第19章

Papaactedhispartbeautifully，andheaddedtothescene，makingitagooddeallonger。Hewasinexpressiblyfunny，withhisgreatslouchhatandgait————ohsuchagait！PapamadetheMilesHendonsceneasplendidsuccessandeveryonewasdelightedwiththescene，andpapatoo。Wehadgreatfunwithour"PrinceandPauper，"andI

thinkwenoneofusshallforgethowimmenselyfunnypapawasinit。

Hecertainlycouldhavebeenanactoraswellasanauthor。

Theholidaysover，CableandClemenswereoffonthecircuitagain。AtRochesteranincidenthappenedwhichledtothewritingofoneofMarkTwain’simportantbooks，’AConnecticutYankeeatKingArthur’sCourt’。

ClemensandCablehadwanderedintoabook—storeforthepurposeoffindingsomethingtoread。Pullingoversomevolumesononeofthetables，Clemenshappenedtopickupalittlegreen，cloth—boundbook，andafterlookingatthetitleturnedthepagesrathercuriouslyandwithincreasinginterest。

"Cable，"hesaid，"doyouknowanythingaboutthisbook，theArthurianlegendsofSirThomasMalory，MorteArthure？"

Cableanswered："Mark，thatisoneofthemostbeautifulbooksintheworld。Letmebuyitforyou。Youwillloveitmorethananybookyoueverread。"

SoClemenscametoknowtheoldchronicler’sversionoftherareRoundTablelegends，andfromthatfirstacquaintancewiththemtothelastdaysofhislifeseldomletthebookgofarfromhim。Hereadandrereadthosequaint，statelytalesandreverencedtheirbeauty，whilefairlyrevelingintheabsurditiesofthatancientday。SirEctor’slamentheregardedasoneofthemostsimplybeautifulpiecesofwritingintheEnglishtongue，andsomeofthecombatsandquestsasthemostridiculousabsurditiesinromance。Presentlyheconceivedtheideaoflinkingthatday，withitscustoms，costumes，andabuses，withtheprogressofthepresent，orcarryingbackintothatageofmagiciansandarmorandsuperstitionandcrueltiesabriskAmericanofprogressiveideaswhowouldinstitutereforms。Hisnote—bookbegantobefilledwithmemorandaofsituationsandpossibilitiesforthetalehehadinmind。Thesewerevague，unformedfanciesasyet，anditwouldbealongtimebeforethestorywouldbecomeafact。Thiswasthefirstentry：

Dreamofbeingaknight—errantinarmorintheMiddleAges。Havethenotionsandhabits，though，ofthepresentdaymixedwiththenecessitiesofthat。Nopocketsinthearmor。Nowaytomanagecertainrequirementsofnature。Can’tscratch。Coldintheheadandcan’tblow。Can’tgetahandkerchief；can’tuseironsleeve；

irongetsred—hotinthesun；leaksintherain；getswhitewithfrostandfreezesmesolidinwinter；makesdisagreeableclatterwhenIenterchurch。Can’tdressorundressmyself。Alwaysgettingstruckbylightning。Falldownandcan’tgetup。

Twenty—oneyearslater，discussingthegenesisofthestory，hesaid：

"AsIreadthosequaintandcuriousoldlegendsIsupposeInaturallycontrastedthosedayswithours，anditmademecurioustofancywhatmightbethepicturesqueresultifwecoulddumpthenineteenthcenturydownintothesixthcenturyandobservetheconsequences。"

ThereadingtourcontinuedduringthefirsttwomonthsofthenewyearandcarriedthemasfarwestasChicago。TheyreadinHannibalandKeokuk，andClemensspentadayinthelatterplacewithhismother，nowlivingwithOrion，briskandactiveforheryearsandwithherold—timeforceofcharacter。MarkTwain，arrangingforherKeokukresidence，hadwritten：

Mawantstoboardwithyou，andpayherboard。Shewillpayyou$20

amonth(shewouldn’tpayacentmoreinheaven；sheisobstinateonthispoint)，andaslongassheremainswithyouandiscontentI

willadd$25amonthtothesumPerkinsalreadysendsyou。

JaneClemensattendedtheKeokukreading，andlater，athome，whenherchildrenaskedherifshecouldstilldance，sherose，andateighty—onetrippedaslightlyasagirl。ItwasthelasttimethatMarkTwaineversawhismotherinthehealthandvigorwhichhadbeenalwayssomuchapartofherpersonality。

Clemenssawanotherrelativeonthattrip；inSt。Louis，JamesLampton，theoriginalofColonelSellers，called。

Hewasbecomeoldandwhite—headed，butheenteredtomeinthesameoldbreezywayofhisearlierlife，andhewasallthere，yet——notadetailwanting：thehappylightinhiseye，theaboundinghopeinhisheart，thepersuasivetongue，themiracle—breedingimagination——theywereallthere；

andbeforeIcouldturnaroundhewaspolishinguphisAladdin’slampandflashingthesecretrichesoftheworldbeforeme。Isaidtomyself：

"Ididnotoverdrawhimbyashade，Isethimdownashewas；andheisthesamemanto—day。Cablewillrecognizehim。"

ClemensopenedthedoorintoCable’sroomandallowedthegoldendream—

talktofloatin。Itwasofa"smallventure"whichthecallerhadundertakenthroughhisson。

"Onlyalittlething——a，meretrifle——abagatelle。Isupposethere’sacoupleofmillionsinit，possiblythree，butnotmore，Ithink；still，foraboy，youknow————"

ItwasthesameoldCousinJim。Later，whenhehadroyallyacceptedsometicketsforthereadingandbowedhisexit，Cableputhisheadinatthedoor。

"ThatwasColonelSellers，"hesaid。

CLIII

HUCKFINNCOMESINTOHISOWN

IntheDecemberCentury(1884)appearedachapterfrom’TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn’，"TheGrangerford—ShepherdsonFeud，"apieceofwritingwhichEdmundClarenceStederian，BranderMatthews，andotherspromptlyrankedasamongMarkTwain’sverybest；whenthiswasfollowed，intheJanuarynumber，by"KingSollermun，"achapterwhichinitswaydelightedquiteasmanyreaders，thesuccessofthenewbookwasaccountedcertain。

——[Stedman，writingtoClemensofthisinstalment，said："Tomyminditisnotonlythemostfinishedandcondensedthingyouhavedone。butasdramaticandpowerfulanepisodeasIknowinmodernliterature。]

’TheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn’wasofficiallypublishedinEnglandandAmericainDecember，1884，butthebookwasnotinthecanvassers’

handsfordeliveryuntilFebruary。Bythistimetheorderswereapproximatelyforfortythousandcopies，anumberwhichhadincreasedtofiftythousandafewweekslater。Webster’sfirstpublicationventurewasinthenatureofatriumph。ClemenswrotetohimMarch16th：

"Yournewsissplendid。Huckcertainlyisasuccess。"

HefeltthathehaddemonstratedhiscapacityasageneraldirectorandWebsterhadprovedhisefficiencyasanexecutive。Hehadnofurtherneedofanoutsidepublisher。

ThestoryofHuckFinnwillprobablystandasthebestofMarkTwain’spurelyfictionalwritings。AsequeltoTomSawyer，itisgreaterthanitspredecessor；greaterartistically，thoughperhapswithlessimmediateinterestforthejuvenilereader。Infact，thebooksaresodifferentthattheyarenottobecompared——whereinliesthesuccessofthelaterone。Sequelsaredangerousthingswhenthestoryiscontinuous，butinHuckleberryFinnthestoryisanewone，whollydifferentinenvironment，atmosphere，purpose，character，everything。ThetaleofHuckandNiggerJimdriftingdownthemightyriveronaraft，cross—sectingthevariousprimitiveaspectsofhumanexistence，constitutesoneofthemostimpressiveexamplesofpicaresquefictioninanylanguage。IthasbeenrankedgreaterthanGilBlas，greatereventhanDonQuixote；certainlyitismoreconvincing，morehuman，thaneitherofthesetales。RobertLouisStevensononcewrote，"ItisabookIhavereadfourtimes，andamquitereadytobeginagainto—morrow。"

Itisbynomeansaflawlessbook，thoughitsdefectsaretrivialenough。

TheillusionofHuckasnarratorfailstheleastbithereandthere；the"fourdialects"arenotalwaysmaintained；theoccasionaltouchofbroadburlesquedetractsfromthetale’sreality。Weareinclinedtoresentthis。WeneverwishtofeelthatHuckisanythingbutarealcharacter。

WewanthimalwaystheHuckwhowaswillingtogotohellifnecessary，ratherthansacrificeNiggerJim；theHuckwhowatchedtheriverthroughlongnights，and，withoutcaringtoexplainwhy，felthissoulgoouttothesunrise。

Twoorthreedaysandnightswentby；IreckonImightsaytheyswumby，theyslidalongsoquietandsmoothandlovely。Hereisthewayweputinthetime。Itwasamonstrousbigriverdownthere——

sometimesamileandahalfwide；werunnightsandlaidupandhiddaytimes；soonasthenightwasmostgonewestoppednavigatingandtiedup——nearlyalwaysinthedeadwaterunderatowhead；andthencutyoungcottonwoodsandwillowsandhidtheraftwiththem。Thenwesetoutthelines。Nextweslidintotheriverandhadaswim，soastofreshenupandcooloff；thenwesetdownonthesandybottomwherethewaterwasaboutkneedeep，andwatchedthedaylightcome。Notasoundanywheres——perfectlystill——justlikethewholeworldwasasleep，onlysometimesthebullfrogsa—cluttering，maybe。

Thefirstthingtosee，lookingawayoverthewater，wasakindofdullline——thatwasthewoodsont’otherside，youcouldn’tmakenothingelseout；thenapaleplaceinthesky；thenmorepaleness，spreadingaround；thentheriversoftenedup，awayoff，andwarn’tblackanymore，butgray；youcouldseelittledarkspotsdriftingalong，eversofaraway——tradingscows，andsuchthings；andlongblackstreaks——rafts；sometimesyoucouldhearasweepscreaking；orjumbledupvoices，itwassostill，andsoundscomesofar；andby—

and—byyoucouldseeastreakonthewaterwhichyouknowbythelookofthestreakthatthere’sasnagthereinaswiftcurrentwhichbreaksonitandmakesthatstreaklookthatway；andyouseethemistcurlupoffthewater，andtheeastreddensup，andtheriver，andyoumakeoutalog—cabinintheedgeofthewoods，awayonthebankont’othersideoftheriver，beingawood—yard，likely，andpiledbythemcheatssoyoucanthrowadogthroughitanywheres；thenthenicebreezespringsup，andcomesfanningyouoverthere，socoolandfresh，andsweettosmell，onaccountofthewoodsandtheflowers……Andnextyou’vegotthefullday，andeverythingsmilinginthesun，andthesong—birdsjustgoingit！

ThisistheHuckwewant，andthisistheHuckweusuallyhave，andthattheworldhaslongbeenthankfulfor。

Takethestoryasawhole，itisasuccessionofstartlinganduniquepictures。ThecabinintheswampwhichHuckandhisfatherusedtogetherintheirweird，ghastlyrelationship；thenightadventurewithJimonthewreckedsteamboat；Huck’snightamongthetowheads；theGrangerford—

Shepherdsonbattle；thekillingofBoggs——tonameafewofthemanyvividpresentations——theseareofnotimeorliteraryfashionandwillneverlosetheirflavornortheirfreshnesssolongashumanityitselfdoesnotchange。Theterse，unadornedGrangerford—Shepherdsonepisode——builtoutoftheDarnell——Watsonfeuds——[SeeLifeontheMississippi，chap。xxvi。

MarkTwainhimself，asacubpilot，camenearwitnessingthebattlehedescribes。]——issimplyclassicinitsvividcasualness，andthesamemaybesaidofalmosteveryincidentonthatlongriver—drift；butthisisthestrength，theveryessenceofpicaresquenarrative。Itisthewaythingshappeninreality；andthequiet，unexcitedframeofmindinwhichHuckispromptedtosetthemdownwouldseemtobethelastwordinliteraryart。ToHuck，apparently，thekillingofBoggsandColonelSherburn’sdefianceofthemobareofaboutthesamehistoricalimportanceasanyotherincidentsoftheday’stravel。WhenColonelSherburnthrewhisshotgunacrosshisarmandbadethecrowddisperseHucksays：

Thecrowdwashedbacksudden，andthenbrokeallapartandwenttearingoffeverywhichway，andBuckHarknessheheeleditafterthem，lookingtolerablecheap。IcouldastaidifI’dawantedto，butIdidn’twantto。

Iwenttothecircus，andloafedaroundthebacksidetillthewatchmanwentby，andthendivedinunderthetent。

Thatisall。Noreflections，nohysterics；amurderandamobdispersed，allwithoutasinglemoralcomment。AndwhentheShepherdsonshadgotdonekillingtheGrangerfords，andHuckhadtuggedthetwobodiesashoreandcoveredBuckGrangerford’sfacewithahandkerchief，cryingalittlebecauseBuckhadbeengoodtohim，hespentnotimeinsentimentalreflectionorsermonizing，butpromptlyhuntedupJimandtheraftandsatdowntoamealofcorn—dodgers，buttermilk，porkandcabbage，andgreens：

Thereain’tnothingintheworldsogood，whenitiscookedright；

andwhileIeatmysupperwetalked，andhadagoodtime。Iwaspowerfulgladtogetawayfromthefeuds，andsowasJimtogetawayfromtheswamp。Wesaidtherewarn’tnohomelikearaft，afterall。Otherplacesdoseemsocrampedupandsmothery，butaraftdon’t；youfeelmightyfreeandeasyandcomfortableonaraft。

ItwasHuckFinn’smoralitythatcausedthebooktobeexcludedfromtheConcordLibrary，andfromotherlibrarieshereandthereatalaterday。

TheorthodoxmentalattitudeofcertaindirectorsofjuvenileliteraturecouldnotcondoneHuck’sloosenessinthematterofstatementandpropertyrights，andinspiteofNewEnglandtraditions，Massachusettslibrariansdidnottakeanytookindlytohisutteredprinciplethat，afterthinkingitoverandtakingduethoughtonthedeadlysinofabolition，hehaddecidedthathe’dgotohellratherthangiveJimovertoslavery。PoorvagrantBenBlankenship，hidinghisrunawaynegroinanIllinoisswamp，couldnotdreamthathishumanitywouldonedaysupplythemoralepisodeofanimmortalbook。

AblecriticshavedeclaredthatthepsychologyofHuckFinnisthebook’slargefeature：Huck’smoralpointofview——thestrugglebetweenhisheartandhisconscienceconcerningthesinofJim’sconcealment，andhisfinaldecisionofself—sacrifice。Timemayshowthatasanepicoftheriver，thepictureofavanishedday，itwillrankevengreater。Theproblemsofconsciencewehavealwayswithus，butperiodsoncepassedaregoneforever。CertainlyHuck’sloyaltytothatlovelysoulNiggerJimwasbeautiful，thoughafterallitmaynothavebeensohardforHuck，whocouldbeloyaltoanything。Huckwasloyaltohisfather，loyaltoTomSawyerofcourse，loyaleventothosetworivertrampsandfrauds，theKingandtheDuke，forwhomheliedprodigiously，onlyweakeningwhenanewandlivelierloyaltycameintoview——loyaltytoMaryWilks。

TheKingandtheDuke，bytheway，arenotelsewherematchedinfiction。

TheDukewaspatternedafterajourneyman—printerClemenshadknowninVirginiaCity，buttheKingwascreatedoutofrefusefromthewholehumanfamily——"alltearsandflapdoodle，"theveryultimateofdisreputeandhypocrisy——soperfectaspecimenthatonemustadmire，almostlove，him。"Hain’tweallthefoolsintownonourside？andain’tthatabigenoughmajorityinanytown？"heasksinacriticalmoment——aremarkwhichstampshimasaphilosopherofclassicrank。Wearefullofpityatlastwhenthispairofrapscallionsrideoutofthehistoryonarail，andfeelsomeofHuck’sinclusiveloyaltyandallthesorrowfultruthofhiscomment："Humanbeingscanbeawfulcrueltooneanother。"

The"pooroldking"Huckcallshim，andconfesseshowhefelt"orneryandhumbleandtoblame，somehow，"fortheoldscamp’smisfortunes。"A

person’sconscienceain’tgotnosense，"hesays，andHuckisnevermorerealtous，ormorelovable，thaninthatmoment。Huckiswhatheisbecause，beingmadeso，hecannotwellbeotherwise。Heisaboythroughout——suchaboyasMarkTwainhadknownandinsomedegreehadbeen。Onemaypettilypickaflawhereandthereinthetale’sconstructionifsominded，butthemoralcharacterofHuckhimselfisnotopentocriticism。AndindeedanycriticismofthisthegreatestofMarkTwain’stalesofmodernlifewouldbeasthemerescratchingofthegraniteofanimperishablestructure。HuckFinnisamonumentthatnopunypeckingwilldestroy。Itisbuiltofindestructibleblocksofhumannature；andiftheblocksdonotalwaysfit，andtheornamentsdonotalwaysagree，weneednotfear。Timewillblurtheincongruitiesandmossoverthemistakes。Theedificewillgrowmorebeautifulwiththeyears。

CLIV

THEMEMOIRSOFGENERALGRANT

ThesuccessofHuckFinn，thoughsufficientlyimportantinitself，preparedthewayforapublishingventurebythesideofwhichitdwindledtosmallproportions。Onenight(itwasearlyinNovember，1884)，whenCableandClemenshadfinishedareadingatChickeringHall，Clemens，comingoutintothewetblackness，happenedtohearRichardWatsonGilder’svoicesaytosomeunseencompanion：

"DoyouknowGeneralGranthasactuallydeterminedtowritehismemoirsandpublishthem。Hehassaidsoto—day，insomanywords。"

OfcourseClemenswasimmediatelyinterested。ItwasthethinghehadproposedtoGrantsomethreeyearspreviously，duringhiscallthatdaywithHowellsconcerningtheTorontoconsulship。

WithMrs。Clemens，hepromptlyovertookGilderandaccompaniedhimtohishouse，wheretheydiscussedthematterinitsvariousparticulars。

GildersaidthattheCenturyEditorshadendeavoredtogetGranttocontributetotheirwarseries，butthatnotuntilhisfinancialdisaster，asamemberofthefirmofGrant&Ward，hadhebeenwillingtoconsiderthematter。HesaidthatGrantnowwelcomedtheideaofcontributingthreepaperstotheseries，andthatthepromisedpaymentoffivehundreddollarseachforthesearticleshadgladdenedhisheartandrelievedhimofimmediateanxiety。——[SomewhatlatertheCenturyCompany，voluntarily，addedliberallytothissum。]

GilderaddedthatGeneralGrantseemednowdeterminedtocontinuehisworkuntilhehadcompletedabook，thoughthisatpresentwasonlyaprospect。

ClemenswasinthehabitofcallingonGrant，nowandthen，tosmokeacigarwithhim，andhedroppedinnextmorningtofindoutjusthowfarthebookideahaddeveloped，andwhatweretheplansofpublication。HefoundtheGeneralandhisson，ColonelFredGrant，discussingsomememoranda，whichturnedouttobeapropositionfromtheCenturyCompanyforthebookpublicationofhismemoirs。Clemensaskedtobeallowedtolookovertheproposedterms，andwhenhehaddonesohesaid：

"General，itisclearthattheCenturypeopledonotrealizetheimportance——thecommercialmagnitudeofyourbook。Itisnotstrangethatthisistrue，fortheyarecomparativelynewpublishersandhavehadlittleornoexperiencewithbooksofthisclass。Thetermstheyproposeindicatethattheyexpecttosellfive，possiblytenthousandcopies。A

bookfromyourhand，tellingthestoryofyourlifeandbattles，shouldsellnotlessthanaquarterofamillion，perhapstwicethatsum。Itshouldbesoldonlybysubscription，andyouareentitledtodoubletheroyaltyhereproposed。Idonotbelieveitistoyourinteresttoconcludethiscontractwithoutcarefulthoughtandinvestigation。WritetotheAmericanPublishingCompanyatHartfordandseewhattheywilldoforyou。"

ButGrantdemurred。Hesaidthat，whilenoarrangementshadbeenmadewiththeCenturyCompany，hethoughtitonlyfairandrightthattheyshouldhavethebookonreasonableterms；certainlyontermsnogreaterthanhecouldobtainelsewhere。Hesaidthat，allthingsbeingequal，thebookoughttogotothemanwhohadfirstsuggestedittohim。

Clemensspokeup："General，ifthatisso，itbelongstome。"

GrantdidnotunderstanduntilClemensrecalledtohimhowhehadurgedhim，inthatformertime，towritehismemoirs；hadpleadedwithhim，agreeingtosuperintendthebook’spublication。Thenhesaid：

"General，Iampublishingmyownbook，andbythetimeyoursisreadyitisquitepossiblethatIshallhavethebestequippedsubscriptionestablishmentinthecountry。Ifyouwillplaceyourbookwithmyfirm——

andIfeelthatIhaveatleastanequalrightintheconsideration——I

willpayyoutwentypercent。ofthelistprice，or，ifyouprefer，I

willgiveyouseventypercent。ofthenetreturnsandIwillpayallofficeexpensesoutofmythirtypercent。"

GeneralGrantwasreallygrievedatthisproposal。Itseemedtohimthatherewasamanwhowasofferingtobankrupthimselfoutofpurephilanthropy——athingnottobepermitted。HeintimatedthathehadaskedtheCenturyCompanypresident，RoswellSmith，acareful—headedbusinessman，ifhethoughthisbookwouldpayaswellasSherman’s，whichtheScribnershadpublishedataprofittoShermanoftwenty—fivethousanddollars，andthatSmithhadbeenunwillingtoguaranteethatamounttotheauthor。——[MarkTwain’snote—book，underdateofMarch，1885，containsthismemorandum："RoswellSmithsaidtome：’I’mgladyougotthebook，Mr。Clemens；gladtherewassomebodywithcourageenoughtotakeit，underthecircumstances。WhatdoyouthinktheGeneralwantedtorequireofme？’

"’Hewantedmetoinsureasaleoftwenty—fivethousandsetsofhisbook。

Iwouldn’trisksuchaguaranteeonanybookthatwaseverpublished。’"

YetRoswellSmith，notsomanyyearslater，hadsofarenlargedhisviewsofsubscriptionpublishingthathefearlesslyandsuccessfullyinvestedamilliondollarsormoreinadictionary，regardlessofthefactthatthemarketwasalreadythoughttobesupplied。]

Clemenssaid：

"General，Ihavemycheck—bookwithme。Iwilldrawyouachecknowfortwenty—fivethousanddollarsforthefirstvolumeofyourmemoirs，andwilladdalikeamountforeachvolumeyoumaywriteasanadvanceroyaltypayment，andyourroyaltieswillcontinuerightalongwhenthisamounthasbeenreached。"

ColonelFredGrantnowjoinedinurgingthatmattersbedelayed，atleastuntilmorecarefulinquiryconcerningthepossibilitiesofpublishingcouldbemade。

Clemensleftthen，andsetoutonhistripwithCable，turningthewholematterovertoWebsterandColonelFredforsettlement。Meantime，thewordthatGeneralGrantwaswritinghismemoirsgotintothenewspapersandvariouspublishingpropositionscametohim。IntheendtheGeneralsentovertoPhiladelphiaforhisoldfriend，GeorgeW。Childs，andlaidthewholematterbeforehim。ChildssaidlateritwasplainthatGeneralGrant，onthescoreoffriendship，iffornootherreason，distinctlywishedtogivethebooktoMarkTwain。Itseemednottobeaquestionofhowmuchmoneyhewouldmake，butofpersonalfeelingentirely。

Webster’scompletesuccesswithHuckFinnbeingnowdemonstrated，ColonelFredGrantagreedthathebelievedClemensandWebstercouldhandlethebookasprofitablyasanybody；andafterinvestigationChildswasofthesameopinion。ThedecisionwasthatthefirmofCharlesL。Webster&Co。

shouldhavethebook，andarrangementsfordrawingthecontractweremade。

GeneralGrant，however，wasstillsomewhatuneasyastotheterms。

Hethoughthewastakinganunfairadvantageinreceivingsolargeaproportionoftheprofits。HewrotetoClemens，askinghimwhichofhistwopropositions——thetwentypercent。gross—royaltyortheseventypercent。ofthenetprofit——wouldbethebestallaround。ClemenssentWebstertotellhimthathebelievedthesimplest，aswellasthemostprofitablefortheauthor，wouldbethetwentypercent。arrangement。

WhereuponGrantrepliedthathewouldtakethealternative；asinthatcase，ifthebookwereafailure，andtherewerenoprofits，Clemenswouldnotbeobligedtopayhimanything。Hecouldnotconsenttothethoughtofreceivingtwentypercent。onabookpublishedataloss。

Meantime，Granthaddevelopedaseriousillness。Thehumiliationofhisbusinessfailurehadunderminedhishealth。Thepapersannouncedhismaladyascancerofthetongue。InamemorandumwhichClemensmade，February26，1885，hestatesthatonthe21sthecalledattheGranthome，3East66thStreet，andwasastonishedtoseehowthinandweaktheGenerallooked。Hewasastonishedbecausethenewspaper，inasecondreport，hadsaidthethreateningsymptomshaddisappeared，thatthecanceralarmwasafalseone。

Itookforgrantedthereport，andsaidIhadbeengladtoseethatnews。Hesmiledandsaid，"Yes——ifithadonlybeentrue。"

Oneofthephysicianswaspresent，andhestartledmebysayingtheGeneral’sconditionwastheoppositeofencouraging。

Thenthetalkdriftedtobusiness，andtheGeneralpresentlysaid：

"Imeanyoushallhavethebook——Ihaveaboutmadeupmymindtothat——butIwishtowritetoMr。RoswellSmithfirst，andtellhimI

havesodecided。Ithinkthisisduehim。"

FromthebeginningtheGeneralhasshownafinedelicacytowardthosepeople——adelicacywhichwasnativetothecharacterofthemanwhoputintotheAppomattoxtermsofsurrenderthewords，"Officersmayretaintheirside—arms，"tosaveGeneralLeethehumiliationofgivinguphissword。[Note—book。]

ThephysicianpresentwasDr。Douglas，anduponClemensassumingthattheGeneral’stroublewasprobablyduetosmoking，alsothatitwasawarningtothosewhosmokedtoexcess，himselfincluded，Dr。DouglassaidthatGeneralGrant’safflictioncouldnotbeattributedaltogethertosmoking，butfarmoretohisdistressofmind，hisyear—longdepressionofspirit，thegriefofhisfinancialdisaster。Dr。Douglas’sremarkstartedGeneralGrantuponthesubjectofhisconnectionwithWard，whichhediscussedwithgreatfreedomandapparentreliefofmind。NeveratanytimedidhebetrayanyresentmenttowardWard，butcharacterizedhimasonemightanoffendingchild。Hespokeasamanwhohasbeendeeplywrongedandhumiliatedandbetrayed，butwithoutavenomousexpressionoronewithrevengefulnature。Clemensconfessedinhisnotesthatallthetimehehimselfwas"inwardlyboiling——scalpingWard——flayinghimalive——

breakinghimonthewheel——poundinghimtoajelly。"

WhilehewastalkingColonelGrantsaid：

"FatherislettingyouseethattheGrantfamilyareapackoffools，Mr。

Clemens。"

TheGeneralobjectedtothisstatement。HesaidthatthefactscouldbeproducedwhichwouldshowthatwhenWardlaidsiegetoamanhewasprettycertaintoturnouttobeafool；asmuchofafoolasanyoftheGrantfamily。HesaidthatnobodycouldcallthepresidentoftheErieRailroadafool，yetWardhadbeguiledhimofeighthundredthousanddollars，robbedhimofeverycentofit。

HecitedanothermanthatnoonecouldcallafoolwhohadinvestedinWardtotheextentofhalfamillion。Hewentontorecallmanysuchcases。HetoldofonemanwhohadcometotheofficeontheeveofdepartureforEuropeandhandedWardacheckforfiftythousanddollars，saying：

"Ihavenouseforitatpresent。Seewhatyoucandowithitforme。"

Byandbythisinvestor，returningfromEurope，droppedinandsaid：

"Well，didanythinghappen？"

Wardindifferentlyturnedtohisprivateledger，consultedit，thendrewacheckfortwohundredandfiftythousanddollars，andhandeditover，withthecasualremark：

"Well，yes，somethinghappened；notmuchyet——alittletoosoon。"

Themanstaredatthecheck，thenthrustitbackintoWard’shand。

"That’sallright。It’splentygoodenoughforme。Setthathenagain，"

andlefttheplace。

OfcourseWardmadenoinvestments。Hiswasthefirstplayingonacolossalscaleofthenowworn—out"getrichquick"confidencegame。

Suchdividendsasweremadecameoutoftheprincipal。WardwastheNapoleonofthatgame，whetherheinventeditornot。Clemensagreedthat，asfarashimselforanyofhisrelativeswereconcerned，theywouldundoubtedlyhavetrustedWard。

ColonelGrantfollowedhimtothedoorwhenheleft，andtoldhimthatthephysiciansfearedhisfathermightnotlivemorethanafewweekslonger，butthatmeantimehehadbeenwritingsteadily，andthatthefirstvolumewascompleteandfullyhalfthesecond。Threedayslatertheformalcontractwasclosed，andWebster&Co。promptlyadvanced。

GeneralGranttenthousanddollarsforimminentdemands，awelcomearrangement，forGrant’sdebtsandexpensesweremany，andhisavailableresourcesrestrictedtotheCenturypaymentsforhisarticles。

ImmediatelytheofficeofWebster&Co。waswarmwithaffairs。

Reporterswererunninghot—footfornewsofthegreatcontractbywhichMarkTwainwastopublishthelifeofGeneralGrant。Nopublishingenterpriseofsuchvastmomenthadeverbeenundertaken，andnopublishingevent，beforeorsince，everreceivedtheamountofnewspapercomment。ThenamesofGeneralGrantandMarkTwainassociatedwouldcommandcolumns，whatevertheevent，andthatMarkTwainwastobecomethepublisherofGrant’sownstoryofhisbattleswasofunprecedentedimportance。

Thepartnersweresufficientlyoccupied。Estimatesandpricesforvastquantitiesofpaperwereconsidered，allavailablepresseswerecontractedfor，binderieswerepledgedexclusivelyfortheGrantbook。

Clemenswasboilingoverwithplansandsuggestionsfordistribution。

Websterwashalfwildwiththetumultofthegreatcampaign。

Applicationsforagenciespouredin。

Inthosedaysthereweregeneralsubscriptionagencieswhichdividedthecountryintodistricts，andtheheadsoftheseagenciesWebstersummonedtoNewYorkandlaiddownthelawtothemconcerningthe，newbook。Itwasnotatimeforsmalldealings，andWebsterrosetotheoccasion。BythetimethesemenreturnedtotheirhomestheyhadpracticallypledgedthemselvestoaquarterofamillionsetsoftheGrantMemoirs，andthisestimatetheybelievedtobeconservative。

Websternowmovedintolargerandmorepretentiousquarters。Hetookastore—roomat42East14thStreet，UnionSquare，andsurroundedhimselfwithacapableforceofassistants。Hehadbecome，allatonce，themostconspicuouspublisherintheworld。

CLV

DAYSWITHADYINGHERO

ThecontractforthepublicationoftheGrantLifewasofficiallyclosedFebruary27，1885。Fivedayslater，onthelastdayandatthelasthourofPresidentArthur’sadministration，andoftheCongressthensitting，abillwaspassedplacingGrantasfullGeneral，withfullpay，ontheretiredarmylist。Thebillprovidingforthissomewhattardyacknowledgmentwasrushedthroughatthelastmoment，anditissaidthattheCongressionalclockwassetbacksothatthisenactmentmightbecomealawbeforetheadministrationchanged。

ClemenswaswithGeneralGrantwhenthenewsofthisactionwasreadtohim。Granthadgreatlydesiredsuchrecognition，anditmeantmoretohimthantoanyonepresent，yetClemensinhisnotesrecords：

Everyfacetherebetrayedstrongexcitementandemotionexceptone—

GeneralGrant’s。Hereadthetelegram，butnotashadeorsuggestionofachangeexhibiteditselfinhisironcountenance。

Thevolumeofhisemotionwasgreaterthanalltheotheremotionstherepresentcombined，buthewasabletosuppressallexpressionofitandmakenosign。

Grant’scalmness，endurance，andconsiderationduringthesefinaldaysastonishedeventhosemostfamiliarwithhisnoblecharacter。OnenightGerhardtcameintothelibraryatHartfordwiththeannouncementthathewishedtoshowhispatronasmallbusthehadbeenmakinginclayofGeneralGrant。Clemensdidnotshowmuchinterestintheprospect，butwhentheworkwasuncoveredhebecameenthusiastic。HedeclareditwasthefirstlikenesshehadeverseenofGeneralGrantthatapproachedreality。HeagreedthattheGrantfamilyoughttoseeit，andthathewouldtakeGerhardtwithhimnextdayinorderthathemightbewithinreachincasetheyhadanysuggestions。TheywenttoNewYorknextmorning，andcalledattheGranthomeduringtheafternoon。

>Fromthenote—book：

Friday，March20，1885。GerhardtandIarrivedatGeneralGrant’sabout2。30P。m。andIaskedifthefamilywouldlookatasmallclaybustoftheGeneralwhichGerhardthadmadefromaphotograph。

ColonelFredandJessewereabsenttoreceivetheirsister，Mrs。

Sartoris，whowouldarrivefromEuropeabout4。30；butthethreeMrs。Grantsexaminedtheworkandexpressedstrongapprovalofit，andalsogreatgratificationthatMr。Gerhardthadundertakenit。

Mrs。JesseGranthadlatelydreamedthatshewasinquiringwherethemakerofmybustcouldbefound(shehadseenapictureofitinHuckFinn，whichwaspublishedfourweeksago)，forshewantedthesameartisttomakeoneofGeneralGrant。Theladiesexaminedthebustcriticallyandpointedoutdefects，whileGerhardtmadethenecessarycorrections。PresentlyMrs。GeneralGrantsuggestedthatGerhardtstepinandlookattheGeneral。IhadbeenintheretalkingwiththeGeneral，buthadneverthoughtofaskinghimtoletastrangercomein。SoGerhardtwentinwiththeladiesandme，andtheinspectionandcross—firebegan："There，Iwassurehisnosewassoandso，"and，"Iwassurehisforeheadwassoandso，"and，"Don’tyouthinkhisheadissoandso？"Andsoeverybodywalkedaroundandabouttheoldhero，wholayhalfreclininginhiseasychair，butwellmuffledup，andsubmittingtoallthisasserenelyasifhewereusedtobeingservedso。OnemarkedfeatureofGeneralGrant’scharacterishisexceedinggentleness，goodness，sweetness。EverytimeIhavebeeninhispresence——latelyandformerly——mymindwasdrawntothatfeature。Iwonderithasnotbeenmorespokenof。

Presentlyhesaid，letGerhardtbringinhisclayandworkthere，ifGerhardtwouldnotmindhisrecliningattitude。Ofcoursewewereglad。Atableforthebustwasmovedupinfrontofhim；theladieslefttheroom；Igotabook；Gerhardtwenttowork；andforanhourtherewasperfectstillness，andforthefirsttimeduringthedaytheGeneralgotagood，sound，peacefulnap。GeneralBadeaucamein，andprobablyinterruptedthatnap。Hespokeoutasstronglyastheothersconcerningthegreatexcellenceofthelikeness。HehadsomesheetsofMS。inhishand，andsaid，"I’vebeenreadingwhatyouwrotethismorning，General，anditisoftheutmostvalue；itsolvesariddlethathas"puzzledmen’sbrainsalltheseyearsandmakesthethingclearandrational。"Iaskedwhatthepuzzlewas，andhesaid，"ItwaswhyGrantdidnotimmediatelylaysiegetoVicksburgaftercapturingPortHudson"(atleastthatismyrecollection，nowtowardmidnight，ofGeneralBadeau’sanswer)。

ThelittlebustofGrantwhichGerhardtworkedonthatdaywaswidelyreproducedinterra—cotta，andisstillregardedbymanyasthemostnearlycorrectlikenessofGrant。Theoriginalisinpossessionofthefamily。

GeneralGrantworkedindustriouslyonhisbook。Hehadasuperbmemoryandworkedrapidly。Webster&Co。offeredtosupplyhimwithastenographer，andthisprovedagreatrelief。Sometimeshedictatedtenthousandwordsatasitting。Itwasreportedatthetime，andithasbeenstatedsince，thatGrantdidnotwritetheMemoirshimself，butonlymadenotes，whichwereexpandedbyothers。Butthisisnottrue。

GeneralGrantwroteordictatedeverywordofthestoryhimself，thenhadthemanuscriptreadaloudtohimandmadehisownrevisions。Hewroteagainsttime，forheknewthathisdiseasewasfatal。Fortunatelytheleaseoflifegrantedhimwaslongerthanhehadhopedfor，thoughthelastchapterswerewrittenwhenhecouldnolongerspeak，andwhenweaknessandsufferingmadethelaboraheavyoneindeed；butheneverflinchedorfaltered，neveratanytimesuggestedthattheworkbefinishedbyanotherhand。

EarlyinAprilGeneralGrant’sconditionbecameveryalarming，andonthenightofthe3ditwasbelievedhecouldnotliveuntilmorning。Buthewasnotyetreadytosurrender。Heralliedandrenewedhistask；feeblyatfirst，butmoreperseveringlyaseachdayseemedtobringalittleaddedstrength，orperhapsitwasonlyresolution。Nowandthenheappeareddepressedastothequalityofhisproduct。OnceColonelFredGrantsuggestedtoClemensthatifhecouldencouragetheGeneralalittleitmightbeworthwhile。Clemenshadfeltalwayssuchareverenceandaweforthegreatsoldierthathehadneverdreamedofcomplimentinghisliterature。

"IwasasmuchsurprisedasColumbus’scookcouldhavebeentolearnthatColumbuswantedhisopinionastohowColumbuswasdoinghisnavigating。"

Hedidnothesitatetogiveit，however，andwithaclearconscience。

Grantwroteashehadfought；withasimple，straightforwarddignity，withastylethatisnotastyleatallbuttheveryabsenceofit，andthereforethebestofallliterarymethods。IthappenedthatClemenshadbeencomparingsomeofGrant’schapterswithCaesar’sCommentaries，andwasabletosay，inallsincerity，thatthesamehighmeritsdistinguishedbothbooks：clarityofstatement，directness，simplicity，manifesttruthfulness，fairnessandjusticetowardfriendandfoealike，soldierlycandorandfrankness，andsoldierlyavoidanceoffloweryspeech。

"Iplacedthetwobookssidebysideuponthesamelevel，"hesaid，"andIstillthinkthattheybelongthere。IlearnedafterwardthatGeneralGrantwaspleasedwiththisverdict。Itshowsthathewasjustaman，justahumanbeing，justanauthor。"

WithintwomonthsaftertheagentshadgonetoworkcanvassingfortheGrantMemoirs——whichistosaybythe1stofMay，1885——ordersforsixtythousandsetshadbeenreceived，andonthatdayMarkTwain，inhisnote—

book，madeamemorandumestimateofthenumberofbooksthatthecountrywouldrequire，figuringthegrandtotalatthreehundredthousandsetsoftwovolumeseach。Thenhesays：

Ifthesechickensshouldreallyhatchaccordingtomyaccount，GeneralGrant’sroyaltieswill’amountto$420，000，andwillmakethelargestsinglecheckeverpaidanauthorintheworld’shistory。

UptothepresenttimethelargestoneeverpaidwastoMacaulayonhisHistoryofEngland，L20，000。IfIpaytheGeneralinsilvercoinat$12perpounditwillweighseventeentons。

CertainlythishasaflavorinitofColonelSellers，butweshallseebyandbyinhowfarthiscalculationwasjustified。

GrantfoundthesocietyofMarkTwaincheeringandcomforting，andClemensheldhimselfinreadinesstogotothedyingmanatcall。Onthe26thofMayhemakesthismemorandum：

ItiscuriousanddreadfultositupinthiswayandtalkcheerfulnonsensetoGeneralGrant，andheundersentenceofdeathwiththatcancer。Hesayshehasmadethebooktoolargeby200pages——notabadfault。Ashorttimeagowewereafraidwewouldlack400ofbeingenough。

To—daytalkedwithGeneralGrantabouthisandmyfirstgreatMissouricampaignin1861。HesurprisedanemptycampnearFlorida，Missouri，onSaltRiver，whichIhadbeenoccupyingadayortwobefore。Hownearhecametoplayingthedevilwithhisfuturepublisher。

OfcourseClemenswouldamusetheoldcommanderwiththetaleofhissoldiering，howhiscompanyhadbeenchasedthroughthebrushandmudbytheveryannouncementthatGrantwascoming。SomewordofthisgottotheCenturyeditors，whoimmediatelyproposedthatMarkTwaincontributetothemagazineWarSeriesthestoryofhisshareintheRebellion，andparticularlyofhiswarrelationswithGeneralGrant。Sothe"PrivateHistoryofaCampaignthatFailed"waspreparedasMarkTwain’sside—

lightonthehistoryoftheRebellion；andifitwasnotimportanthistoryitwasatleastamusing，andthetellingofthattaleinMarkTwain’sinimitablefashionmusthavegonefartowardmakingcheerfulthoselastsaddaysofhisancientenemy。

DuringoneoftheirtalksGeneralGrantspokeofthequestionastowhetherheorShermanhadoriginatedtheideaofthemarchtothesea。

Grantsaid：

"Neitherofusoriginatedtheideaofthatmarch。Theenemydidit。"

ReportswerecirculatedofestrangementsbetweenGeneralGrantandtheCenturyCompany，andbetweenMarkTwainandtheCenturyCompany，asaresultofthebookdecision。Certainnewspapersexploitedandmagnifiedtheserumors——somewentsofarastoaccuseMarkTwainofduplicity，andtochargehimwithseekingtoobtainavastfortuneforhimselfattheexpenseofGeneralGrantandhisfamily。Allofwhichwasthemerestnonsense。TheCenturyCompany，Webster&Co。，GeneralGrant，andMarkTwainindividually，wereallworkingharmoniously，andnothingbutthemostcordialrelationsandunderstandingprevailed。AstothechargeofunfairdealingonthepartofMarkTwain，thiswastooabsurd，eventhen，toattractmorethanmomentaryattention。Webster&Co。，somewhatlaterintheyear，gavetothepressaclearstatementoftheirpublishingarrangement，thoughmoreparticularlydenyingthereportthatGeneralGranthadbeenunabletocompletehiswork。

CLVI

THECLOSEOFAGREATCAREER

TheClemenshouseholddidnotgotoElmirathatyearuntilthe27thofJune。MeantimeGeneralGranthadbeentakentoMountMcGregor，neartheAdirondacks。ThedayafterClemensreachedElmiratherecameasummonssayingthattheGeneralhadaskedtoseehim。Hewentimmediately，andremainedseveraldays。Theresoluteoldcommanderwasveryfeeblebythistime。Itwasthreemonthssincehehadbeenbelievedtobedying，yethewasstillalive，stillatwork，thoughhecouldnolongerspeak。

Hewasadding，hereandthere，afinishingtouchtohismanuscript，writingwitheffortonsmallslipsofpapercontainingbutafewwordseach。Hisconversationwascarriedoninthesameway。MarkTwainbroughtbackalittlepackageofthosepreciousslips，andsomeofthemarestillpreserved。Thewritingisperfectlylegible，andshowsnoindicationofatremblinghand。

Ononeoftheseslipsiswritten：

ThereismuchmorethatIcoulddoifIwasawellman。IdonotwritequiteasclearlyasIcouldifwell。IfIcouldreaditovermyselfmanylittlemattersofanecdoteandincidentwouldsuggestthemselvestome。

Onanother：

Haveyouseenanyportionofthesecondvolume？Itisuptotheend，ornearlyso。AsmuchmoreworkasIhavedoneto—daywillfinishit。IhaveworkedfasterthanifIhadbeenwell。Ihaveusedmythreeboysandastenographer。

Andonstillanother：

IfIcouldhavetwoweeksofstrengthIcouldimproveitverymuch。

AsIam，however，itwillhavetogoaboutasitis，withverificationsbytheboysandbysuggestionswhichwillenablemetomakeapointclearhereandthere。

Certainlynocampaignwaseverconductedwithabraverheart。Aslongashisfingerscouldholdapencilhecontinuedathistask。Onceheaskedifanyestimatecouldnowbemadeofwhatportionwouldaccruetohisfamilyfromthepublication。Clemens’spromptreply，thatmorethanonehundredthousandsetshadbeensold，andthatalreadytheamountofhisshare，securedbysafebonds，exceededonehundredandfiftythousanddollars，seemedtogivehimdeepcomfort。Clemenstoldhimthatthecountrywasasyetnotone—thirdcanvassed，andthatwithoutdoubtthereturnswouldbetwiceasmuchmorebytheendoftheyear。Grantmadenofurtherinquiry，andprobablyneveragainmentionedthesubjecttoanyone。

WhenClemensleft，GeneralGrantwassitting，fullydressed，withashawlabouthisshoulders，pencilandpaperbesidehim。Itwasapicturethatwouldneverfadefromthememory。Inalatermemorandumhesays：

Ithenbelievedhewouldliveseveralmonths。Hewasstilladdinglittleperfectingdetailstohisbook，andpreface，amongotherthings。Hewasentirelythroughafewdayslater。Sincethenthelackofanystronginteresttoemployhismindhasenabledthetediouswearinesstokillhim。Ithinkhisbookkepthimaliveseveralmonths。Hewasaverygreatmanandsuperlativelygood。

ThisnotewasmadeJuly23，1885，at10A。M。，onreceiptofthenewsthatGeneralGrantwasdead。ToHenryWardBeecher，Clemenswrote：

Onedayheputhispencilasideandsaidtherewasnothingmoretodo。IfIhadbeenthereIcouldhaveforetoldtheshockthatstrucktheworldthreedayslater。

Itcanbetrulysaidthatallthenationmourned。GeneralGranthadnoenemies，politicalorsectional，inthoselastdays。Theoldsoldierbattlingwithadeadlydisease，yetbravelycompletinghistask，wasafigureatoncesopatheticandsonoblethatnobreathofanimosityremainedtoutterasinglewordthatwasnotkind。

Memorialserviceswereheldfromoneendofthecountrytotheother。

Thosewhohadfollowedhiminpeaceorwar，thosewhohadfoughtbesidehimoragainsthim，alikepaidtributetohismemory。Twichell，fromthemountainsofVermont，wrote：

IsupposeIhavesaidtoHarmonyfortytimessinceIgotuphere，"HowIwishIcouldseeMark！"Mynotionisthatbetweenuswecouldgetourselvesexpressed。Ihaveneverknownanyonewhocouldhelpmereadmyownthoughtsinsuchacaseasyoucanandhavedonemanyatime，dearoldfellow。

I’dgivemoretositonalogwithyouinthewoodsthisafter8I5

noon，whilewetwinedawreathtogetherforLauncelot’sgrave，thantohearanyconceivableeulogyofhimpronouncedbymortallips。

ThedeathofGrantsolargelyandsosuddenlyaugmentedtheordersforhisMemoirsthatitseemedimpossibletogetthefirstvolumeprintedintimeforthedelivery，whichhadbeenpromisedforDecember1st。J。J。

Littlehadthecontractofmanufacture，andeveryavailablepressandbinderywasrunningdoubletimetocompletethevastcontract。

Intheendmorethanthreehundredthousandsetsoftwovolumeseachweresold，andbetweenfourhundredandtwentyandfourhundredandfiftythousanddollarswaspaidtoMrs。Grant。Thefirstcheckoftwohundredthousanddollars，drawnFebruary27，1886，remainsthelargestsingleroyaltycheckinhistory。MarkTwain’sprophecyhadbeenalmostexactlyverified。

CLVII

MINORMATTERSOFAGREATYEAR

TheGrantepisode，soimportantinallitsphases，naturallyovershadowedothereventsof1885。MarkTwainwassodeeplyabsorbedinthisgreatpublishingenterprisethathewastedlittlethoughtorenergyinotherdirections。

Yetthereareafewminorthingsthatitseemsworthwhiletoremember。

HowellshastoldsomethingoftheAuthors’ReadinggivenfortheLongfellowMemorial，anentertainmentmanagedbyGeorgeParsonsLathrop，thoughHowellsjustlyclaimsthegloryofhavingfixedthepriceofadmissionatfivedollars。ThenherecallsapleasinganecdoteofCharlesEliotNorton，whointroducedtheattractions。

Nortonpresided，andwhenitcameClemens’sturntoreadheintroducedhimwithsuchexquisitepraisesashebestknewhowtogive，butbeforeheclosedhefellapreytooneofthoselapsesoftactwhicharethepeculiarperilofpeopleofthegreatesttact。HewasremindedofDarwin’sdelightinMarkTwain，andhowwhenhecamefromhislongday’sexhaustingstudy，andsankintobedatmidnight，hetookupavolumeofMarkTwain，whosebookshealwayskeptonatablebesidehim，andwhateverhadbeenhistormentingproblem，orexcessoftoil，hefeltsecureofagoodnight’srestfromit。AsortofblankensuedwhichClemensfilledintheonlypossibleway。Hesaidheshouldalwaysbegladhehadcontributedtothereposeofthatgreatman，towhomscienceowedsomuch，andthenwithoutwaitingforthejoyineverybreasttoburstforth，hebegantoread。

HowellstellsofMarkTwain’striumphonthisoccasion，andinaletteratthetimehewrote："Yousimplystraddleddowntothefootlightsandtookthathouseupinthehollowofyourhandandtickledit。"

Howellsaddsthattheshownettedseventeenhundreddollars。ThiswasearlyinMay。

Ofliterarywork，beyondthewarpaper，the"PrivateHistoryofaCampaignthatFailed"(publishedDecember，1885)，Clemensappearstohavedoneverylittle。HisthoughtswerefartoobusywithplansforfurtheringthesaleofthegreatmilitaryMemoirtofollowliteraryventuresofhisown。Atonetimehewasimpelledtodictateanautobiography——Grant’sdifficultiesinhisdyinghoursuggestingthis——

andhearrangedwithRedpath，whowasnolongeralectureagentandunderstoodstenography，toco—operatewithhiminthework。Hedictatedafewchapters，buthewasotherwisetoomuchoccupiedtocontinue。

Also，hewasunusedtodictation，andfoundithardandtheresultunsatisfactory。

TwoopencommunicationsfromMarkTwainthatyeardeservetoberemembered。Oneofthese；unsigned，waspublishedintheCenturyMagazine，andexpressedtheneedfora"universaltinker，"themanwhocanacceptajobinalargehouseholdorinacommunityasmasterofalltrades，withsufficientknowledgeofeachtobereadytoundertakewhateverrepairsarelikelytoberequiredintheordinaryhousehold，suchas——"toputinwindowpanes，mendgasleaks，jack—planetheedgesofdoorsthatwon’tshut，keepthewaste—pipeandotherwater—pipejoints，glueandotherwiserepairhavocdoneinfurniture，etc。"TheletterwassignedX。Y。Z。，anditbroughtrepliesfromvariouspartsoftheworld。

Noneoftheapplicantsseemeduniversallyqualified，butinKansasCityabusinesswasfoundedontheidea，adopting"TheUniversalTinker"asitsfirmname。

Theotherlettermentionedwaswrittentothe’ChristianUnion’，inspiredbyataleentitled，"WhatOughtWetoHaveDone？"Itwasataleconcerningthegovernmentofchildren；especiallyconcerningthegovernmentofonechild——JohnJunior——achildwho，asitwouldappearfromthetale，hadahabitofrunningthingsprettymuchtohisownnotion。TheperformanceofJohnjunior，andofhisparentsintryingtomanagehim，stirredMarkTwainconsiderably——itbeing"enoughtomakeabody’sbloodboil，"asheconfesses——anditimpelledhimtosetdownsurreptitiouslyhisimpressionsofwhatwouldhavehappenedtoJohnJuniorasamemberoftheClemenshousehold。HedidnotdaretoshowthecommunicationtoMrs。Clemensbeforehesentit，forheknewprettywellwhatitsfatewouldbeinthatcase。Sohetookchancesandprinteditwithoutherknowledge。TheletterwaspublishedJuly16，1885。Itistoolongtobeincludedentire，butitistooilluminatingtobealtogetheromitted。Afterrelating，inconsiderabledetail，Mrs。

Clemens’smethodofdealingwithanunrulychild——thegentlenessyetfirmnessofherdiscipline——heconcludes：

Themotherofmychildrenadoresthem——thereisnomildertermforit——andtheyworshipher；theyevenworshipanythingwhichthetouchofherhandhasmadesacred。Theyknowherforthebestandtruestfriendtheyhaveeverhad，orevershallhave；theyknowherforonewhoneverdidthemawrong，andcannotdothemawrong；whonevertoldthemalie，northeshadowofone；whoneverdeceivedthembyevenanambiguousgesture；whonevergavethemanunreasonablecommand，norevercontentedherselfwithanythingshortofaperfectobedience；whohasalwaystreatedthemaspolitelyandconsideratelyasshewouldthebestandoldestintheland，andhasalwaysrequiredofthemgentlespeechandcourteousconducttowardall，ofwhatsoeverdegreewithwhomtheychancedtocomeincontact；theyknowherforonewhosepromise，whetherofrewardorpunishment，isgold，andalwaysworthitsface，totheuttermostfarthing。Inaword，theyknowher，andIknowher，forthebestanddearestmotherthatlives——andbyalong，longwaythewisest……

InallmylifeIhavenevermadeasinglereferencetomywifeinprintbefore，asfarasIcanremember，exceptonceinthededicationofabook；andso，afterthesefifteenyearsofsilence，perhapsImayunsealmylipsthisonetimewithoutimproprietyorindelicacy。Iwillinstituteoneothernovelty：Iwillsendthismanuscripttothepresswithoutherknowledgeandwithoutaskinghertoeditit。Thiswillsaveitfromgettingeditedintothestove。

Susy’sbiographyreferstothisincidentatconsiderablelength。ShestatesthatherfatherhadmisgivingsafterhehadsentittotheChristianUnion，andthathetriedtorecallthemanuscript，butfoundittoolate。Shesetsdownsomecommentsofherownonhermother’sgovernment，thentellsusoftheappearanceofthearticle：

WhentheChristianUnionreachedthefarmandpapa’sarticleinit，allreadyandwaitingtobereadtomama，papahadn’tthecouragetoshowittoher(forheknewshewouldn’tlikeitatall)atfirst，andhedidn’t，buthemighthaveletitgoandneverletherseeit；butfinallyhegavehisconsenttoherseeingit，andtoldClaraandIwecouldtakeittoher，whichwedidwithtardiness，andweallstoodaroundmamawhileshereadit，allwonderingwhatshewouldsayandthinkaboutit。

Shewastoomuchsurprised(andpleasedprivatelytoo)tosaymuchatfirst；but，asweallexpected，publicly(orratherwhensherememberedthatthisarticlewastobereadbyeveryonethattooktheChristianUnion)shewasrathershockedandalittledispleased。

Susygoesontotellthatthearticleprovokedanumberofletters，mostofthempleasantones，butsomeofthemofquiteanothersort。Oneofthelatterfellintohermother’shands，afterwhichtherewasgeneralregretthatthearticlehadbeenprinted，andthesubjectwasnolongerdiscussedatQuarryFarm。

Susy’sbiographyisauniquerecord。Itwasasortofcombinedmemoirandjournal，charminginitsinnocentfranknessandchildishinsight。

Sheusedtokeepitunderherpillow，andaftershewasasleeptheparentswouldstealitoutandfindatenderamusementandpathosinitsquaintentries。Itisafaithfulrecordsofarasitgoes，andtheperioditcoversisanimportantone；foritpresentsapictureofMarkTwaininthefullnessofhismanhood，inthegoldenhourofhisfortune。

Susy’sbeginninghasaspecialvaluehere：——[Susy’s’spellingandpunctuationarepreserved。]

Weareaveryhappyfamily！Weconsistofpapa，mama，Jean，Claraandme。ItispapaIamwritingabout，andIshallhavenotroubleinnotknowingwhattosayabouthim，asheisaverystrikingcharacter。Papa’sappearancehasbeendescribedmanytimes，butveryincorrectly；hehasbeautifulcurlygreyhair，notanytoothick，oranytoolong，justright；aRomannose，whichgreatlyimprovesthebeautyofhisfeatures，kindblueeyes，andasmallmustache，hehasawonderfullyshapedhead，andprofile，hehasaverygoodfigureinshortheisanextraordinarilyfinelookingman。

Allhisfeaturesareperfect，exceptthathehasn’textraordinaryteeth。Hiscomplexionisveryfair，andhedoesn’twareabeard：

Heisaverygoodman，andaveryfunnyone；hehasgotatemperbutweallofushaveinthisfamily。HeistheloveliestmanIeversaw，oreverhopetosee，andohsoabsent—minded！

ThatthisisafairstatementoftheClemenshome，andthetruestpictureofMarkTwainatfiftythathasbeenpreserved，cannotbedoubted。Hishairwasiron—gray，notentirelywhiteatthistime，theauburntintseverywheremingledwiththeshiningwhitethatlaterwouldmantleitlikeasilvercrown。Hedidnotlookyoungforhisyears，buthewasstillyoung，alwaysyoung——indestructiblyyounginspiritandbodilyvigor。

Susytellshowthatsummerheblewsoap—bubblesforthechildren，fillingthebubbleswithtobaccosmoke；howhewouldplaywiththecats，andcomecleardownfromhisstudyonthehilltoseehow"SourMash，"thenakitten，wasgettingalong；alsohowhewroteapoemforJean’sdonkey，Cadichon(whichtheymadeKiditchin)：Shequotesthepoem：

KIDITCHIN

Odulieb’KiditchinDubistganzbewitchin，Waw————he！

InsummerdaysKiditchinThou’rtdearfromnosetobritchinWaw————he！

NodoughtthoultgetaswitchinWhenformischiefthou’rtitchin’

Waw————he！

Butwhenyou’regoodKiditchinYoushallfeastinJames’skitchinWaw————he！

OnowliftupthysongThynoblenoteprolongThoulivingChinesegong！

Waw———he！waw———hewawSweetestdonkeymaneversaw。

ClemensundertooktorideKiditchinoneday，toshowthechildrenhowitshouldbedone，butKiditchinresentedthisinterferenceandpromptlyflunghimoverherhead。Hethoughtshemighthavebeenlisteningtothepoemhehadwrittenofher。

Susy’sdiscoverythatthesecretofherbiographywasknownisshownbythenextentry，andthetouchofseverityinitwasprobablynotentirelyunconscious：

Papasaidtheotherday，"Iamamugwumpandamugwumpispurefromthemarrowout。"(PapaknowsthatIamwritingthisbiographyofhim，andhesaidthisforit。)Hedoesn’tliketogotochurchatall，whyIneverunderstood，untiljustnow。Hetoldustheotherdaythathecouldn’tbeartohearanyonetalkbuthimself，butthathecouldlistentohimselftalkforhourswithoutgettingtired，ofcoursehesaidthisinjoke，butI’venodoubtitwasfoundedontruth。

Susy’spictureoflifeatQuarryFarmatthisperiodisrealisticandvaluable——toovaluabletobesparedfromthisbiography：

Thereareelevencatsatthefarmherenow。Papa’sfavoriteisalittletortoise—shellkittenhehasnamed"SourMash，"andalittlespottedone"Fannie。"Itisveryprettytoseewhatpapacallsthecatprocession；itwasformedinthisway。OldMinniecatheaded，(themotherofallthecats)nexttohercameauntSusie，thenClaraonthedonkey，accompaniedbyapileofcats，thenpapaandJeanhandinhandandapileofcatsbroughtupintherear，mamaandI

madeuptheaudience。

Ourvariusoccupationsareasfollows。Paparisesabout1/2past7

inthemorning，breakfastsateight，writes，playstenniswithClaraandmeandtriestomakethedonkeygo，inthemorning；doesvariusthingsinP。M。，andintheeveningplaystenniswithClaraandmeandamusesJeanandthedonkey。

Mamarisesabout1/4toeight，breakfastsateight，teachesJeanGermanreadingfrom9—10；readsGermanwithmefrom10—11。ThenshereadsstuddiesorvisitswithauntSusieforawhile，andthenshereadstoClaraandItilllunchtimethingsconnectedwithEnglishhistory(forwehopetogotoEnglandnextsummer)whilewesew。

Thenwehavelunch。ShestuddiesforabouthalfanhourorvisitswithauntSusie，thenreadstousanhourormore，thenstuddieswritesreadsandreststillsuppertime。Aftersuppershesitsoutontheporchandworkstilleighto’clock，fromeighto’clocktobedtimesheplayswhistwithpapaandaftershehasretiredshereadsandstuddiesGermanforawhile。

ClaraandIdomosteverythingfrompracticingtodonkeyridingandplayingtag。WhileJean’stimeisspentinaskingmamawhatshecanhavetoeat。

Itisimpossible，atthisdistance，toconveyallthatthefarmmeanttothechildrenduringthesummersoftheirinfancyandchildhoodandgirlhoodwhichtheyspentthere。Itwastheparadise，thedreamlandtheylookedforwardtoduringalltherestoftheyear。Throughthelong，happymonthstheretheygrewstrongandbrown，anddrankdeeplyofthejoyoflife。TheircousinsJulia，Jervis，andIdaLangdonrangedabouttheirownagesandwerealmosttheirdailycompanions。Theirgamesweremainlyoftheout—of—doors；thewoodsandmeadowsandhillsidepasturesweretheirplayground。Susywasthirteenwhenshebeganherdiary；agentle，thoughtful，romanticchild。Oneafternoonshediscoveredawonderfultangleofvinesandbushesbetweenthestudyandthesunset——ararehiding—place。Sheranbreathlesslytoheraunt：

"CanIhaveit？CanClaraandIhaveitallforourown？"

Thepetitionwasgranted，ofcourse，andtheplacewasnamedHelen’sBower，fortheywerereadingThaddeusofWarsawandthenameappealedtoSusy’spoeticfancy。ThenMrs。Clemensconceivedtheideaofbuildingahouseforthechildrenjustbeyondthebower。Itwasacompletelittlecottagewhenfinished，withaporchandwithfurnishingscontributedbyfriendsandmembersofthefamily。Therewasastove——atinyaffair，butpractical——dishes，table，chairs，shelves，andabroom。ThelittlehousewasnamedEllerslie，outofGraceAguilar’sDaysofRobertBruce，andbecameoneofthechildren’smostbelovedpossessions。ButalasforHelen’sBower！Aworkmanwassenttoclearawaythedebrisafterthebuilders，andbeingapracticalman，hecutawayHelen’sBower——destroyeditutterly。Susyfirstdiscoveredthevandalism，andcamerushingtothehouseinatorrentofsorrow。Forherthejoyoflifeseemedended，anditwaslongbeforeshecouldbecomforted。ButEllerslieintimesatisfiedherhungerforretreat，became，infact，thenucleusaroundwhichthechildren’ssummerhappinesscentered。

Totheireldersthefarmremainedalwaysthequiethaven。OncetoOrion’swifeClemenswrote：

ThisisasuperbSunday……

Thecityinthevalleyispurplewithshade，asseenfromuphereatthestudy。TheCranesarereadingandloafinginthecanvas—

curtainedsummer—house，fiftyyardsaway，onahigher(thehighest)

point；thecatsareloafingoveratEllerslie，whichisthechildren’sestateanddwellinghouseintheirownprivategrounds(bydeedfromSusieCrane)，ahundredyardsfromthestudy，amongthecloverandyoungoaksandwillows。Livyisdownatthehouse，butIshallnowgoandbringheruptotheCranestohelpusoccupytheloungesandhammocks，whenceagreatpanoramaofdistanthillsandvalleyandcityisseeable。Thechildrenhavegoneonalarkthroughtheneighboringhillsandwoods，SusieandClarahorsebackandJean，drivingabuggy，withthecoachmanforcomradeandassistantatneed。Itisaperfectdayindeed。

Theendingofeachyear’ssummerbroughtonlyregret。Clemenswouldnevertakeawayallhisthings。Hehadanoldsuperstitionthattoleavesomearticleinsuredreturn。Mrs。Clemensalsoleftsomething——herheart’scontent。Thechildrenwentaroundbiddingvariousobjectsgood—

byandkissedthegatesofEllerslietoo。

CLVIII

MARKTWAINATFIFTY

MarkTwain’sfiftiethbirthdaywasoneofthepleasantlyobservedeventsofthatyear。Therewasnospecialcelebration，butfriendssentkindlymessages，andTheCritic，thenconductedbyJeannetteandJosephGilder，madeafeatureofit。MissGilderwrotetoOliverWendellHolmesandinvitedsomeverses，whichwithhisnever—failingkindlinesshesent，thoughinhisaccompanyingnotehesaid：

"Ihadtwenty—threelettersspreadoutonmytableforanswering，allmarkedimmediate，whenyournotecame。"

Dr。Holmes’sstanzasarefullofhisgentlespirit：

TOMARKTWAIN

(Onhisfiftiethbirthday)

Ah，Clemens，whenIsawtheelast，Webothofuswereyounger；

Howfondlymumblingo’erthepastIsMemory’stoothlesshunger！

Sofiftyyearshavefled，theysay，Sincefirstyoutooktodrinking；

ImeaninNature’smilkywayOfcoursenoillI’mthinking。

Butwhileonlife’sunevenroadYourtrackyou’vebeenpursuing，WhatfountainsfromyourwithaveflowedWhatdrinksyouhavebeenbrewing！

Iknowwhenceallyourmagiccame，YoursecretI’vediscovered，Thesourcethatfedyourinwardflame，Thedreamsthatroundyouhovered。

Beforeyoulearnedtobiteormunch，Stillkickinginyourcradle，TheMusesmixedabowlofpunchAndHebeseizedtheladle。

Dearbabe，whosefiftiethyearto—dayYourripehalf—centuryrounded，YourbooksthepreciousdraughtbetrayThelaughingNinecompounded。

Somixedthesweet，thesharp，thestrong，Eachfindsitsfaultsamended，ThevirtuesthattoeachbelongInhappiestunionblended。

AndwhattheflavorcansurpassOfsugar，spirit，lemons？

SowhileonehealthfillseveryglassMarkTwainforBabyClemens！

OLIVERWENDELLHOLMES。

FrankR。Stockton，CharlesDudleyWarner，andJoelChandlerHarrissentpleasingletters。Warnersaid：

Youmaythinkitaneasythingtobefiftyyearsold，butyouwillfindit’snotsoeasytostaythere，andyournextfiftyyearswillslipawaymuchfasterthanthosejustaccomplished。

Manywrotelettersprivately，ofcourse，andAndrewLang，likeHolmes，sentapoemthathasaspecialcharm。

FORMARKTWAIN

TobraveMarkTwain，acrossthesea，Theyearshavebroughthisjubilee。

Onehearsit，halfinpain，ThatfiftyyearshavepassedandgoneSincedancedthemerrystarthatshoneAbovethebabeMarkTwain。

WeturnhispagesandweseeTheMississippiflowingfree；

WeturnagainandgrinO’erallTomSawyerdidandplannedWithhimoftheensanguinedhand，WithHuckleberryFinn！

SpiritofMirth，whosechimeofbellsShakesonhiscap，andsweetlyswellsAcrosstheAtlanticmain，GrantthatMark’slaughterneverdie，ThatmenthroughmanyacenturyMaychuckleo’erMarkTwain！

AssuredlyMarkTwainwasmadehappybytheseattentions；toDr。Holmeshewrote：

DEARDR。HOLMES，——Ishallneverbeabletotellyouthehalfofhowproudyouhavemademe。IfIcouldyouwouldsayyouwerenearlypaidforthetroubleyoutook。Andthenthefamily：IfIcouldconveytheelectricalsurpriseandgratitudeandexaltationofthewifeandthechildrenlastnight，whentheyhappeneduponthatCriticwhereIhad，withartfulartlessness，spreaditopenandretiredoutofviewtoseewhatwouldhappen——well，itwasgreatandfineandbeautifultosee，andmademefeelasthevictorfeelswhentheshoutinghostsmarchby：andifyoualsocouldhaveseenityouwouldhavesaidtheaccountwassquared。

ForIhavebroughtthemupinyourcompany，asinthecompanyofawarmandfriendlyandbeneficentbutfar—distantsun；andso，foryoutodothisthingwasforthesuntosenddownoutoftheskiesthemiracleofaspecialrayandtransfiguremebeforetheirfaces。Iknewwhatthatpoemwouldbetothem；Iknewitwouldraisemeuptoremoteandshiningheightsintheireyes，toveryfellowshipwiththechamberedNautilusitself，andthatfromthatfellowshiptheycouldnevermoredissociatemewhiletheyshouldlive；andsoImadesuretobebywhenthesurpriseshouldcome。

CharlesDudleyWarnerischarmedwiththepoemforitsownfelicitoussake；andsoindeedamI，butmorebecauseithasdrawnthestingofmyfiftiethyear；takenawaythepainofit，thegriefofit，thesomehowshameofit，andmademegladandproudithappened。

Withreverenceandaffection，Sincerelyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。

SoSamuelClemenshadreachedthehalf—centurymark；reacheditinwhatseemedthefullnessofsuccessfromeveryviewpoint。IfhewasnotyettheforemostAmericanmanofletters，hewasatleastthemostwidelyknownhesatuponthehighestmountain—top。Furthermore，itseemedtohimthatfortunewasshoweringhergiftsintohislap。Hisunfortunateinvestmentswerenowonlyasthenecessaryexperimentsthathadledhimtolargersuccesses。Asapublisher，hewasalreadythemostconspicuousintheworld，andhecontemplatedstilllargerventures：atype—settingmachinepatent，inwhichhehadinvested，andnowlargelycontrolled，heregardedasthechiefinventionoftheage，absolutelycertaintoyieldincalculablewealth。HisconnectionwiththeGrantfamilyhadassociatedhimwithanenterpriselookingtothebuildingofarailwayfromConstantinopletothePersianGulf。CharlesA。Dana，oftheSun，hadputhiminthewayofobtainingforpublicationthelifeofthePope，LeoXIII，officiallyauthorizedbythePopehimself，andthisheregardedasacertainfortune。

Nowthatthetidehadturnedhefeltnohesitancyinreckoningafortunefromalmostanyventure。TheGrantbook，evenontheliberaltermsallowedtotheauthor，wouldyieldanetprofitofonehundredandfiftythousanddollarstoitspublishers。HuckFinnwouldyieldfiftythousanddollarsmore。Thesalesofhisotherbookshadconsiderablyincreased。

Certainly，atfifty，MarkTwain’sfortuneswereatflood—tide；buoyantandjubilant，hewasfloatingonthetopmostwave。Iftherewereundercurrentsandundertowtheyweredownsomewhereoutofsight。Iftherewerebreakersahead，theyweretoofardistanttobeheard。Sosurewasheofthetriumphantconsummationofeveryventurethattoafriendathishomeonenighthesaid：

"Iamfrightenedattheproportionsofmyprosperity。ItseemstomethatwhateverItouchturnstogold。"

CLIX

THELIFEOFTHEPOPE

AsMarkTwainintheearlierdaysofhismarriagehadtemporarilyputasideauthorshiptojoininanewspaperventure，sonowagainliteraturehaddroppedintothebackground，hadbecomeanavocation，whilefinancialinterestsprevailed。Thereweretwochiefventures——thebusinessofCharlesL。Webster&Co。andthepromotionofthePaigetype—settingmachine。Theywerecloselyidentifiedinfortunes，socloselythatintimetheveryexistenceofeachdependeduponthesuccessoftheother；

yettheywerequitedistinct，andmustbesotreatedinthisstory。

ThesuccessoftheGrantLifehadgiventheWebsterbusinessanimmenseprestige。Itwasnolongernecessarytoseekdesirablefeaturesforpublication。Theycameuninvited。Otherwargeneralspreparingtheirmemoirsnaturallyhopedtoappearwiththeirgreatcommander。

McClellan’sOwnStorywasarrangedforwithoutdifficulty。AGenesisoftheCivilWar，byGen。SamuelWylieCrawford，wasofferedandaccepted。

GeneralSheridan’sMemoirswereinpreparation，andnegotiationswithWebster&Co。fortheirappearancewerenotdelayed。ProbablyneitherWebsternorClemensbelievedthatthesaleofanyofthesebookswouldapproachthoseoftheGrantLife，buttheyexpectedthemtobelarge，fortheGrantbookhadstimulatedthepublictasteforwarliterature，andanythingbearingthestampofpersonalbattleexperiencewasconsideredliterarylegal—tender。

Moreover，thesefeatures，andeventheGrantbookitself，seemedlikelytodwindleinimportancebythesideofTheLifeofPopeLeoXIII。，whoinhisoldandenfeebledagehadconsentedtothepreparationofamemoir，tobepublishedwithhissanctionandblessing。——[ByBernardO’Reilly，D。D。，LL。D。"WrittenwiththeEncouragement，Approbation，andBlessingsofHisHolinessthePope。"]——ClemensandWebster——everyone，infact，whoheardoftheproject——unitedinthebeliefthatnobook，withtheexceptionoftheHolyScriptureitselfortheKoran，wouldhaveawideracceptancethanthebiographyofthePope。Itwasagreedbygoodjudges——andtheyincludedHowellsandTwichellandeventheshrewdgeneralagentsthroughoutthecountry——thateverygoodCatholicwouldregardsuchabooknotonlyasdesirable，butasabsolutelynecessarytohissalvation。Howells，recallingClemens’semotionsofthistime，writes：

Hehadnowordsinwhichtopaintthemagnificenceoftheprojectortoforecastitscolossalsuccess。ItwouldhaveacurrencyboundedonlybythenumberofCatholicsinChristendom。Itwouldbetranslatedintoeverylanguagewhichwasanywherewrittenorprinted；itwouldbecirculatedliterallyineverycountryoftheglobe。

TheformalcontractforthisgreatundertakingwassignedinRomeinApril，1886，andWebsterimmediatelypreparedtogoovertoconsultwithhisHolinessinpersonastocertaindetails，also，nodoubt，forthenewspaperadvertisingwhichmustresultfromsuchaninterview。

ItwasdecidedtocarryahandsomepresenttothePopeintheformofaspeciallymadeeditionoftheGrantMemoirsinarich—casket，anditwasClemens’sideathatthebindingofthebookshouldbesolidgold——thistobedonebyTiffanyatanestimatedcostofaboutthreethousanddollars。

Intheend，however，thebindingwasnotgold，butthehandsomestthatcouldbedesignedoflesspreciousandmoreappropriatematerials。

WebstersailedtowardtheendofJune，andwaswarmlyreceivedandhighlyhonoredinRome。ThegreatfiguresoftheGrantsuccesshadastonishedEuropeevenmorethanAmerica，wherespectacularachievementsweremorecommon。ThatanysinglepublicationshouldpayaprofittoauthorandpublisherofsixhundredthousanddollarswasathingwhichbelongedwiththewondersofAladdin’sgarden。Itwasnatural，therefore，thatWebster，whohadrubbedthemagiclampwiththisresult，whowasMarkTwain’spartner，andwhohadnowtraveledacrosstheseastoconferwiththePopehimself，shouldbereceivedwithroyalhonors。Inletterswrittenatthetime，Websterrelateshowhefounditnecessarytohaveanimposingcarriageandafootmantomaintainthedignityofhismission，andhow，aftervariousimpressiveformalities，hewasgrantedaprivateaudience，averyspecialhonorindeed。Webster’slettergivesusapictureofhisHolinesswhichisworthpreserving。

We——[Mrs。Webster，who，thereaderwillremember，wasAnnieMoffett，adaughterofPamelaClemens，wasincludedintheinvitationtothePresenceChamber。]——foundourselvesinaroomperhapstwenty—fivebythirty—fivefeet；thefurniturewasgilt，upholsteredinlight—redsilk，andtheside—wallswerehungwiththesamematerial。Againstthewallbywhichweenteredandinthemiddlespacewasalargegiltthronechair，upholsteredinredplush，anduponitsatamanbowedwithage；hishairwassilverywhiteandaspureasthedrivensnow。Hisheadwaspartlycoveredwithawhiteskullcap；hewasdressedinalongwhitecassockwhichreachedtohisfeet，whichresteduponared—plushcushionandwereinclosedinredembroideredslipperswithadesignofacross。Agoldenchainwasabouthisneckandsuspendedbyitinhislapwasagoldcrosssetinpreciousstones。Uponafingerofhisrighthandwasagoldringwithanemeraldsettingnearlyaninchindiameter。Hiscountenancewassmiling，andbeamedwithbenevolence。Hisfaceatonceimpressedusasthatofanoble，puremanwhocouldnotdootherwisethangood。

ThiswasthePopeofRome，andasweadvanced，makingthethreegenuflexionsprescribedbyetiquette，hesmiledbenignlyuponus。