarwhichwouldrecallustoarmswouldbewelcome!"(Tremendousapplause!)"Butwar,gentlemen,isimpossibleunderexistingcircumstances;and,howeverwemaydesireit,manyyearsmayelapsebeforeourcannonshallagainthunderinthefieldofbattle.Wemustmakeupourminds,then,toseekinanothertrainofideassomefieldfortheactivitywhichweallpinefor."
Themeetingfeltthatthepresidentwasnowapproachingthecriticalpoint,andredoubledtheirattentionaccordingly.
