












THE LAST AMERICAN


By J. A. Mitchell




Amos Judd
The Pines of Lory
The Last American
That First Affair
Gloria Victis
Life's Fairy Tales




[Illustration: "--In the soft earth was the imprint of human feet!"]



The Last American


A Fragment from The Journal of KHAN-LI, Prince of
Dimph-Yoo-Chur and Admiral in the Persian Navy

Presented by J. A. MITCHELL

EDITION DE LUXE
Illustrated in Color by F. W. Read
With Decorative Designs by Albert D. Blashfield and
Illustrations by the Author

NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
_PUBLISHERS_

1889
By Frederick A. Stokes and Brother

1902
By Frederick A. Stokes Company


TO THOSE THOUGHTFUL PERSIANS
WHO CAN READ A WARNING IN THE SUDDEN RISE
AND SWIFT EXTINCTION OF A FOOLISH PEOPLE
THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED


A FEW WORDS BY HEDFUL

SURNAMED "THE AXIS OF WISDOM"

_Curator of the Imperial Museum at Shiraz._
_Author of "The Celestial Conquest of Kaly-phorn-ya," and of_
_"Northern Mehrika under the Hy-Bernyan Rulers"_


The astounding discoveries of Khan-li of Dimph-yoo-chur have thrown
floods of light upon the domestic life of the Mehrikan people. He
little realized when he landed upon that sleeping continent what a
service he was about to render history, or what enthusiasm his
discoveries would arouse among Persian archaeologists.

Every student of antiquity is familiar with these facts.

But for the benefit of those who have yet to acquire a knowledge of
this extraordinary people, I advise, first, a visit to the Museum at
Teheran in order to excite their interest in the subject, and second,
the reading of such books as Nofuhl's "What we Found in the West," and
Noz-yt-ahl's "History of the Mehrikans." The last-named is a complete
and reliable history of these people from the birth of the Republic
under George-wash-yn-tun to the year 1990, when they ceased to exist
as a nation. I must say, however, that Noz-yt-ahl leaves the reader
much confused concerning the period between the massacre of the
Protestants in 1927, and the overflow of the Murfey dynasty in 1940.

He holds the opinion with many other historians that the Mehrikans
were a mongrel race, with little or no patriotism, and were purely
imitative; simply an enlarged copy of other nationalities extant at
the time. He pronounces them a shallow, nervous, extravagant people,
and accords them but few redeeming virtues. This, of course, is just;
but nevertheless they will always be an interesting study by reason of
their rapid growth, their vast numbers, their marvellous mechanical
ingenuity and their sudden and almost unaccountable disappearance.

The wealth, luxury, and gradual decline of the native population; the
frightful climatic changes which swept the country like a mower's
scythe; the rapid conversion of a vast continent, alive with millions
of pleasure-loving people, into a silent wilderness, where the sun and
moon look down in turn upon hundreds of weed-grown cities,--all this
is told by Noz-yt-ahl with force and accuracy.

"Here's Truth. 'T is a bitter pill but good physic."




ABOARD THE ZLOTUHB IN THE YEAR 2951

_10th May_



There is land ahead!

Grip-til-lah was first to see it, and when he shouted the tidings my
heart beat fast with joy. The famished crew have forgotten their
disconsolate stomachs and are dancing about the deck. 'T is not I,
forsooth, who shall restrain them! A month of emptiness upon a heavy
sea is preparation for any folly. Nofuhl alone is without enthusiasm.
The old man's heart seems dead.

We can see the land plainly, a dim strip along the western horizon. A
fair wind blows from the northeast, but we get on with cruel
hindrance, for the _Zlotuhb_ is a heavy ship, her bluff bow and
voluminous bottom ill fitting her for speed.

The land, as we near it, seems covered with trees, and the white breakers
along the yellow beach are a welcome sight.




_11th May_



Sighted a fine harbor this afternoon, and are now at anchor in it.

Grip-til-lah thinks we have reached one of the western islands mentioned
by Ben-a