第14章

servantofanarmygeneralandwastypicallyraciallySouthern，withthosedelightfulattributesofwitandpolicyandgentlenesswhichgowiththebesttypeofnegrocharacter。Thechildrenlovedhimnolessthandidtheirfather。Mrs。ClemenslikewisehadaweaknessforGeorge，thoughshedidnotapproveofhim。George’smoralsweredefective。Hewasaninveterategambler。Hewouldbetonanything，thoughprudentlyandwithknowledge。Hewouldinvestigatebeforeheinvested。Ifheplacedhismoneyonahorse，heknewthehorse’spedigreeandthepedigreeofthehorsesagainstit，alsooftheirriders。Ifheinvestedinanelection，heknewallaboutthecandidates。Hehadagentsamonghisownrace，andamongthewhitesaswell，tosupplyhimwithinformation。Hekeptthemfaithfultohimbylendingthemmoney——atruinousinterest。HebuttonholedMarkTwain’scallerswhilehewasremovingtheircoatsconcerningthepoliticalsituation，muchtothechagrinofMrs。Clemens，whoprotested，thoughvainly，forthemenlikedGeorgeandhisways，andupheldhiminhisiniquities。

Mrs。Clemens’sdisapprovalofGeorgereachedthepoint，nowandthen，whereshedeclaredhecouldnotremain。

Sheevendischargedhimonce，butnextmorningGeorgewasatthebreakfast—table，inattendance，asusual。Mrs。Clemenslookedathimgravely：

"George，"shesaid，"didn’tIdischargeyouyesterday？"

"Yes，Mis’Clemens，butIknewyoucouldn’tgetalongwithoutme，soI

thoughtI’dbetterstayawhile。"

InoneoftheletterstoHowells，Clemenswrote：

WhenGeorgefirstcamehewasoneofthemostreligiousofmen。Hehadbutonefault——youngGeorgeWashington’s。ButIhavetrainedhim；andnowitfairlybreaksMrs。Clemens’shearttohearhimstandatthatfrontdoorandlietoanunwelcomevisitor。

Georgewasafinediplomat。Hewouldcomeuptothebilliard—roomwithacardormessagefromsomeonewaitingbelow，andClemenswouldflinghissoulintoasultrydenialwhichbecameasoothingandbalmysubterfugebeforeitreachedthefrontdoor。

The"slave"musthavebeensettingthetableingoodseason，fortheClemensbreakfastswerelikelytobelate。Theyusuallycamealongaboutnineo’clock，bywhichtimeHowellsandJohnwerefairlyclawingwithhunger。

Clemensdidnothaveanearlyappetite，butwhenitcameitwasagoodone。Breakfastanddinnerwerehisimportantmeals。Heseldomateatallduringthemiddleoftheday，thoughifguestswerepresenthewouldjointhematluncheon—timeandwalkupanddownwhiletheywereeating，talkingandgesticulatinginhisfervent，fascinatingway。SometimesMrs。Clemenswouldsay：

"Oh，Youth，docomeandsitdownwithus。Wecanlistensomuchbetter。"

Butheseldomdid。Atdinner，too，itwashishabit，betweenthecourses，torisefromthetableandwalkupanddowntheroom，wavinghisnapkinandtalking！——talkinginastrainandwithacharmthathecouldneverquiteequalwithhispen。It’stheopinionofmostpeoplewhoknewMarkTwainpersonallythathisimpromptuutterances，deliveredwiththatineffablequalityofspeech，manifestedtheculminationofhisgenius。

WhenClemenscametoBostontheHowellshouseholdwasregulated，orratherunregulated，withoutregardtoformerroutine。MarkTwain’spersonalitywasofasortthatunconsciouslycompelledthegeneralattendanceofanyhousehold。ThereadermayrecallJoshBillings’sremarkonthesubject。HowellstellshowtheykepttheirguesttothemselveswhenhevisitedtheirhomeinCambridge，permittinghimtoindulgeinasmanyunconventionsashechose；howClemenswouldtakearoomattheParkerHouse，leavingthegasburningdayandnight，andperhapsarriveatCambridge，afteradinnerorareading，ineveningdressandslippers，andjoyouslyremainwiththemforadayormoreinthatguise，slippingonanovercoatandapairofrubberswhentheywentforawalk。Also，howhesmokedcontinuouslyineveryroomofthehouse，smokedduringeverywakingmoment，andhowHowells，mindfulofhisinsurance，sometimesslippedinandremovedthestill—burningcigarafterhewasasleep。

Clemenshaddifficultyingettingtosleepinthatearlierday，andforatimefounditsoothingtodrinkalittlechampagneonretiring。Once，whenhearrivedinBoston，Howellssaid：

"Clemens，we’velaidinabottleofchampagneforyou。"

Butheanswered：

"Oh，that’snogoodanymore。Beer’sthething。"

SoHowellsprovidedthebeer，andalwaysafterwardhadavisionofhisguestgoingup—stairsthatnightwithapintbottleundereacharm。

Heinventedothermethodsofinducingslumberastheyearswentby，andatonetimefoundthatthispreciousbooncamemoreeasilywhenhestretchedhimselfonthebath—roomfloor。

HewasaperpetualjoytotheHowellsfamilywhenhewasthere，eventhoughthehouseholdrequiredageneralreorganizationwhenhewasgone。

MildredHowellsremembershow，asaverylittlegirl，hermothercautionedhernottoaskforanythingshewantedatthetablewhencompanywaspresent，buttospeakprivatelyofittoher。MissHowellsdeclaresthatwhileMarkTwainwastheirguestshenearlystarvedbecauseitwasimpossibletogethermother’sattention；andMrs。Howells，afteroneofthosevisitsofhilarityanddisorder，said：

"Well，it’mostkillsme，butitpays，"aremarkwhichClemensvastlyenjoyed。Howellshimselfoncewrote：

Yourvisitwasaperfectovationforus；weneverenjoyanythingsomuchasthosevisitsofyours。ThesmokeandtheScotchandthelatehoursalmostkillus；butwelookeachotherintheeyeswhenyouaregone，andsaywhataglorioustimeitwas，andairthelibrary，andbeginsleepingandlongingtohaveyoubackagain……

CVIII

SUMMERLABORSATQUARRYFARM

TheywenttoElmira，thatsummerof’76，tobe"hermitsandeschewcavesandliveinthesun，"asClemenswroteinalettertoDr。Brown。TheyreturnedtotheplaceastoParadise：Clemenstohisstudyandthebookswhichhealwayscalledfor，Mrs。Clemenstoablessedrelieffromsocialobligations，thechildrentotheshadyplay—places，thegreen，slopinghill，wheretheycouldraceandtumble，andtoalltheiranimalfriends。

Susywasreallygrowingup。Shehadhadseveralbirthdays，quitegrandaffairs，whenshehadbeenbroughtdowninthemorning，decked，andwithproperceremonies，withsubsequentcelebration。Shewasastrange，thoughtfulchild，muchgiventoreflectingonthepowerandpresenceofinfinity，forshewasreligiouslytaught。Downinthecity，onenight，therewasagranddisplayoffireworks，andthehilltopwasagoodplacefromwhichtoenjoyit；butitgrewlateafteralittle，andSusywasorderedtobed。Shesaid，thoughtfully：

"IwishIcouldsitupallnight，asGoddoes。"

Thebaby，whomtheystillcalled"Bay，"wasatiny，browncreaturewholikedtorompinthesunandberockedtosleepatnightwithasong。

Clemensoftentookthemforextended’walks，pushingBayinhercarriage。

Once，inapreoccupiedmoment，heletgoofthelittlevehicleanditstarteddownhill，gainingspeedrapidly。

Heawokethen，andsetoffinwildpursuit。Beforehecouldovertaketherunawaycarriageithadturnedtotheroadsideandupset。Baywaslyingamongthestonesandherheadwasbleeding。Hastilybindingthewoundwithahandkerchiefhestartedfullspeedwithherupthehilltowardthehouse，callingforrestorativesashecame。Itwasnoseriousmatter。

Thelittlegirlwasstronganddidnotreadilygivewaytoaffliction。

Thechildrenwereunlike：Susywasallcontemplationandnerves；Baysereneandpractical。Itwassaid，whenapetcatdied——thiswassomeyearslater——thatSusydeeplyreflectedastoitslifehereandhereafter，whileBaywasconcernedonlyastothestyleofitsfuneral。

Susyshowedearlyherfather’squaintnessofremark。Oncetheyboughtheraheavierpairofshoesthansheapprovedof。Shewasnotinthebestofhumorsduringtheday，andthatnight，whenatprayer—timehermothersaid，"Now，Susy，putyourthoughtsonGod，"sheanswered，"Mama，Ican’twiththoseshoes。"

Clemensworkedsteadilythatsummeranddidavarietyofthings。Hehadgivenupanovel，begunwithmuchenthusiasm，buthehadundertakenanotherlongmanuscript。BythemiddleofAugusthehadwrittenseveralhundredpagesofastorywhichwastobeacontinuationofTamSawyer——

TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn。Now，hereisacuriousphaseofgenius。Thenovelwhichforatimehadfilledhimwithenthusiasmandfaithhadnoimportantliteraryvalue，whereas，concerningthisnewtale，hesays：

"Ilikeitonlytolerablywell，asfarasIhavegone，andmaypossiblypigeonholeorburnthemanuscriptwhenitisdone"——thisofthestorywhich，ofhisbooksofpurefiction，willperhapslongestsurvive。Hedid，infact，givethestoryup，andwithoutmuchregret，whenitwasabouthalfcompleted，andletitlieunfinishedforyears。

Hewroteoneshorttale，"TheCanvasser’sStory，"aburlesqueofnospecialdistinction，andheprojectedfortheAtlanticaschemeof"blindfoldnovelettes，"aseriesofstoriestobewrittenbywell—knownauthorsandothers，eachtobeconstructedonthesameplot。OnecaneasilyimagineClemens’senthusiasmoverabanalprojectlikethat；hisimpulseswerealwaysrainbow—hued，whethervaluableornot；butitiscuriousthatHowellsshouldwelcomeandevenencourageanenterprisesofarremovedfromallthetraditionsofart。Itfelltopieces，atlast，ofinherentmisconstruction。Thetitlewastobe，"AMurderandaMarriage。"Clemenscouldnotarriveatalogicalclimaxthatdidnotbringthemarriageandthehangingonthesameday。

TheAtlanticstartedits"Contributors’Club，"andHowellswrotetoClemensforaparagraphormoreofpersonalopiniononanysubject，assuringhimthathecould"spithisspite"outatsomebodyorsomethingasifitwereapassagefromaletter。ThatwasafairlylargepermissiontogiveMarkTwain。Theparagraphhesentwasthesortofthinghewouldwritewithglee，andhughimselfoverinthethoughtofHowells’snecessityofrejectingit。Intheaccompanyingnotehesaid：

Say，Boss，doyouwantthistolightenupyouroldfreight—trainwith？

Isupposeyouwon’t，butthenitwon’ttakelongtosay，so。

Hewasalwayssendingimpossibleofferingstothemagazines；innocentlyenoughsometimes，butoftenoutofpuremischievousness。Yettheywereconstantlyafterhim，fortheyknewtheywerelikelytogetafirst—watergem。MaryMopesDodge，ofSt。Nicholas，wrotetimeandagain，andfinallysaid：

"Iknowamanwhowaspersecutedbyaneditortillhewentdistracted。"

Inhisreadingthatyearatthefarmhegavemorethancustomaryattentiontooneofhisfavoritebooks，Pepys’Diary，thatcaptivatingoldrecordwhichnoonecanfollowcontinuouslywithoutcatchingtheinfectionofitsmannerandthedesireofimitation。Hehadbeenreadingdiligentlyoneday，whenhedeterminedtotryhishandonanimaginaryrecordofconversationandcourtmannersofabygoneday，writteninthephraseoftheperiod。TheresultwasFiresideConversationintheTimeofQueenElizabeth，or，ashelatercalledit，1601。The"conversation，"

recordedbyasupposedPepysofthatperiod，waswrittenwithalltheoutspokencoarsenessandnakednessofthatrankday，whenfiresidesociabilitieswerelimitedonlybytherangeofloosenedfancy，vocabulary，andphysicalperformance，andnotbyanyboundsofconvention。HowellshasspokenofMarkTwain’s"Elizabethanbreadthofparlance，"andhowhe，Howells，wasalwayshidingawayindiscreetholesandcornersthelettersinwhichClemenshad"loosedhisboldfancytostooponranksuggestion。""Icouldnotbeartoburnthem，"hedeclares，"andIcouldnot，afterthefirstreading，quitebeartolookatthem。"

Inthe1601MarkTwainoutdidhimselfintheElizabethanfield。Itwaswrittenasalettertothatrobustdivine，Rev。JosephTwichell，whohadnospecialscruplesconcerningShakespearianparlanceandcustoms。

BeforeitwasmaileditwasshowntoDavidGray，whowasspendingaSundayatElmira。Graysaid：

"Printitandputyournametoit，Mark。Youhaveneverdoneagreaterpieceofworkthanthat。"

JohnHay，whomitalsoreachedinduetime，pronounceitaclassic——a"mostexquisitebitofoldEnglishmorality。"Haysurreptitiouslypermittedsomeproofstobemadeofit，andithasbeencirculatedprivately，thoughsparingly，eversince。Atonetimeaspecialfontofantiquetypewasmadeforitandonehundredcopiesweretakenonhand—

madepaper。Theywouldeasilybringahundreddollarseachto—day。

1601isagenuineclassic，asclassicsofthatsortgo。ItisbetterthanthegrossobscenitiesofRabelais，andperhaps，insomedaytocome，thetastethatjustifiedGargantuaandtheDecameronwillgivethisliteraryrefugeeshelterandsettingamongthemoreconventionalwritingsofMarkTwain。Humantasteisacuriousthing；delicacyispurelyamatterofenvironmentandpointofview。——[Inanote—bookofalaterperiodClemenshimselfwrote："Itdependsonwhowritesathingwhetheritiscoarseornot。IoncewroteaconversationbetweenElizabeth，Shakespeare，BenJonson，Beaumont，SirW。Raleigh，LordBacon，SirNicholasThrockmorton，andastupidoldnobleman——thislatterbeingcup—

bearertothequeenandostensiblereporterofthetalk。

"TherewerefourmaidsofhonorpresentandasweetyounggirltwoyearsyoungerthantheboyBeaumont。Ibuiltaconversationwhichcouldhavehappened——Iusedwordssuchaswereusedatthattime——1601。Isentitanonymouslytoamagazine，andhowtheeditorabuseditandthesender！

ButthatmanwasapraiserofRabelais，andhadbeensaying，’OthatwehadaRabelais！’IjudgedthatIcouldfurnishhimone。"]

Eighteenhundredandseventy—sixwasaPresidentialyear——theyearoftheHayes—Tildencampaign。ClemensandHowellswerebothwarmRepublicansandactivelyinterestedintheoutcome，Clemens，asheconfessed，forthefirsttimeinhislife。BeforehisreturntoHartfordheannouncedhimselfpubliclyasaHayesman，madesobyGovernorHayes’sletterofacceptance，which，hesaid，"expressesmyownpoliticalconvictions。"

Hispoliticshadnotbeengenerallyknownuptothattime，andaTildenandHendricksclubinJerseyCityhadinvitedhimtobepresentandgivethemsomepoliticalcounsel，ataflag—raising。Hewrote，decliningpleasantlyenough，thenadded：

"Youhaveaskedmeforsomepoliticalcounseloradvice：InviewofMr。

Tilden’sCivilWarrecordmyadviceisnottoraisetheflag。"

HewroteHowells："IfTildeniselectedIthinktheentirecountrywillgoprettystraightto——Mrs。Howells’sbadplace。"

HowellswaswritingacampaignbiographyofHayes，whichhehopedwouldhavealargesale，andClemensurgedhimtogetitoutquicklyandsavethecountry。Howells，workinglikeabeaver，inturnurgedClemenstotakethefieldinthecause。ReturningtoHartford，Clemenspresidedatapoliticalrallyandmadeaspeech，themostwidelyquotedofthecampaign。Allpapers，withoutdistinctionastoparty，quotedit，andallreaders，regardlessofpolitics，readitwithjoy。

Yetconditionsdidnotimprove。WhenHowells’sbookhadbeenoutareasonablelengthoftimehewrotethatithadsoldonlytwothousandcopies。

"There’ssuccessforyou，"hesaid。"ItmakesmedespairoftheRepublic，Icantellyou。"

Clemens，however，didnotlosefaith，andwentonshoutingforHayesanddamningTildentillthefinalvotewascast。InlaterlifehechangedhismindaboutTilden(asdidmanyothers)throughsympathy。Sympathycouldmake——MarkTwainchangehismindanytime。Hestoodfortheright，but，aboveall，forjustice。Hestoodforthewronged，regardlessofallotherthings。

CIX

THEPUBLICAPPEARANCEOF"TOMSAWYER"

ClemensgaveafewreadingsinBostonandPhiladelphia，butwhenurgedtogoelsewheremadetheexcusethathewashavinghisportraitpaintedandcouldnotleavehome。

Asamatteroffact，hewasenjoyinghimselfwithFrankMillet，whohadbeeninvitedtothehousetodotheportraitandhadcapturedtheferventadmirationofthewholefamily。Milletwasyoung，handsome，andlively；

Clemenscouldn’tseeenoughofhim，thechildrenadoredhimandaddedhisnametotheprayerwhichincludedeachmemberofthehousehold——the"HolyFamily，"Clemenscalledit。

Millethadbroughtwithhimbutonepieceofcanvasfortheportrait，andwhenthefirstsketchwasfinishedMrs。Clemenswassodelightedwithitthatshedidnotwishhimtotouchitagain。Shewasafraidoflosingsomeparticularfeelinginitwhichshevalued。Milletwenttothecity。

foranothercanvasandClemensaccompaniedhim。WhileMilletwasdoinghisshoppingithappenedtooccurtoClemensthatitwouldbewelltofillinthetimebyhavinghishaircut。HeleftwordwithaclerktotellMilletthathehadgoneacrossthestreet。Byandbytheartistcameover，andnearlyweptwithdespairwhenhesawhissubjectshearedoftheauburn，gray—sprinkledaureolathathadmadehisfirstsketchasuccess。Hetrieditagain，andtheresultwasanexcellentlikeness，butitneversatisfiedMillet。

The’AdventuresofTomSawyer’appearedlateinDecember(1876)，andimmediatelytookitsplaceasforemostofAmericanstoriesofboylife，aplacewhichitunquestionablyholdstothisday。Wehavealreadyconsideredthepersonaldetailsofthisstory，fortheywereessentiallynothingmorethanthevariousaspectsofMarkTwain’sownboyhood。Itisonlynecessarytoaddawordconcerningtheelaborationofthisperiodinliteraryform。

>Fromeverypointitisamasterpiece，thispictureofboylifeinalittlelazy，drowsytown，withalltheirresponsibilityandgeneraldisreputabilityofboycharactercoupledwiththatindefinable，formless，elusivesomethingwecallboyconscience，whichismorelikelytobeboyterrorandalatentinstinctofmanliness。Thesethingsaresotrulyportrayedthateveryboyandmanreaderfindsthetalefittingintohisownrememberedyears，asifithadgrownthere。Everyboyhasplayedoffsicktoescapeschool；everyboyhasreflectedinhisheartTom’spictureofhimselfbeingbroughthomedead，andgloatedoverthestrickenconsciencesofthosewhohadblightedhisyounglife；everyboy——ofthatday，atleast——everynormal，respectableboy，grewupto"fearGodanddreadtheSunday—school，"asHowellsputsitinhisreview。

Asforthestoryitself，thenarrativeofit，itispuredelight。Thepiratecampontheislandissimplyboyheaven。Whatboy，forinstance，wouldnotchangeanyothergloryorboonthattheworldholdsforthis：

Theybuiltafireagainstthesideofagreatlogtwentyorthirtystepswithinthesomberdepthsoftheforest，andthencookedsomebaconinthefrying—panforsupper，anduseduphalfofthecorn"pone"stocktheyhadbrought。Itseemedglorioussporttobefeastinginthatwild，freewayinthevirginforestofanunexploredanduninhabitedisland，farfromthehauntsofmen，andtheysaidtheyneverwouldreturntocivilization。Theclimbingfirelituptheirfacesandthrewitsruddyglareuponthepillaredtree—trunksoftheirforest—temple，anduponthevarnishedfoliageandthefestooningvines。

Thereisamagicinit。MarkTwain，whenhewroteit，feltrenewedinhimalltheoldfascinationofthosedaysandnightswithTomBlankenship，JohnBriggs，andtheBowenboysonGlasscock’sIsland。

EverywhereinTomSawyerthereisaquality，entirelyapartfromthehumorandthenarrative，whichtheyoungerreaderislikelytooverlook。

Nooneforgetsthewhitewashingscene，butnotmanyofus，fromourearlyreading，recallthisdeliciousbitofdescriptionwhichintroducesit：

Thelocust—treeswereinbloom，andthefragranceoftheblossomsfilledtheair。CardiffHill，beyondthevillageandaboveit，wasgreenwithvegetation，anditlayjustfarenoughawaytoseemadelectableland，dreamy，reposeful，andinviting。

Tom’snightvisithome；thegraveyardscene，withthemurderofDr。

Robinson；theadventuresofTomandBeckyinthecave——theseareallmarvelouslyinvented。Literarythrilltouchestheultimateinoneincidentofthecaveepisode。BranderMatthewshaswritten：

Noristhereanysituationquiteasthrillingasthatawfulmomentinthecavewhentheboyandgirlarelostinthedarkness，andwhenTomsuddenlyseesahumanhandbearingalight，andthenfindsthatthehandisthehandofIndianJoe，hisonemortalenemy。IhavealwaysthoughtthatthevisionofthehandinthecaveinTomSawyerwasoneoftheveryfinestthingsintheliteratureofadventuresinceRobinsonCrusoefirstsawasinglefootprintinthesandofthesea—shore。

MarkTwain’sinventionwasnotalwaysareliablequantity，butwiththateccentricitywhichgoeswithanyattributeofgenius，itwaslikelyatanymomenttorisesupreme。Iftothecritical，hardenedreaderthetaleseemsashadeoverdonehereandthere，atrifleextravagantinitsdelineations，lethimgobacktohisfirstlong—agoreadingofitandseeifherecallsanythingbuthispuredelightinitthen。Asaboy’sstoryithasnotbeenequaled。

TomSawyerhasrankedinpopularitywithRoughingIt。

Itssalesgosteadilyonfromyeartoyear，andarelikelytocontinuesolongasboysandgirlsdonotchange，andmenandwomenremember。

——[Col。HenryWatterson，whenhefinishedTomSawyer，wrote："IhavejustlaiddownTomSawyer，andcannotresistthepressure。Itisimmense！Ireadeverywordofit，didn’tskipaline，andnearlydisgracedmyselfseveraltimesinthepresenceofasleeping—carfullofhonorableandpiouspeople。OnceIhadtogettoonesideandhaveacry，andasforaninternalcompoundoflaughterandtearstherewasnoendtoit……The’funeral’oftheboys，thecavebusiness，andthehuntforthehiddentreasureareasdramaticasanythingIknowofinfiction，whilethepathos——particularlyeverythingrelatingtoHuckandAuntPolly——makesacrossbetweenDickens’sskillandThackeray’snature，which，resemblingneither，isthoroughlyimpressiveandoriginal。"]

CX

MARKTWAINANDBRETHARTEWRITEAPLAY

Itwasthefallandwinterof’76thatBretHartecametoHartfordandcollaboratedwithMarkTwainontheplay"AhSin，"acomedy—drama，ormelodrama，writtenforCharlesT。Parsloe，thegreatimpersonatorofChinesecharacter。Hartehadwrittenasuccessfulplaywhichunfortunatelyhehadsoldoutrightfornogreatsum，andwaseagerforanotherventure。Hartehadthedramaticsenseandconstructiveinvention。Healsohadhumor，buthefelttheneedofthesortofhumorthatMarkTwaincouldfurnish。Furthermore，hebelievedthataplaybackedbyboththeirreputationsmuststartwithgreatadvantages。

Clemensalsorealizedthesethings，andthearrangementwasmade。

Speakingoftheirmethodofworking，Clemensoncesaid：

"Well，BretcamedowntoHartfordandwetalkeditover，andthenBretwroteitwhileIplayedbilliards，butofcourseIhadtogooverittogetthedialectright。Bretneverdidknowanythingaboutdialect。"

Whichishardlyafairstatementofthecase。Theybothworkedontheplay，andworkedhard。

Duringthe，periodofitsconstructionHartehadanorderforastorywhichhesaidhemustfinishatonce，asheneededthemoney。Itmustbedeliveredbythefollowingnight，andheinsistedthathemustbegettingatitwithoutamoment’sdelay。Stillheseemedinnohastetobegin。

Theeveningpassed；bedtimecame。Thenheaskedthatanopenfiremightbemadeinhisroomandabottleofwhiskysentup，incaseheneeded。

somethingtokeephimawake。Georgeattendedtothesematters，andnothingmorewasheardofHarteuntilveryearlynextmorning，whenherangforGeorgeandaskedforafreshfireandanadditionalsupplyofwhisky。Atbreakfast—timeheappeared，fresh，rosy，andelate，withtheannouncementthathisstorywascomplete。

ThatforenoontheSaturdayMorningClubmetattheClemenshome。Itwasayoungwomen’sclub，ofwhichMarkTwainwasasortofhonorarymember——

aclubforthepurposeofintellectualadvancement，somewhatontheorderoftheMondayEveningClubofmen，exceptthatthepapersreadbeforeitwerenotpreparedbymembers，butbymenandwomenprominentinsomefieldofintellectualprogress。BretHartehadagreedtoreadtothemonthisparticularoccasion，andhegailyappearedandgavethemthestoryjustfinished，"ThankfulBlossom，"atalewhichMarkTwainalwaysregardedasoneofHarte’sverybest。

Thenewplay，"AhSin，"byMarkTwainandBretHarte，wasputonatWashington，attheNationalTheater，ontheeveningofMay7，1877。Ithadbeenwidelyexploitedinthenewspapers，andthefameoftheauthorsinsuredacrowdedopening。Clemenswasunabletogooveronaccountofasuddenattackofbronchitis。Parsloewasnervousaccordingly，andthepresenceofHartedoesnotseemtohaveaddedtohishappiness。

"Iamnotverywellmyself，"hewrotetoClemens。"Theexcitementofthefirstnightisbadenough，buttohavetheannoyancewithHartethatI

haveistoomuchforanewbeginner。"

Nevertheless，theplayseemstohavegonewell，withParsloeasAhSin——

aChineselaundrymanwhowasalsoagreatnumberofotherdivertingthings——withafairsupportandahappy—go—luckypresentationoffrontierlife，whichincludedasupposedmurder，afalseaccusation，andageneralclearing—upofmysterybythepleasantandwilyandusefulandentertainingAhSin。Itwasnotagreatplay。Itwasneitherverycoherentnorconvincing，butithadalotofgoodfuninit，withcharacterpartswhich，ifnotfaithfultolife，werefaithfulenoughtothepublicconceptionofittobeamusingandexciting。AttheendofeachactnotonlyParsloe，butalsotheprincipalmembersofthecompany，werecalledbeforethecurtainforspecialacknowledgments。WhenitwasovertherewasageneralcallforAhSin，whocamebeforethecurtainandreadatelegram。

CHARLEST。PARSLOE，——Iamonthesick—list，andthereforecannotcometoWashington；butIhavepreparedtwospeeches——onetodeliverineventoffailureoftheplay，andtheotherifsuccessful。PleasetellmewhichI

shallsend。Maybebettertoputittovote。

MARKTWAIN。

Thehousecheeredtheletter，andwhenitwasputtovotedecidedunanimouslythattheplayhadbeenasuccess——averdictmorekindlythantrue。

J。I。Ford，ofthetheatermanagement，wrotetoClemens，nextmorningafterthefirstperformance，urginghimtocometoWashingtoninpersonand"wetnurse"theplayuntil"itcoulddoforitself。"

Fordexpressedsatisfactionwiththeplayanditsprospects，andconcludes：

Iinclosenotices。Comeifyoucan。"Yourpresencewillbeworthtenthousandmen。Theking’snameisatowerofstrength。"IhaveurgedthePresidenttocometo—night。

TheplaymadenomoneyinWashington，butAugustinDalydecidedtoputitoninNewYorkattheFifthAvenueTheater，withacompanywhichincluded，besidesParsloe，EdmundCollier，P。A。Anderson，DoraGoldthwaite，HenryCrisp，andMrs。Wells，averyworthygroupofplayersindeed。Clemenswaspresentattheopening，dressedinwhite，whichheaffectedonlyforwarm—weatheruseinthosedays，andmadeaspeechattheendofthethirdact。

"AhSin"didnotexcitemuchenthusiasmamongNewYorkdramaticcritics。

Thehouseswerepromisingforatime，butforsomereasontheperformanceasawholedidnotcontaintheelementsofprosperity。Itsetoutonitsprovincialtravelswithnoparticularprestigebeyondthereputationofitsauthors；anditwouldseemthatthiswasnotenough，foritfailedtopay，andallpartiesconcernedpresentlyabandonedittoitsfateanditwasheardofnomore。Justwhy"AhSin"didnotprosperitwouldnotbecomeustodecideatthisfarremoveoftimeandtaste。Poorerplayshavesucceededandbetterplayshavefailedsincethen，andnoonehaseverbeenabletodemonstratethemystery。Atouchsomewhere，apulling—

aboutandareadjustment，mighthavesaved"AliSin，"butthepullingsandhaulingswhichtheygaveitdidnot。Perhapsitstillliesinsomemanagerialvault，andsomedaymaybedraggedtolightandreconstructedandrecast，andcomeintoitsreward。Whoknows？Oritmayhavedriftedtothatharborofforgottenplays，whencethereisnoreturning。

AsbetweenHarteandClemens，thewholematterwasunfortunate。Inthecourseoftheirassociationtherearoseafrictionandthelong—timefriendshipdisappeared。

CXI

ABERMUDAHOLIDAY

Onthe16thofMay，1877，MarkTwainsetoutonwhat，inhisnote—book，hedeclaredtobe"thefirstactualpleasure—trip"hehadevertaken，meaningthatoneveryprevioustriphehadstartedwithapurposeotherthanthatofmereenjoyment。Hetookwithhimhis，friendandpastor，theRev。JosephH。Twichell，andtheysailedforBermuda，anislandresortnotsowellknownorsofashionableasto—day。

Theydidnotgotoahotel。Underassumednamestheytookupquartersinaboarding—house，withaMrs。Kirkham，andwereunmolestedandaltogetherhappyintheirwanderingsthroughfourgoldendays。MarkTwaincouldnotresistkeepinganote—book，settingdownbitsofsceneryandcharacterandincident，justashehadalwaysdone。HewasimpressedwiththecheapnessofpropertyandlivingintheBermudaofthatperiod。Hemakesspecialmentionofsomecottagesconstructedofcoralblocks："Allasbeautifulandasneatasapin，atthecostoffourhundredandeightydollarseach。"ToTwichellheremarked：

"Joe，thisplaceislikeHeaven，andI’mgoingtomakethemostofit。"

"Mark，"saidTwichell，"that’sright；makethemostofaplacethatislikeHeavenwhileyouhaveachance。"

Inoneoftheentries——thefinalone——Clemenssays：

"Bermudaisfree(atpresent)fromthetriplecurseofrailways，telegraphs，andnewspapers，butthiswillnotlasttheyear。Iproposetospendnextyearhereandnomore。"

Whentheywerereadytoleave，andstartedforthesteamer，Twichellmadeanexcusetogoback，hispurposebeingtotelltheirlandladyandherdaughterthat，withoutknowingit，theyhadbeenentertainingMarkTwain。

"DidyoueverhearofMarkTwain，？"askedTwichell。

Thedaughteranswered。

"Yes，"shesaid，"untilI’mtiredofthename。Iknowayoungmanwhonevertalksofanythingelse。"

"Well，"saidTwichell，"thatgentlemanwithmeisMarkTwain。"

TheKirkhamsdeclinedtobelieveitatfirst，andthenwereindeepsorrowthattheyhadnotknownitearlier。TwichellpromisedthatheandClemenswouldcomebackthenextyear；andtheymeanttogoback——wealwaysmeantogobacktoplaces——butitwasthirtyyearsbeforetheyreturnedatlast，andthentheirpleasantlandladywasdead。

Onthehometriptheysightedawanderingvessel，mannedbyblacks，tryingtogettoNewYork。Shehadnocargoandwasprettyhelpless。

Later，whenshewasreportedagain，ClemenswroteaboutitinaHartfordpaper，tellingthestoryasheknewit。Thevesselhadshippedthecrew，onabasisofpassagetoNewYork，inexchangeforlabor。Soitwasa"pleasure—excursion！"Clemensdweltonthisfancy：

Ihaveheardofagoodmanypleasure—excursions，butthisheadsthelist。Itismonumental，andifeverthetiredoldtrampisfoundI

shouldliketobethereandseehiminhissorrowfulragsandhisvenerableheadofgrassandseaweed，andheartheancientmarinerstellthestoryoftheirmysteriouswanderingsthroughthesolemnsolitudesoftheocean。

Longafterwardthisvagrantcraftwasreportedagain，stilldriftingwiththerelentlessGulfStream。PerhapsshereachedNewYorkintime；onewouldliketoknow，butthereseemsnogoodwaytofindout。

ThatfirstBermudavoyagewasalwaysahappymemorytoMarkTwain。ToTwichellhewrotethatitwasthe"joyousesttrip"hehadevermade：

Notaheartacheanywhere，notatwingeofconscience。Ioftencometomyselfoutofareverieanddetectanundertoneofthoughtthathadbeenthinkingitselfwithoutvolitionofmind——viz。，thatifwehadonlyhadtendaysofthosewalksandtalksinsteadoffour。

Therewasbutoneregret：Howellshadnotbeenwiththem。Clemensdenouncedhimforhisabsence：

Ifyouhadgonewithusandletmepaythefiftydollars，whichthetripandtheboardandthevariousknick—knacksandmementoswouldcost，Iwouldhavepickedupenoughdroppingsfromyourconversationtopaymefivehundredpercent。profitinthewayoftheseveralmagazinearticleswhichIcouldhavewritten；whereasIcannowwriteonlyoneortwo，andamthereforelargelyoutofpocketbyyourproudways。

Clemenswouldnotfailtowriteabouthistrip。Hecouldnothelpdoingthat，andhebegan"SomeRamblingNotesofanIdleExcursion"assoonashelandedinHartford。Theywerequitewhatthenamewouldsignify——

leisurely，pleasantcommentariesonaloafing，peacefulvacation。Theyarenotstartlingintheirhumorordescription，butaregentlyamusingandsummery，reflecting，bubble—like，evanescentfanciesofBermuda。

Howells，shutupinaBostoneditorialoffice，foundthemdelightfulenough，andverylikelyhisAtlanticreadersagreedwithhim。Thestoryof"IsaacandtheProphetsofBaal"wasonethatCapt。NedWakemanhadtoldtoTwichellduringavoyagewhichthelatterhadmadetoAspinwallwiththatvigorousoldseafarer；sointhe"RamblingNotes"WakemanappearsasCaptainHurricaneJones，probablyastepintheevolutionofthelaternameofStormfield。Thebestfeatureoftheseries(therewerefourpapersinall)isastoryofarescueinmid—ocean；butsurelythebrightestrippleofhumoristhereferencetoBermuda’smahogany—tree：

Therewasexactlyonemahogany—treeontheisland。IknowthistobereliablebecauseIsawamanwhosaidhehadcounteditmanyatimeandcouldnotbemistaken。Hewasamanwithahazelipandapureheart，andeverybodysaidhewasastrueassteel。Suchmenarealltoofew。

ClemenscaredlessforthesepapersthandidHowells。Hehadseriousdoubtsaboutthefirsttwoandsuggestedtheirdestruction，butwithHowells’sappreciationhisownconfidenceinthemreturnedandheletthemallgoin。Theydidnotespeciallyadvancehisreputation，butperhapstheydiditnoharm。

CXII

ANEWPLAYANDANEWTALE

Hewroteashortstorythatyearwhichisnotablemainlyforthefactthatinitthetelephonebecomesaliteraryproperty，probablyforthefirsttime。"TheLovesofAlonzoFitz—ClarenceandRosannahEthelton"

employedintheconsummationwhatwasthenaprospect，ratherthanareality——long—distancecommunication。

Hisworkthatsummerconsistedmainlyoftwoextensiveundertakings，oneofwhichhecompletedwithoutdelay。Hestillhadthedramaticambition，andhebelievedthathewascapablenowofconstructingaplayentirelyfromhisownresources。

ToHowells，inJune，hewrote：

To—dayIamdeepinacomedywhichIbeganthismorning——principalcharacteranolddetective。Iskeletonedthefirstactandwrotethesecondto—day，andamdog—tirednow。Fifty—fourpagesofMS。insevenhours。

Sevendayslater，theFourthofJuly，hesaid：

Ihavepileduponehundredandfifty—onepagesonmycomedy。Thefirst，secondandfourthactsaredone，anddonetomysatisfaction，too。To—

morrowandnextdaywillfinishthethirdact，andtheplay。Neverhadsomuchfunoveranythinginmylifeneversuchconsuminginterestanddelight。Andjustthink！IhadSolSmithRussellinmymind’seyefortheolddetective’spart，andbangit！hehasgoneoffpotteringwithOliverOptic，orelsethepaperslie。

Hewasworkingwithenthusiasm，yousee，believinginitwithafaithwhich，alas，wasnowarrantforitsquality。EvenHowellscaughthisenthusiasmandbecameeagertoseetheplay，andtohavethestoryitcontainedtoldfortheAtlantic。

Butintheenditprovedamistake。DionBoucicault，whenhereadthemanuscript，pronounceditbetterthan"AhSin，"butthatwasonlyqualifiedpraise。Actorswhoconsideredtheplay，anxiousenoughtohaveMarkTwain’snameontheirpostersandsmallbills，wereobligedtoadmitthat，whileitcontainedmarvelouslines，itwouldn’t"go。"JohnBroughamwrote：

Thereisanabsolute"embarrassmentofriches"inyour"Detective"

mostassuredly，butthedifficultyistoputitintoprofitableform。Thequartzisthereinabundance，onlyrequiringthenecessarymanipulationtoextractthegold。

Innarrativestructurethestorywouldbefulloflife，character，andthemostexuberantfun，butitisaltogethertoodiffuseinitspresentconditionfordramaticrepresentation，andIconfessIdonotfeelsufficientconfidenceinmyownexperience(evenifIhadthetime，whichonreflectionIfindIhavenot)toundertakewhat，underdifferentcircumstances，wouldbea"laboroflove。"

Yourssincerely，JOHNBROUGHAM。

Thatwasfrank，manly，andtothepoint；itcoveredthegroundexactly。

"SimonWheeler，theAmateurDetective，"hadplentyofgoodmaterialinit——plentyofdialogueandsituations；butthedialoguewouldn’tplay，andthesituationswouldn’tact。Clemensrealizedthatperhapsthedramawasnot，afterall，hisforte；hedropped"SimonWheeler，"losthisinterestin"AhSin，"evenleased"ColonelSellers"forthecomingseason，andso，inasortoffury，puttheatricalmattersoutofhismind。

Hehadentereduponwhat，forhim，wasatruerdomain。Onedayhepickedupfromamongthebooksatthefarmalittlejuvenilevolume，anEnglishstoryofthethirteenthcenturybyCharlotteM。Yonge，entitled，ThePrinceandthePage。ItwasastoryofEdwardI。andhiscousins，RichardandHenrydeMontfort；inpartittoldofthesubmergedpersonalityofthelatter，picturinghimashavingdweltindisguiseasablindbeggarforaperiodofyears。ItwasastoryofasortandwithasettingthatMarkTwainloved，andashereadtherecameacorrelativeidea。Notonlywouldhedisguiseaprinceasabeggar，butabeggarasaprince。Hewouldhavethemchangeplacesintheworld，andeachlearntheburdensoftheother’slife。——[ThereisnopointofresemblancebetweenthePrinceandthePauperandthetalethatinspiredit。Noonewouldeverguessthattheonehadgrownoutofthereadingsoftheother，andnocomparisonofanysortispossiblebetweenthem。]

Theplotpresentedphysicaldifficulties。Hestillhadsomelurkingthoughtofstageperformance，andsawinhismindaspectacularpresentation，withallthecostumeryofanearlyperiodasbackgroundforayoungandbeautifulcreaturewhowouldplaythepartofprince。Theolddeviceofchangelingsinthecradle(laterusedinPudd’nheadWilson)

presenteditselftohim，butitcouldnotprovidethesituationshehadinmind。Finallycamethethoughtofaplayfulinterchangeofraimentandstate(withstartlingandunlooked—forconsequence)——theguiseandpersonalityofTomCanty，ofOffalCourt，forthoseofthesonofHenryVIII。，littleEdwardTudor，morelatelysixthEnglishkingofthatname。

Thislittleprincewasnothisfirstselectionforthepart。HisoriginalideahadbeentousethelateKingEdwardVII。(thenPrinceofWales)ataboutfifteen，buthefoundthatitwouldneveranswertoloseaprinceamongtheslumsofmodernLondon，andhavehisproudestatedeniedandjeeredatbyamodernmob。Hefeltthathecouldnotmakeitseemreal；sohefollowedbackthroughhistory，lookingalongforthepropertimeandprince，tillhecametolittleEdward，whowastooyoung——butnomatter，hewoulddo。

Hedecidedtobeginhisnewventureinstoryform。Hecoulddramatizeitlater。Thesituationappealedtohimimmensely。Theideaseemedabrand—newone；itwasdelightful，itwasfascinating，andhewassaturatedwiththeatmosphereandliteratureandhistory——thedataanddetailofthatdelightfuloldtime。Heputawayallthoughtofcheap，modernplay—actingandwriting，tobeginoneoftheloveliestandmostentertainingandinstructivetalesofoldEnglishlife。Hedecidedtobequiteaccurateinhispictureoftheperiod，andhepostedhimselfonoldLondonverycarefully。Heboughtapocket—mapwhichhestudiedintheminutestdetail。

Hewroteaboutfourhundredmanuscriptpagesofthetalethatsummer；

then，astheinspirationseemedtolagalittle，putitaside，aswashishabit，towaituntiltheambitionforitshouldberenewed。Itwasalongwait，asusual。Hedidnottouchitagainformorethanthreeyears。

CXIII

TWODOMESTICDRAMAS

Someunusualhappeningstookplacethatsummerof1877。JohnT。Lewis(colored)，alreadyreferredtoasthereligiousantagonistofAuntieCord，bygreatpresenceofmindandbraverysavedthelivesofMrs。

Clemens’ssister—in—law，Mrs。Charles("Charley")Langdon，herlittledaughterJulia，andhernurse—maid。Theywereinabuggy，andtheirrunawayhorsewasflyingdownEastHilltowardElmiratocertaindestruction，whenLewis，laboringslowlyhomewardwithaloadedwagon，sawthemcomingandturnedhisteamacrosstheroad，afterwhichheleapedoutandwithextraordinarystrengthandquicknessgrabbedthehorse’sbridleandbroughthimtoastandstill。TheClemensandCranefamilies，whohadseentherunawaystartatthefarmgate，arrivedhalfwildwithfear，onlytofindthesupposedvictimsentirelysafe。

EverybodycontributedinrewardingLewis。Hereceivedmoney($1，500)andvariousotherpresents，includinginscribedbooksandtrinkets，also，whatheperhapsvaluedmorethananything，amarvelousstem—windinggoldwatch。Clemens，writingafullaccounttoDr。Brownofthewatch，says：

Andifanyscoffershallsay，"beholdthisthingisoutofcharacter，"thereisaninscriptionwithinwhichwillsilencehim；

foritwillteachhimthatthisweareraggrandizesthewatch，notthewatchthewearer。

Inanotherparagraphhesays：

WhenLewisarrivedtheotherevening，afterhavingsavedthoselivesbyafeatwhichIthinkisthemostmarvelousIcancalltomind，whenhearrivedhuncheduponhismanure—wagonandasgrotesquelypicturesqueasusual，everybodywantedtogoandseehowhelooked。

Theycamebackandsaidhewasbeautiful。Itwasso，too，andyethewouldhavephotographedexactlyashewouldhavedoneanydaythesepastsevenyearsthathehasoccupiedthisfarm。

Lewisacknowledgedhisgiftsinaletterwhichclosedwithaparagraphofrarenativeloftiness：

ButIbegtosay，humbly，thatinasmuchasdivineProvidencesawfittousemeasaninstrumentforthesavingofthosepreshiouslives，thehonnerconferduponmewasgreaterthanthefeatperformed。

Lewislivedtoenjoyhisprosperity，andthehonoroftheClemensandLangdonhouseholds，fortwenty—nineyears。Whenhewastoooldtoworktherewasapension，towhichClemenscontributed；alsoHenryH。Rogers。

Sothesimple—hearted，nobleoldnegroclosedhisdaysinpeace。

Mrs。Crane，inaletter，lateinJuly，1906，toldofhisdeath：

Hewasalwayscheerful，andseemednottosuffermuchpain，toldstories，andwasabletoeatalmosteverything。

Threedaysagoanewdifficultyappeared，onaccountofwhichhisdoctorsaidhemustgotothehospitalforcaresuchasitwasquiteimpossibletogiveinhishome。

Hediedonhiswaythere。

Thusithappenedthathediedontheroadwherehehadperformedhisgreatdeed。

AsecondunusualincidentofthatsummeroccurredinHartford。TherehadbeenareportofastrangemanseenabouttheClemensplace，thoughttobeaprospectingburglar，andClemenswentovertoinvestigate。Alittlesearchinginquiryrevealedthatthemanwasnotaburglar，butamechanicoutofemployment，aloverofoneofthehouse—maids，whohadgivenhimfoodandshelteronthepremises，intendingnorealharm。Whenthegirlfoundthathersecretwasdiscovered，sheprotestedthathewasherfiance，thoughshesaidheappearedlatelytohavechangedhismindandnolongerwishedtomarryher。

Thegirlseemedheartbroken，andsympathyforherwasnaturallythefirstandabouttheonlyfeelingwhichClemensdeveloped，forthetimebeing。

Hereasonedwiththeyoungman，butwithoutmakingmuchheadway。FinallyhisdramaticinstinctpromptedhimtoaplanofasortwhichwouldhavesatisfiedevenTomSawyer。HeaskedTwichelltoprocurealicenseforthecouple，andtoconcealhimselfinagroundfloorbath—room。Hearrangedwiththechiefofpolicetobeonhandinanotherroom；withtherestoftheservantsquietlytoprepareawedding—feast，andfinallywithLizzieherselftobedressedfortheceremony。Hehadalreadymadeanappointmentwiththeyoungmantocometo，seehimatacertainhourona"matterofbusiness，"andtheyoungmanarrivedinthebelief，nodoubt，thatitwassomethingwhichwouldleadtoprofitableemployment。WhenhecameinClemensgentlyandquietlyreviewedthesituation，toldhimoftheyounggirl’sloveforhim；howhehadbeenshelteredandfedbyher；

howthroughherkindnesstohimshehadcompromisedherreputationforhonestyandbroughtuponherallthesuspicionofhavingshelteredaburglar；howshewasreadyandwillingtomarryhim，andhowhe(Clemens)

wasreadytoassistthemtoobtainworkandastartinlife。

Buttheyoungmanwasnotenthusiastic。HewasaSwedeandslowofaction。Heresolutelydeclaredthathewasnotreadytomarryyet，andintheendrefusedtodoso。Thencamethedramaticmoment。Clemensquietlybutfirmlyinformedhimthattheweddingceremonymusttakeplace；thatbyinfestinghispremiseshehadbrokenthelaw，notonlyagainsttrespass，butmostlikelyagainsthouse—breaking。Therewasabriefdiscussionofthispoint。FinallyClemensgavehimfiveminutestomakeuphismind，withthestatementthathehadanofficerinwaiting，andunlesshewouldconsenttotheweddinghewouldbetakenincharge。

Theyoungmanbegantotemporize，sayingthatitwouldbenecessaryforhimtogetalicenseandapreacher。ButClemenssteppedtothedoorofthebath—room，openedit，andletoutTwichell，whohadbeenswelteringthereinthatfearfulplaceformorethananhour，itbeingAugust。Thedelinquentloverfoundhimselfconfrontedwithalltherequisitesofmatrimonyexceptthebride，andjustthenthisdetailappearedonthescene，dressedfortheoccasion。Behindherrangedtherestoftheservantsandafewinvitedguests。Beforetheyoungmanknewithehadawife，andonthewholedidnotseemdispleased。Itendedwithagaysupperandfestivities。ThenClemensstartedthemhandsomelybygivingeachofthemacheckforonehundreddollars；andintruth(whichinthiscase，atleast，isstrangerthanfiction)theylivedhappilyandprosperouslyeverafter。

SomeyearslaterMarkTwainbasedastoryonthisepisode，butitwasneverentirelysatisfactoryandremainsunpublished。

CXIV

THEWHITTIERBIRTHDAYSPEECH

ItwasthenightofDecember17，1877，thatMarkTwainmadehisunfortunatespeechatthedinnergivenbytheAtlanticstafftoJohnG。

Whittieronhisseventiethbirthday。ClemenshadattendedanumberofthedinnerswhichtheAtlanticgaveononeoccasionoranother，andhadprovidedapartoftheentertainment。Itisonlyfairtosaythathisafter—dinnerspeechesatsuchtimeshadbeenregardedasveryspecialevents，genuinetriumphsofhumoranddelivery。Butonthisparticularoccasionhedeterminedtooutdohimself，topreparesomethingunusual，startling，somethingaltogetherunheardof。

WhenMarkTwainhadanimpulselikethatitwaspossibleforittoresultinsomethingdangerous，especiallyinthoseearlierdays。Thistimeitproducedabombshell；notjustanordinarybombshell，orevenatwelve—

inchprojectile，butashellofplanetarysize。Itwasasortofhoax—

alwaysadoubtfulplaything——andinthiscaseitbroughtevenquickerandmoreterribleretributionthanusual。ItwasanimaginarypresentationofthreedisreputablefrontiertrampswhoatsometimehadimposedthemselvesonalonelyminerasLongfellow，Emerson，andHolmes，quotingappositeselectionsfromtheirversestotheaccompanimentofcardsanddrink，andaltogetherconductingthemselvesinamostunsavoryfashion。

Attheendcametheenlightenmentthatthesewerenotwhattheypretendedtobe，butonlyimpostors——disgustingfrauds。Afeaturelikethatwouldbeadoubtfulthingtotryinanyculturedatmosphere。Thethoughtofassociating，eversoremotely，thosethreeoldbummerswhichhehadconjuredupwiththevenerableandveneratedEmerson，Longfellow，andHolmes，theOlympiantrinity，seemsghastlyenoughto—day，andmusthaveseemedevenmoresothen。ButClemens，dazzledbytherainbowsplendorofhisconception，sawinitonlyararecolossalhumor，whichwouldfairlyliftandbearhishearersalongonatideofmirth。Hedidnotshowhisefforttoanyonebeforehand。Hewanteditsfullbeautytoburstupontheentirecompanyasasurprise。

Itdidthat。Howellswastoastmaster，andwhenhecametopresentClemenshetookparticularpainstointroducehimasoneofhisforemostcontributorsanddearestfriends。Here，hesaid，was"ahumoristwhoneverleftyouhangingyouheadforhavingenjoyedhisjoke。"

ThirtyyearslaterClemenshimselfwroteofhisimpressionsasherosetodeliverhisspeech。

Ivaguelyremembersomeofthedetailsofthatgathering：dimlyI

canseeahundredpeople——no，perhapsfifty——shadowyfigures，sittingattablesfeeding，ghostsnowtome，andnamelessforevermore。Idon’tknowwhotheywere，butIcanverydistinctlysee，seatedatthegrandtableandfacingtherestofus，Mr。

Emerson，supernaturallygrave，unsmiling；Mr。Whittier，grave，lovely，hisbeautifulspiritshiningoutofhisface；Mr。

Longfellow，withhissilken—whitehairandhisbenignantface；Dr。

OliverWendellHolmes，flashingsmilesandaffectionandallgood—

fellowshipeverywhere，likearose—diamondwhosefacetsarebeingturnedtowardthelight，firstonewayandthenanother——acharmingman，andalwaysfascinating，whetherhewastalkingorwhetherhewassittingstill(whathewouldcallstill，butwhatwouldbemoreorlessmotiontootherpeople)。Icanseethosefigureswithentiredistinctinessacrossthisabyssoftime。

WilliamWinter，thepoet，hadjustprecededhim，anditseemedamomentaptlychosenforhisso—differenttheme。"Andthen，"toquoteHowells，"theamazingmistake，thebewilderingblunder，thecruelcatastrophewasuponus。"

Afterthefirsttwoorthreehundredwords，whenthegeneralplanandpurposeoftheburlesquehaddeveloped，whenthenamesofLongfellow，Emerson，andHolmesbegantobeflungaboutbythoseblearyoutcasts，andtheirversesgiventhatsorryassociation，thoseAtlanticdinersbecamepetrifiedwithamazementandhorror。Toolate，then，thespeakerrealizedhismistake。Hecouldnotstop，hemustgoontotheghastlyend。Andsomehowhedidit，while"therefellasilenceweighingmanytonstothesquareinch，whichdeepenedfrommomenttomoment，andwasbrokenonlybythehystericalandblood—curdlinglaughterofasingleguest，whosenameshallnotbehandeddowntoinfamy。"

Howellscanrememberlittlemorethanthat，butClemensrecallsthatonespeakermadeanefforttofollowhim——Bishop，thenovelist，andthatBishopdidn’tlastlong。

Itwasnotmanysentencesafterhisfirstbeforehebegantohesitateandbreak，andlosehisgrip，andtotterandwobble，andatlastheslumpeddowninalimpandmushypile。

Thenextmanhadnotstrengthtorise，andsomehowthecompanybrokeup。

Howells’snextrecollectionisofbeinginaroomofthehotel，andofhearingCharlesDudleyWarnersayinginthegloom：

"Well，Mark，you’reafunnyfellow。"

Heremembershow，afterasleeplessnight，Clemenswentouttobuysomebric—a—brac，withasoulfarfrombric—a—brac，andreturnedtoHartfordinawrithingagonyofspirit。Hebelievedthathewasruinedforever，sofarashisBostonassociationswereconcerned；andwhenheconfessedallthetragedytoMrs。Clemensitseemedtoheralsothatthemistakecouldneverbewhollyrepaired。Thefactthatcertainpapersquotedthespeechandspokewellofit，andcertainreaderswhohadnotlistenedtoitthoughtitenormouslyfunny，gaveverylittlecomfort。ButperhapshischiefconcernwastheruinwhichhebelievedhehadbroughtuponHowells。Heputhisheartintoabriefletter：

MYDEARHOWELLS，——Mysenseofdisgracedoesnotabate。Itgrows。

Iseethatitisgoingtoadditselftomylistofpermanencies，alistofhumiliationsthatextendsbacktowhenIwassevenyearsold，andwhichkeeponpersecutingmeregardlessofmyrepentances。

Ifeelthatmymisfortunehasinjuredmealloverthecountry；

thereforeitwillbebestthatIretirefrombeforethepublicatpresent。ItwillhurttheAtlanticformetoappearinitspagesnow。Soitismyopinion，andmywife’s，thatthetelephonestoryhadbetterbesuppressed。Willyoureturnthoseproofsorrevisestome，sothatIcanusethesameonsomefutureoccasion？

ItseemsasifImusthavebeeninsanewhenIwrotethatspeechandsawnoharminit，nodisrespecttowardthosemenwhomIreverencedsomuch。AndwhatshameIbroughtuponyou，afterwhatyousaidinintroducingme！Itburnsmelikefiretothinkofit。

Thewholematterisadreadfulsubject。Letmedropithere——atleastonpaper。

Penitentlyyours，MARK

So，allinamoment，hisworldhadcometoanend——asitseemed。ButHowells’sletter，whichcamerushingbackbyfirstmail，broughthope。

"Itwasafatality，"Howellssaid。"Oneofthosesorrowsintowhichamanwalkswithhiseyeswideopen，nooneknowswhy。"

HowellsassuredhimthatLongfellow，Emerson，andHolmeswouldsoconsiderit，beyonddoubt；thatCharlesEliotNortonhadalreadyexpressedhimselfexactlyintherightspiritconcerningit。HowellsdeclaredthattherewasnointentionofdroppingMarkTwain’sworkfromtheAtlantic。

Youarenotgoingtobeflooredbyit；thereismorejusticethanthateveninthisworld。Especiallyasregardsme，justcallthesorespotwell。Icansaymore，andwithbetterheart，inpraiseofyourgoodfeeling(whichwaswhatIalwayslikedinyou)，sincethisthinghappenedthanIcouldbefore。

ItwasagreedthatheshouldatoncewritealettertoLongfellow，Emerson，andHolmes，andhedidwrite，layinghisheartbaretothem。

LongfellowandHolmesansweredinafinespiritofkindliness，andMissEmersonwroteforherfatherinthesametone。Emersonhadnotbeenoffended，forhehadnotheardthespeech，havingarrivedeventhenatthatstageofsemi—oblivionastoimmediatethingswhicheventuallysocompletelyshuthimaway。Longfellow’slettermadelightofthewholematter。Thenewspapers，hesaid，hadcausedallthemischief。

Abitofhumoratadinner—tabletalkisonething；areportofitinthemorningpapersisanother。Oneneedsthelamplightandthescenery。Thesefailing，whatwasmeantinjestassumesaseriousaspect。

Idonotbelievethatanybodywasmuchhurt。CertainlyIwasnot，andHolmestellsmethathewasnot。SoIthinkyoumaydismissthematterfromyourmind，withoutfurtherremorse。

Itwasaverypleasantdinner，andIthinkWhittierenjoyeditverymuch。

Holmeslikewisereferredtoitasatrifle。

Itneveroccurredtomeforamomenttotakeoffense，ortofeelwoundedbyyourplayfuluseofmyname。Ihaveheardsomemildquestioningastowhether，eveninfun，itwasgoodtastetoassociatethenamesoftheauthorswiththeabsurdlyunlikepersonalitiesattributedtothem，butitseemstobeanopenquestion。Twoofmyfriends，gentlemenofeducationandthehighestsocialstanding，wereinfinitelyamusedbyyourspeech，andstoutlydefendeditagainstthechargeofimpropriety。Morethanthis，oneofthecleverestandbest—knownladieswehaveamonguswashighlydelightedwithit。

MissEmerson’sletterwastoMrs。ClemensanditshomelikeNewEnglandfashiondidmuchtoliftthegloom。

DEARMRS。CLEMENS，——AtNewYear’sourfamilyalwaysmeets，tospendtwodaystogether。To—daymyfathercamelast，andbroughtwithhimMr。Clemens’sletter，sothatIreadittotheassembledfamily，andIhavecomerightup—stairstowritetoyouaboutit。Mysistersaid，"Oh，letfatherwrite！"butmymothersaid，"No，don’twaitforhim。Gonow；don’tstoptopickthatup。Gothisminuteandwrite。Ithinkthatisanobleletter。Tellthemso。"Firstletmesaythatnoshadowofindignationhaseverbeeninanyofourminds。Thenightofthedinner，myfathersays，hedidnothearMr。

Clemens’sspeech。Hewastoofaroff，andmymothersaysthatwhenshereadittohimthenextdayitamusedhim。Butwhatyouwillwantistoknow，withoutanysoftening，howwedidfeel。Weweredisappointed。WehavelikedalmosteverythingwehaveeverseenoverMarkTwain’ssignature。Ithasmadeusliketheman，andwehavedelightedinthefun。FatherhasoftenaskedustorepeatcertainpassagesofTheInnocentsAbroad，andofaspeechataLondondinnerin1872，andweallexpectbothtoapproveandtoenjoywhenweseehisname。Therefore，whenwereadthisspeechitwasarealdisappointment。Isaidtomybrotherthatitdidn’tseemgoodorfunny，andhesaid，"No，itwasunfortunate。Stillsomeofthosequotationswereverygood"；andhegavethemwithrelishandmyfatherlaughed，thoughneverhavingseenacardinhislife，hecouldn’tunderstandthemlikehischildren。Mymotherreaditlightlyandhadhardlyanysecondthoughtsaboutit。Tomyfatheritisasifithadnotbeen；heneverquiteheard，neverquiteunderstoodit，andheforgetseasilyandentirely。IthinkitdoubtfulwhetherhewritestoMr。Clemens，forheisoldandlongagogaveupansweringletters，Ithinkyoucanseejusthowbad，andhowlittlebad，itwasasfarasweareconcerned，andthislovelyheartbreakinglettermakesupforourdisappointmentinourmuch—

likedauthor，andrestoresourformerfeelingabouthim。

ELLENT。EMERSON。

Thesorrowdulledalittleasthedayspassed。JustafterChristmasClemenswrotetoHowells：

Ihaven’tdoneastrokeofworksincetheAtlanticdinner。ButI’mgoingtotryto—morrow。HowcouldIever————

Ah，well，Iamagreatandsublimefool。ButthenIamGod’sfool，andallhisworkmustbecontemplatedwithrespect。

Solongasthatunfortunatespeechisrememberedtherewillbedifferencesofopinionastoitsmeritsandpropriety。Clemenshimself，readingitforthefirsttimeinnearlythirtyyears，said：

"Ifinditgross，coarse——well，Ineedn’tgoonwithparticulars。I

don’tlikeanypartofit，fromthebeginningtotheend。Ifinditalwaysoffensiveanddetestable。HowdoIaccountforthischangeofview？Idon’tknow。"

Butalmostimmediatelyafterwardhegaveitanotherconsiderationandreversedhisopinioncompletely。Allthespiritanddelightofhisoldfirstconceptionreturned，andpreparingitforpublication，hewrote：

——[NorthAmericanReview，December，1907，nowwithcommentincludedinthevolumeof"Speeches。"AlsoseeAppendixO，attheendoflastvolume。]——Ihavereadittwice，andunlessIamanidiotithasn’tasingledefectinit，fromthefirstwordtothelast。Itisjustasgoodasgoodcanbe。Itissmart；itissaturatedwithhumor。Thereisn’tasuggestionofcoarsenessorvulgarityinitanywhere。]

ItwasaltogetherlikeMarkTwaintohavethosetwoabsolutelyopposingopinionsinthatbrieftime；for，afterall，itwasonlyaquestionofthehumanpointofview，andMarkTwain’spointsofviewwerelikelytobeasextremelyhumanastheywerevaried。

Ofcoursethefirstoftheseimpressions，theverdictofthefreshminduninfluencedbytheoldconception，wasthemorecorrectone。Thespeechwasdecidedlyoutofplaceinthatcompany。Theskitwasharmlessenough，butitwasoftheComstockgrain。Itlackedrefinement，and，whatwasstillworse，itlackedhumor，atleastthehumorofakindsuitedtothatlong—agocompanyoflisteners。Itwasanotherofthosegrievousmistakeswhichgenius(andnottalent)canmake，forgeniusisasortofpossession。Theindividualispervaded，dominatedforatimebyanangeloranimp，andheseldom，ofhimself，isabletodiscriminatebetweenhiscontrols。AliteraryimpwasalwayslyinginwaitforMarkTwain；theimpoftheburlesque，temptinghimtodothe’outre’，theoutlandish，theshockingthing。ItwasthisthatOliviaClemenshadtolaborhardestagainst：thecheapeningofhisownhighpurposewithanextravagantfalsenote，atwhichsincerity，conviction，andartisticharmonytookwingsandfledaway。Notablyhedidagoodburlesquenowandthen，buthisfamewouldnothavesufferedifhehadbeendeliveredaltogetherfromhisbesettingtemptation。

CXV

HARTFORDANDBILLIARDS

Clemenswasnevermuchinclinedtowork，awayfromhisElmirastudy。

"MagnanimousIncidentLiterature"(fortheAtlantic)wasabouthisonlycompletedworkofthewinterof1877—78。Hewasalwaystinkeringwiththe"VisittoHeaven，"andafteronereconstructionHowellssuggestedthathebringitoutasabook，inEngland，withDeanStanley’sindorsement，thoughthismayhavebeenonlysemi—seriouscounsel。Thestorycontinuedtolieinseclusion。

Clemenshadonenewbookinthefield——asmallbook，butprofitable。DanSlote’sfirmissuedforhimtheMarkTwainScrap—book，andattheendofthefirstroyaltyperiodrenderedastatementoftwenty—fivethousandcopiessold，whichwaswellenoughforabookthatdidnotcontainasinglewordthatcriticscouldpraiseorcondemn。SloteissuedanotherlittlebookforhimsoonafterPunch，Brothers，Punch！——which，besidesthatlivelysketch，containedthe"RandomNotes"andsevenotherselections。

MarkTwainwastemptedtogointothelecturefieldthatwinter，notbyanyoftheoffers，thoughthesewerenumerousenough，butbytheideaofacombinationwhichhethoughtnightbenotonlyprofitablebutpleasant。

ThomasNasthadmadeagreatsuccessofhiscaricaturelectures，andClemens，recallingNast’slong—agoproposal，founditnewlyattractive。

Hewrotecharacteristically：

MYDEARNAST，——IdidnotthinkIshouldeverstandonaplatformagainuntilthetimewascomeformetosay，"Idieinnocent。"Butthesameoldofferskeeparriving。Ihavedeclinedthemall，justasusual，thoughsorelytempted，asusual。

Now，IdonotdeclinebecauseImindtalkingtoanaudience，butbecause(1)travelingaloneissoheartbreakinglydreary，and(2)

shoulderingthewholeshowissuchacheer—killingresponsibility。

Therefore，Inowproposetoyouwhatyouproposedtomein1867，tenyearsago(whenIwasunknown)——viz。，thatyoustandontheplatformandmakepictures，andIstandbyyouandblackguardtheaudience。

Ishouldenormouslyenjoymeanderingaround(tobigtowns——don’twanttogotothelittleones)，withyouforcompany。

Myideaisnottofattenthelectureagentsandlyceumsonthespoils，buttoputalltheducatsreligiouslyintotwoequalpiles，andsaytotheartistandlecturer，"absorbthese。"

Forinstance，[herefollowsaplanandapossiblelistofthecitiestobevisited]。Thelettercontinues：

Callthegrossreceipts$100，00forfourmonthsandahalf，andtheprofitfrom$60，000to$75，000(Itrytomakethefigureslargeenough，andleaveittothepublictoreducethem)。

IdidnotputinPhiladelphiabecausePughownsthattown，andlastwinter，whenImadealittlereading—trip，heonlypaidme$300，andpretendedhisconcert(Ireadfifteenminutesinthemidstofaconcert)costhimavastsum，andsohecouldn’taffordanymore。

Icouldgetupabetterconcertwithabarrelofcats。

Ihaveimaginedtwoorthreepicturesandconcoctedtheaccompanyingremarks，toseehowthethingwouldgo。Iwascharmed。

Well，youthinkitover，Nast，anddropmealine。Weshouldhavesomefun。

Undoubtedlythiswouldhavebeenaprofitablecombination，butNasthadadistasteforplatforming——hadgivenitup，ashethought，forlife。SoClemenssettleddowntothefiresidedays，thataffordedhimalwaysthelargercomfort。Thechildrenwereatanage"tobeentertaining，andtobeentertained。Ineithercasetheyfurnishedhimplentyofdiversionwhenhedidnotcaretowrite。Theyhadlearnedhisgiftasaromancer，andwiththisaudiencehemightbeasextravagantasheliked。Theysometimesassistedbyfurnishingsubjects。Theywouldbringhimapicture，requiringhimtoinventastoryforitwithoutamoment’sdelay。

Sometimestheysuggestedthenamesofcertainanimalsorobjects，anddemandedthatthesebemadeintoafairytale。Iftheyheardthenameofanynewcreatureoroccupationtheywerelikelytoofferthemasimpromptuinspiration。Oncehewassuddenlyrequiredtomakeastoryoutofaplumberanda"bawgunstrictor，"buthewasequaltoit。Ononesideofthelibrary，alongthebook—shelvesthatjoinedthemantelpiece，werenumerousornamentsandpictures。Atoneendwastheheadofagirl，thattheycalled"Emeline，"andattheotherwasanoil—paintingofacat。

Whenothersubjectsfailed，theromancerwasobligedtobuildastoryimpromptu，andwithoutpreparation，beginningwiththecat，workingalongthroughthebric—a—brac，andendingwith"Emeline。"Thiswastheunvaryingprogram。Hewasnotallowedtobeginwith"Emeline"andendwiththecat，andhewasnotpermittedtointroduceanornamentfromanyotherportionoftheroom。Hecouldvarythestoryasmuchasheliked。

Infact，hewasrequiredtodothat。Thetrendofitschapters，fromthecatto"Emeline，"wasawell—troddenandever—entertainingway。

Hegaveuphisluxuriousstudytothechildrenasasortofnurseryandplayroom，andtookuphiswriting—quarters，firstinaroomoverthestables，theninthebilliard—room，which，onthewhole，hepreferredtoanyotherplace，foritwasathird—storyremoteness，andhecouldknocktheballsaboutforinspiration。

Thebilliard—roombecamehisheadquarters。Hereceivedhiscallersthereandimpressedthemintothegame。Iftheycouldplay，wellandgood；iftheycouldnotplay，somuchthebetter——hecouldbeatthemextravagantly，andhetookahugedelightinsuchconquests。EveryFridayevening，oroftener，asmallpartyofbilliard—loversgathered，andplayeduntilalatehour，toldstories，andsmokedtilltheroomwasblue，comfortingthemselveswithhotScotchandgeneralgood—fellowship。

MarkTwainalwayshadagenuinepassionforbilliards。Hewasnevertiredofthegame。Hecouldplayallnight。Hewouldstaytillthelastmangaveoutfromsheerweariness；thenhewouldgoonknockingtheballsaboutalone。Helikedtoinventnewgamesandnewrulesforoldgames，ofteninventingaruleonthespurofthemomenttofitsomeparticularshotorpositiononthetable。Itamusedhimhighlytodothis，tomaketheruleadvantagehisownplay，andtopretendadeepindignationwhenhisopponentsdisqualifiedhisrulingsandrodehimdown。S。C。Dunhamwasamongthosewhobelongedtothe"FridayEveningClub，"astheycalledit，andHenryC。Robinson，longdead，andrareNedBunce，andF。G。

Whitmore；andtheoldroomthereatthetopofthehouse，withitslittleoutsidebalcony，rangwiththeirvoicesandtheirlaughterinthatdaywhenlifeandtheworldforthemwasyoung。Clemensquotedtothemsometimes：

Come，fillthecup，andinthefireofspringYourwintergarmentofrepentancefling；

ThebirdoftimehasbutalittlewayToflutter，andthebirdisonthewing。

OmarwasnewthenonthissideoftheAtlantic，andtohisserene"eat，drink，andbemerry"philosophy，inFitzgerald’srhyme，thesewereearlyconverts。MarkTwainhadanimpressive，musicaldeliveryofverse；theplayerswerewillingatanymomenttolistenasherecited：

Forsomeweloved，theloveliestandbestThatfromhisvintagerollingtimehasprest，Havedrunktheircuparoundortwobefore，Andonebyonecreptsilentlytorest。

Ah，makethemostofwhatweyetmayspend，Beforewetoointothedustdescend；

Dustuntodust，andunderdusttolie，Sanswine，sanssong，sanssinger，and——sansEnd。’

——[The’Rubaiyat’hadmadeitsfirstappearance，inHartford，alittlebeforeinacolumnofextractspublishedintheCourant。]TwichellimmediatelywroteClemensacard：

"Read(ifyouhaven’t)theextractsfromOmanKhayyam，onthefirstpageofthismorning’sCourant。Ithinkwe’llhavetogetthebook。Ineveryetcameacrossanythingthatutteredcertainthoughtsofmineso。

adequately。Andit’sonlyatranslation。Readit，andwe’lltalkitover。ThereissomethinginitverylikethepassageofEmersonyoureadmelastnight，infactidenticalwithitinthought。

"SurelythisOmarwasagreatpoet。Anyhow，hehasgivenmeanimmenserevelationthismorning。

"Hopingthatyouarebetter，J。H。T。"

Twichell’s"onlyatranslation"hasacquiredacertainhumorwithtime。

CXVI

OFFFORGERMANY

TheGermanlanguagebecameoneoftheinterestsoftheClemenshomeduringtheearlymonthsof1878。TheClemenseshadlonglookedforwardtoasojourninEurope，andthedemandforanotherMarkTwainbookoftravelfurnishedanaddedreasonfortheirgoing。Theyplannedforthespringsailing，andtospendayearormoreontheContinent，makingtheirheadquartersinGermany。Sotheyenteredintothestudyofthelanguagewithanenthusiasmandperseverancethatinsuredprogress。

TherewasaGermannurseforthechildren，andthewholeatmosphereofthehouseholdpresentlybecamelinguallyTeutonic。ItamusedMarkTwain，aseverythingamusedhim，buthewasagoodstudent；heacquiredaworkingknowledgeofthelanguageinanextraordinarilybrieftime，justasinanearlierdayhehadpickeduppiloting。HewouldneverbecomeaGermanscholar，buthisvocabularyanduseofpicturesquephrases，particularlythosethatcombinedEnglishandGermanwords，wereoftenreallystartling，notonlyfortheirhumor，butfortheirexpressiveness。

Necessarilythenewstudywouldinfecthisliterature。HeconceivedaplanformakingCaptainWakeman(Stormfield)comeacrossacopyofOllendorfinHeaven，andproceedtolearnthelanguageofanear—lyingdistrict。

TheyarrangedtosailearlyinApril，and，asontheirformertrip，persuadedMissClaraSpaulding，ofElmira，toaccompanythem。TheywrotetotheHowellses，breakingthenewsofthejourney，urgingthemtocometoHartfordforagood—byvisit。Howellsandhiswifecame。TheTwichells，Warners，andotherHartfordfriendspaidrepeatedfarewellcalls。Thefurniturewaspacked，theroomsdesolated，thebeautifulhomemadereadyforclosing。

Theyweretohavepleasantcompanyontheship。BayardTaylor，thenrecentlyappointedMinistertoGermany，wrotethathehadplannedtosailonthesamevessel；MuratHalstead’swifeanddaughterwerelistedamongthepassengers。ClemensmadeabriefspeechatTaylor’s"farewelldinner。"

The"MarkTwain"party，consistingofMr。andMrs。Clemens，MissSpaulding，littleSusyandClara("Bay")，andanurse—maid，Rosa，sailedontheHolsatia，April11，1878。BayardTaylorandtheHalsteadladiesalsosailed，asperprogram；likewiseMuratHalsteadhimself，forwhomnoprogramhadbeenmade。Therewasastormoutside，andtheHolsatiaanchoreddownthebaytowaituntiltheworstwasover。AstheweatherbegantomoderateHalsteadandotherscamedowninatugforafinalwordofgood—by。Whenthetugleft，Halsteadsomehowmanagedtogetoverlooked，andwaspresentlyonhiswayacrosstheoceanwithonlysuchwardrobeashehadon，andwhatBayardTaylor，alargemanlikehimself，waswillingtolendhim。Halsteadwasaccusedofhavingintentionallyallowedhimselftobeleftbehind，andhiscasedidhaveasuspiciouslook；butinanyeventtheyweregladtohavehimalong。