taught to feel this way； and the fetters of education are strong。 The
fact that the deathlaw is rendered almost inoperative by its very
severity does not alter my belief in its righteousness。 The fact that in
England the proportion of executions to condemnations is one to sixteen；
and in this country only one to twenty…two； and in France only one to
thirty…eight； does not shake my steadfast confidence in the propriety of
retaining the death…penalty。 It is better to hang one murderer in
sixteen； twenty…two； thirty…eight than not to hang any at all。
Feeling as I do； I am not sorry that Ruloff is to be hanged； but I am
sincerely sorry that he himself has made it necessary that his vast
capabilities for usefulness should be lost to the world。 In this； mine
and the public's is a common regret。 For it is plain that in the person
of Ruloff one of the most marvelous of intellects that any age has
produced is about to be sacrificed； and that； too； while half the mystery
of its strange powers is yet a secret。 Here is a man who has never
entered the doors of a college or a university； and yet by the sheer
might of his innate gifts has made himself such a colossus in abstruse
learning that the ablest of our scholars are but pigmies in his presence。
By the evidence of Professor Mather； Mr。 Surbridge； Mr。 Richmond； and
other men qualified to testify； this man is as familiar with the broad
domain of philology as common men are with the passing events of the day。
His memory has such a limitless grasp that he is able to quote sentence
after sentence； paragraph after paragraph； chapter after chapter； from a
gnarled and knotty ancient literature that ordinary scholars are capable
of achieving little more than a bowing acquaintance with。 But his memory
is the least of his great endowments。 By the testimony of the gentlemen
above referred to he is able to critically analyze the works of the old
masters of literature； and while pointing out the beauties of the
originals with a pure and discriminating taste is as quick to detect the
defects of the accepted translations； and in the latter case； if
exceptions be taken to his judgment； he straightway opens up the quarries
of his exhaustless knowledge； and builds a very Chinese wall of evidence
around his position。 Every learned man who enters Ruloff's presence
leaves it amazed and confounded by his prodigious capabilities and
attainments。 One scholar said he did not believe that in matters of
subtle analysis； vast knowledge in his peculiar field of research；
comprehensive grasp of subject； and serene kingship over its limitless
and bewildering details； any land or any era of modern times had given
birth to Ruloff's intellectual equal。 What miracles this murderer might
have wrought； and what luster he might have shed upon his country； if he
had not put a forfeit upon his life so foolishly！ But what if the law
could be satisfied； and the gifted criminal still be saved。 If a life be
offered up on the gallows to atone for the murder Ruloff did； will that
suffice？ If so； give me the proofs； for in all earnestness and truth I
aver that in such a case I will instantly bring forward a man who； in the
interests of learning and science； will take Ruloff's crime upon himself；
and submit to be hanged in Ruloff's place。 I can； and will do this
thing； and I propose this matter； and make this offer in good faith。 You
know me； and know my address。
SAMUEL LANGHORNE。
April 29； 1871。
APPENDIX L
ABOUT LONDON
ADDRESS AT A DINNER GIVEN BY THE SAVAGE CLUB； LONDON； SEPTEMBER 28； 1872
（See Chapter lxxxvii）
Reported by Moncure D。 Conway in the Cincinnati Commercial
It affords me sincere pleasure to meet this distinguished club； a club
which has extended its hospitalities and its cordial welcome to so many
of my countrymen。 I hope ＇and here the speaker's voice became low and
fluttering＇ you will excuse these clothes。 I am going to the theater；
that will explain these clothes。 I have other clothes than these。
Judging human nature by what I have seen of it； I suppose that the
customary thing for a stranger to do when he stands here is to make a pun
on the name of this club； under the impression； of course； that he is the
first man that that idea has occurred to。 It is a credit to our human
nature； not a blemish upon it； for it shows that underlying all our
depravity （and God knows and you know we are depraved enough） and all our
sophistication； and untarnished by them； there is a sweet germ of
innocence and simplicity still。 When a stranger says to me； with a glow
of inspiration in his eye； some gentle； innocuous little thing about
〃Twain and one flesh〃 and all that sort of thing； I don't try to crush
that man into the earthno。 I feel like saying； 〃Let me take you by the
hand； sir； let me embrace you； I have not heard that pun for weeks。〃 We
will deal in palpable puns。 We will call parties named King 〃your
Majesty〃 and we will say to the Smiths that we think we have heard that
name before somewhere。 Such is human nature。 We cannot alter this。 It
is God that made us so for some good and wise purpose。 Let us not
repine。 But though I may seem strange； may seem eccentric； I mean to
refrain from punning upon the name of this club； though I could make a
very good one if I had time to think about ita week。
I cannot express to you what entire enjoyment I find in this first visit
to this prodigious metropolis of yours。 Its wonders seem to me to be
limitless。 I go about as in a dreamas in a realm of enchantmentwhere
many things are rare and beautiful； and all things are strange and
marvelous。 Hour after hour I standI stand spellbound； as it were…and
gaze upon the statuary in Leicester Square。 ＇Leicester Square being a
horrible chaos； with the relic of an equestrian statue in the center； the
king being headless and limbless； and the horse in little better
condition。＇ I visit the mortuary effigies of noble old Henry VIII。； and
Judge Jeffreys； and the preserved gorilla； and try to make up my mind
which of my ancestors I admire the most。 I go to that matchless Hyde
Park and drive all around it； and then I start to enter it at the Marble
Archand am induced to 〃change my mind。〃 ＇Cabs are not permitted in
Hyde Parknothing less aristocratic than a private carriage。＇ It is a
great benefactionis Hyde Park。 There； in his hansom cab； the invalid
can gothe poor； sad child of misfortuneand insert his nose between
the railings； and breathe the pure； health…giving air of the country and
of heaven。 And if he is a swell invalid who isn't obliged to depend upon
parks for his country air he can drive insideif he owns his vehicle。
I drive round and round Hyde Park and the more I see of the edges of it
the more grateful I am that the margin is extensive。
And I have been to the Zoological Gardens。 What a wonderful place that
is！ I have never seen such a curious and interesting variety of wild…
animals in any garden beforeexcept Mabille。 I never believed before
there were so many different kinds of animals in the world as you can
find thereand I don't believe it yet。 I have been to the British
Museum。 I would advise you to drop in there some time when you have
nothing to do forfive minutesif you have never been there。 It seems
to me the noblest monument this nation has； yet erected to her greatness。
I say to her； our greatnessas a nation。 True； she has built other
monuments； and stately ones； as well； but these she has uplifted in honor
of two or three colossal demigods who have stalked across the world's
stage； destroying tyrants and delivering nations； and whose prodigies
will still live in the memories of men ages after their monuments shall
have crumbled to dustI refer to the Wellington and Nelson monuments；
andthe Albert memorial。 ＇Sarcasm。 The Albert memorial is the finest
monument in the world； and celebrates the existence of as commonplace a
person as good luck ever lifted out of obscurity。＇
The Library at the British Museum I find particularly astounding。 I have
read there hours together； and hardly made an impression on it。 I revere
that library。 It is the author's friend。 I don't care how mean a book
is； it always takes one copy。 ＇A copy of every book printed in Great
Britain must by law be sent to the British Museum； a law much complained
of by publishers。＇ And then every day that author goes there to gaze at
that book； and is encouraged to go on in the good work。 And what a
touching sight it is of a Saturday afternoon to see the poor； careworn
clergymen gathered together in that vast reading…room cabbaging sermons
for Sunday！ You will pardon my referring to these things。 Everything in
this monster city interests me； and I cannot keep from talking； even at
the risk of being instructive。 People here seem always to express
distances by parables。 To a stranger it is just a little confusing to be
so parabolicso to speak。 I collar a citizen； and I think I am going to
get some valuable information out of him。 I ask him how far it is to
Birmingham； and he says it is twe