The General

If written by anyone else this take on Frankenstein's monster would be pretty clever. Unfortunately, written by Bucher it has all the warmth of a Prussian Army Staff Report, and provokes all the pathos of a provisions list. Which isn't to say the writing is dispassionate. Bucher's writing was affected by the Sturm und Dang school of Goetheian 19th century Germany. Unfortunately to quote Walker "his writing is long on Dang, and kinda short on Sturm."

Bucher seems to have been genuinely offended by the concept that any self respecting German scientist, having created life, would behave as a "foolish hysterical ninnie," or that, for that matter, any self respecting German homunculus would fail to immediately don a uniform and begin clicking his boot heels together. Probably the single best attribute of this sheet is its comparative brevity.

All that said, "The General" is a genuinely clever character (at least in concept), and the only one of Bucher's catalog of unplayable follies that Jung kept. It would be interesting if we knew more about the sheet for Kaptien Mors - the concept seems playable enough, despite poor execution, but apparently contemporaries thought the material weak.

Obviously the reference for "The General" is Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein: or the Modern Prometheus." With of course the proviso that Bucher clearly loathed the novel.

A letter of Marsden's to Lena Collins (sister of Ivan Collins) is dated April 3, 1903, and reads in part:

"We met last night at King's 'bachelor digs.' I cannot argue for want, for his flat is very well furnished, and neat, in that cluttered yet spartan way that a chief's office is neat. There was a great mass of paper much of which pertains to the military simulations which he discusses endlessly with the Lieutenant [i.e. Bucher] whether the rest of us will or no. At length after Henrietta arrived, and some disagreement over her fare was resolved, we settled in, and discussion got underway. Several sources were put forward, all in my opinion quite solid. However I would not count on the wonderful works of Mary Wollenstonecroft's daughter, whom I know you adore, reaching the end gate without being hobbled, if indeed they leave the starting gate without being doped. Our kraut has got ahold of them, and seems bent on reforming Victor Frankenstein for the good of Kaiser and Kountry. I offered to write the characters, but it was decided that the Lieutenant should write them as he is German. I objected on the grounds that Victor is Swiss, but Henrietta "shushed" me in that way of hers, and as I am but the Junior, the assignment shall stand. We talked of many other things late into the night, and I found the company manageable, though there is no love lost between Henrietta and Thaddeus. He was however very sedate through the meeting, which he explained afterwards was the effect of a very mild inhalation of ether."

The General

In the dark thunder of the night, you were called into existence unwilling! Lightning crashed, and with a great cry and the crackle of man's triumph over nature, you were alive!

Alive!!!

Your body breathed, and your manly thews coursed with sweat from the electrical exertions that had fired manmade life through your inert limbs!

Alive!!!

The work of Victor Frankenstein, a Doctor of Ingoldstadt! You gave thanks to your creator in a courteous manner. You the first man born of science. It is fitting!

You began to sort your memories. For after trifling with experiments, the good Doctor had thought that if he was to bring a new life into the world, it ought to be a superior one! Therefore to the cemeteries of Europe he had sent his servants, in the dark moonlit night with burlap bag and sexton's tools, to rip unhallowed from the earth those things he needed.

Brass lock and lead coffin gave up their treasures. Iron bar on mason'd tomb gave way to the hammer. And piece by piece that which would be your form was brought together. The Greats leaders of the destruction of France in 1870! Gunther-Fritz von Sandvort, Joachim Voights-Rhetz,* and heroes of the Austrian War of 1866. And finally, to the United States for the body of Robert E. Lee, who had perished in 1870. All these elements brought together knitting sinew and intelligence with clever skills. Then the force of lightning channeled through iron and wire! The ocean roar of life filled your ears! You stood and saluted, born of man to lead to final victory the greatest armies of the world!

You are the model man! The very model of a modern major-General!**

Your hand reach's over the whole earth, and you are all in all. Yet, when you meet a man you'd greet you just as one neighbour greets another,-and if he were frightened, you know so well how to put him at his ease-you walk out, ride out, just as it comes into your head, with very few followers. You are another sort of man, a man majestic.

Those who follow you are devoted to you, because one can read in your face that you loves them; because joyousness, open-heartedness, and good-nature, speak in your eyes; because you possess nothing that you do not share with him who needs it, ay, and with him who needs it not!***

Of arm you are strong and of countenance severe, but filled with joy and the mirth of your new life!

In service of your new goals you have come to the United States. First you will revive the noble cause of the Confederacy, then place all the states into a superior new union born of bravery, the cannon, and your sword!

You have gained the assent of the next President of the United States, William Jenner Bryan [sic] that you shall be given your way! Else you shall take it, for you are a man of majesty and fire!

You seized for your purpose the great aerial ship Astronef, which shall bear you and some of your men to heroic ends!

You have the heart of the beautiful damsel Peedee Boyd, who served you long ago in a former life, and shall serve you again. You also know of a Captain, who is called Nemo, who would command a submarine boat in your service!

You shall raise your banner, and all shall flee before you! Yea, you shall raise the black flag if you must! Death before Dishonor! Blood and Honor! A new era shall come!!!

* Before you concern yourself, it would be well to understand that these are not people that the American reader in 1903 had heard of any more than you have.

** The Phrase was likely suggested by Walker. Bucher abhorred comic opera and never attended one. It would be very much like King to let it stand - he was more than willing to make jokes at Bucher's expense.

*** Here, Bucher is paraphrasing...or rather butcherin...Goethe's Egmont - also not the first word on the lips of early twentieth century American readers.