akorn - Mighty Old Tales Retold
Ambrose Bierce
Episodes
Saturday Oct 02, 2021
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
The Hypnotist
Ambrose Bierce
By those of my friends who happen to know that I sometimes amuse myself with hypnotism, mind reading and kindred phenomena, I am frequently asked if I have a clear conception of the nature of whatever principle underlies them. To this question I always reply that I neither have nor desire to have. I am no investigator with an ear at the key-hole of Nature’s workshop, trying with vulgar curiosity to steal the secrets of her trade. The interests of science are as little to me as mine seem to have been to science.
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
Sunday Nov 22, 2020
An Imperfect Conflagration
Ambrose Bierce
Early one June morning in 1872 I murdered my father — an act which made a deep impression on me at the time. This was before my marriage, while I was living with my parents in Wisconsin. My father and I were in the library of our home, dividing the proceeds of a burglary which we had committed that night. These consisted of household goods mostly, and the task of equitable division was difficult. We got on very well with the napkins, towels and such things, and the silverware was parted pretty nearly equally, but you can see for yourself that when you try to divide a single music-box by two without a remainder you will have trouble. It was that music-box which brought disaster and disgrace upon our family. If we had left it my poor father might now be alive.
Saturday Nov 21, 2020
Saturday Nov 21, 2020
My Favorite Murder
Ambrose Bierce
Having murdered my mother under circumstances of singular atrocity, I was arrested and put upon my trial, which lasted seven years. In charging the jury, the judge of the Court of Acquittal remarked that it was one of the most ghastly crimes that he had ever been called upon to explain away.At this, my attorney rose and said:“May it please your Honor, crimes are ghastly or agreeable only by comparison.