Короли и капуста
Preface
Takenandretakenbysearovers,byadversepowersandbysuddenuprisingofrebelliousfactions,thehistoric300milesofadventurouscoasthasscarcelyknownforhundredsofyearswhomrightlytocallitsmaster.Pizarro,Balboa,SirFrancisDrake,andBolivardidwhattheycouldtomakeitapartofChristendom.SirJohnMorgan,Lafitteandothereminentswash-bucklersbombardedandpoundeditinthenameofAbaddon.
Thegamestillgoeson.Thegunsoftheroversaresilenced;butthetintypeman,theenlargedphotographbrigand,thekodakingtouristandthescoutsofthegentlebrigadeoffakirshavefounditout,andcarryonthework.ThehuckstersofGermany,France,andSicilynowbagitssmallchangeacrosstheircounters.Gentlemanadventurersthrongthewaiting-roomsofitsrulerswithproposalsforrailwaysandconcessions.Thelittleopéra-bouffenationsplayatgovernmentandintrigueuntilsomedayabig,silentgunboatglidesintotheoffingandwarnsthemnottobreaktheirtoys.Andwiththesechangescomesalsothesmalladventurer,withemptypocketstofill,lightofheart,busy-brained—themodernfairyprince,bearinganalarmclockwithwhich,moresurelythanbythesentimentalkiss,toawakenthebeautifultropicsfromtheircenturies’sleep.Generallyhewearsashamrock,whichhematchespridefullyagainsttheextravagantpalms;anditishewhohasdrivenMelpomenetothewings,andsetComedytodancingbeforethefootlightsoftheSouthernCross.
So,thereisalittletaletotellofmanythings.PerhapstothepromiscuousearoftheWalrusitshallcomewithmostavail;forinitthereareindeedshoesandshipsandsealing-waxandcabbage-palmsandpresidentsinsteadofkings.
