Saturday, April 10, 2010

Bierce Mystery Solved

http://blog.lavacocktail.com/2010/03/18/bierce-mystery-solved.aspx

JASON BODEL
From Associated Press
April 1, 2010 10:12 PM EDT
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico (AP) — A construction worker unearthed what appear to be the remains of writer Ambrose Bierce from the basement of an old bordello demolished to make way for condominiums.

Bierce scholars are excited about the unexpected discovery, considering that nearly a century of speculation as to what happened to the writer may finally be brought to an end. Rumored to have mysteriously disappeared in 1913 while investigating the Mexican revolution in his later years, 'Bitter Bierce' was well known in America for his disenchantment with politics,war, capitalism and his most favored target of all, human nature.

Amongst the curios found in the basement is a journal Ambrose Bierce kept during his travels. Most noteworthy is an addendum to his infamous masterpiece of misanthropy, The Devil's Dictionary:

Human Being, n. A vertebrate turd.

Scholars who have examined the journal and have confirmed it authentic, suggest that the initials W.T. scrawled in the marginalia next to the definition refer to William Taft, the Republican president of the United States during the creation of the Federal Reserve.

Apparently the ample supply of booze, sunshine and beautiful women readily available to Bierce during his south of the border sojourn had little effect in diminishing his cynicism quotient.

Ambrose Bierce
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Associated Press Writer Jason Bodel contributed to this report.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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