第37章

HewasnotalwayscomplimentarytothosewhoundertooktoChristianizetheIndians；buthedidnotfailtowritehisadmirationoftheircourage——theirverywillingnesstoendureprivationandeventhefiendishsavagetorturesforthesakeoftheirfaith。"Whatmannerofmenarethese？"hewrote，aproposoftheaccountofBressani，whohadundergonethemostdevilishinflictionswhichsavageingenuitycoulddevise，andyetreturnedmaimedanddisfiguredthefollowingspringto"dareagaintheknivesandfierybrandoftheIroquois。"ClemenswaslikelytobeonthesideoftheIndians，buthardlyintheirbarbarism。Inoneplacehewrote：

ThatmenshouldbewillingtoleavetheirhappyhomesandendurewhatthemissionariesenduredinordertoteachtheseIndianstheroadtohellwouldberational，understandable，butwhytheyshouldwanttoteachthemawaytoheavenisathingwhichthemindsomehowcannotgrasp。

Otherhistories，mainlyEnglishandFrench，showedhowhehadreadthem——

readanddigestedeverywordandline。ThereweretwovolumesofLecky，muchworn；AndrewD。White’s’ScienceandTheology’——achiefinterestforatleastonesummer——andamongthecollectionawell—worncopyof’ModernEnglishLiterature——ItsBlemishesandDefects’，byHenryH。Breen。Onthetitle—pageofthisbookClemenshadwritten：

HARTFORD，1876。Usewithcare，foritisascarcebook。Englandhadtoberansackedinordertogetit——orthebooksellerspeakethfalsely。

HeoncewroteapaperfortheSaturdayMorningClub，usingforhistextexamplesofslipshodEnglishwhichBreenhadnoted。

Clemenshadapassionforbiography，andespeciallyforautobiography，diaries，letters，andsuchintimatehumanhistory。Greville’s’JournaloftheReignsofGeorgeIV。andWilliamIV。’hehadreadmuchandannotatedfreely。Greville，whileheadmiredByron’stalents，abhorredthepoet’spersonality，andinoneplacecondemnshimasaviciouspersonandadebauchee。Headds：

Thenhedespisespretendersandcharlatansofallsorts，whileheishimselfapretender，asallmenarewhoassumeacharacterwhichdoesnotbelongtothemandaffecttobesomethingwhichtheyareallthetimeconscioustheyarenotinreality。

Clemenswroteonthemargin：

But，dearsir，youareforgettingthatwhatamanseesinthehumanraceismerelyhimselfinthedeepandhonestprivacyofhisownheart。Byrondespisedtheracebecausehedespisedhimself。IfeelasByrondid，andforthesamereason。Doyouadmiretherace(&

consequentlyyourself)？

Alittlefurtheralong——whereGrevillelamentsthatByroncantakenoprofittohimselffromthesinfulcharactershedepictssofaithfully，Clemenscommented：

IfByron——ifanyman——draws50characters，theyareallhimself——50

shades，50moods，ofhisowncharacter。Andwhenthemandrawsthemwellwhydotheystirmyadmiration？Becausetheyareme——I

recognizemyself。

AvolumeofPlutarchwasamongthebiographiesthatshowedusage，andtheLifeofP。T。Barnum，WrittenbyHimself。TwoYearsBeforetheMastheloved，andnevertiredof。ThemorerecentMemoirsofAndrewD。WhiteandMoncureD。Conwayboth，Iremember，gavehimenjoyment，asdidtheLettersofLowell。AvolumeoftheLettersofMadamedeSevignehadsomeannotatedmarginswhichwerenotcomplimentarytothetranslator，orforthatmattertoSevigneherself，whomheoncedesignatesasa"nauseating"

person，manyofwhoselettershadbeenuselesslytranslated，aswellaspoorlyarrangedforreading。Buthewouldreadanyvolumeoflettersorpersonalmemoirs；noneweretoopoorthathadthethroboflifeinthem，howeverslight。

OfsuchsortwerethebooksthatMarkTwainhadlovedbest，andsuchwereafewofhiswordsconcerningthem。Someofthembelongtohisearlierreading，andamongtheseisDarwin’s’DescentofMan’，abookwhoseinfluencewasalwayspresent，thoughIbelievehedidnotreaditanymoreinlateryears。InthedaysIknewhimhereadsteadilynotmuchbesidesSuetoniusandPepysandCarlyle。TheseandhissimpleastronomiesandgeologiesandtheMorteArthureandthepoemsofKiplingwereseldomfarfromhishand。

CCLXXXVIII

ABERMUDABIRTHDAY

ItwasthemiddleofNovember，1909，whenClemensdecidedtotakeanotherBermudavacation，anditwasthe19ththatwesailed。IwenttoNewYorkadayaheadandarrangedmatters，andontheeveningofthe18threceivedthenewsthatRichardWatsonGilderhadsuddenlydied。

Nextmorningtherewasothernews。Clemens’soldfriend，WilliamM。

Laffan，oftheSun，haddiedwhileundergoingasurgicaloperation。I

metClemensatthetrain。HehadalreadyheardaboutGilder；buthehadnotyetlearnedofLaffan’sdeath。Hesaid：

"That’sjustit。GilderandLaffangetallthegoodthingsthatcomealongandInevergetanything。"

Then，suddenlyremembering，headded：

"Howcuriousitis！IhavebeenthinkingofLaffancomingdownonthetrain，andmentallywritingalettertohimonthisStetson—Eddyaffair。"

IaskedwhenhehadbegunthinkingofLaffan。

Hesaid："Withinthehour。"

ItwaswithinthehourthatIhadreceivedthenews，andnaturallyinmymindhadcarrieditinstantlytohim。Perhapstherewassomethingtelepathicinit。

HewasnotatallillgoingdowntoBermuda，whichwasafortunatething，forthewaterwasroughandIwasquitedisqualified。Wedidnotevendiscussastronomy，thoughtherewaswhatseemedmostimportantnews——thereporteddiscoveryofanewplanet。

ButtherewasplentyoftalkonthesubjectassoonaswegotsettledintheHamiltonHotel。Itwaswindyandrainyout—of—doors，andwelookedoutonthedrenchedsemi—tropicalfoliagewithagreatbambooswayingandbendingintheforeground，whilehespeculatedonthevastdistancethatthenewplanetmustliefromoursun，towhichitwasstillasatellite。

Thereporthadsaidthatitwasprobablyfourhundredbillionsofmilesdistant，andthatonthisfarfrontierofthesolarsystemthesuncouldnotappeartoitlargerthantheblazeofatallowcandle。Tousitwaswhollyincrediblehow，inthatdimremoteness，itcouldstillholdtruetothecentralforceandfollowatasnail—pace，yetwithunvaryingexactitude，itsstupendousorbit。ClemenssaidthatheretoforeNeptune，theplanetaryoutpostofoursystem，hadbeencalledthetortoiseoftheskies，butthatcomparativelyitwasrapidinitsmotion，andhadbecomeanearneighbor。Hewasagooddealexcitedatfirst，havingsomehowtheimpressionthatthisnewplanettraveledoutbeyondthenearestfixedstar；butthenherememberedthatthedistancetothatfirstsolarneighborwasestimatedintrillions，notbillions，andthatourlittlesystem，evenwithitsnewadditions，wasachild’shandbreadthontheplaneofthesky。HehadbroughtalongasmallbookcalledThePithofAstronomy——afascinatinglittlevolume——andhereadfromitaboutthegreattempestoffireinthesun，wherethewavesofflamerolluptwothousandmileshigh，thoughthesunitselfissuchatinystarinthedeepsoftheuniverse。

IfIdwellunwarrantablyonthisphaseofMarkTwain’scharacter，itisbecauseitwasalwayssofascinatingtome，andthecontemplationofthedramaoftheskiesalwaysmeantsomuchtohim，andsomehowalwaysseemedakintohiminitsproportions。Hehadbeenbornunderaflamingstar，awandereroftheskies。Hewashimself，tome，alwaysacometrushingthroughspace，frommysterytomystery，regardlessofsunandsystems。ItisnotlikelytorainlonginBermuda，andwhenthesuncomesbackitbringssummer，whatevertheseason。Withinadayafterourarrivalweweredrivingaboutthosecoralroadsalongthebeaches，andbythatmarvelouslyvariegatedwater。Wewentoftentothesouthshore，especiallytoDevonshireBay，wherethereefsandtheseacoloringseemmorebeautifulthanelsewhere。Usually，whenwereachedthebay，wegotouttowalkalongtheinduratedshore，stoppinghereandtheretolookoutoverthejeweledwaterliquidturquoise，emeraldlapis—lazuli，jade，theimperialgarmentoftheLord。

Atfirstwewentalonewithonlythecoloreddriver，CliffordTrott，whosenameClemenscouldnotrecollect，thoughhewasalwaysattemptingresemblanceswithludicrousresults。AlittlelaterHelenAllen，anearlyangel—fishmemberalreadymentioned，waswithusanddirectedthedrives，forshehadbeenbornontheislandandkneweveryattractivelocality，though，forthatmatter，itwouldbehardtofindthereaplacethatwasnotattractive。

Clemens，infact，remainednotmanydaysregularlyatthehotel。Hekeptaroomandhiswardrobethere；buthepaidavisittoBayHouse——thelovelyandquiethomeofHelen’sparents——andprolongeditfromdaytoday，andfromweektoweek，becauseitwasaquietandpeacefulplacewithaffectionateattentionandlimitlesswelcome。CliffordTrotthadorderstocomewiththecarriageeachafternoon，andwedrovedowntoBayHouseforMarkTwainandhisplaymate，andthenwentwanderingatwillamongthelabyrinthofblossom—bordered，perfectlykeptroadwaysofadaintyparadise，thatnever，Ibelieve，becomesquitearealityeventothosewhoknowitbest。

Clemenshadanoccasionalparoxysmduringtheseweeks，buttheywerenotlikelytobesevereorprotracted；andIhavenodoubtthepeaceofhissurroundings，theremotenessfromdisturbingevents，aswellasthebalmytemperature，allcontributedtohisimprovedcondition。

Hetalkedprettycontinuouslyduringthesedrives，andhebynomeansrestrictedhissubjectstojuvenilematters。Hediscussedhistoryandhisfavoritesciencesandphilosophies，andIamsurethathisdriftwasrarelybeyondtheunderstandingofhisyoungcompanion，foritwasMarkTwain’sgifttophrasehisthoughtsothatitcommandednotonlytherespectofage，butthecomprehensionandtheinterestofyouth。

Irememberthatoncehetalked，duringanafternoon’sdrive，ontheFrenchRevolutionandtheridiculousepisodeofAnacharsisCloots，"oratorandadvocateofthehumanrace，"collectingthevastpopulaceofFrancetoswearallegiancetoakingeventhendoomedtotheblock。TheverynameofClootssuggestedhumor，andnothingcouldhavebeenmoredelightfulandgraphicthanthewholeepisodeasherelatedit。

HelenaskedifhethoughtsuchathingasthatcouldeverhappeninAmerica。

"No，"hesaid，"theAmericansenseofhumorwouldhavelaugheditoutofcourtinaweek；andtheFrenchmandreadsridicule，too，thoughheneverseemstorealizehowridiculousheis——themostridiculouscreatureintheworld。"

Onthemorningofhisseventy—fourthbirthdayhewaslookingwonderfullywellafteranightofsoundsleep，hisfacefullofcolorandfreshness，hiseyesbrightandkeenandfullofgood—humor。Ipresentedhimwithapairofcuff—buttonssilver—enameledwiththeBermudalily，andIthoughtheseemedpleasedwiththem。

Itwasrathergloomyoutside，soweremainedindoorsbythefireandplayedcards，gameaftergameofhearts，atwhichheexcelled，andhewasusuallykepthappybywinning。Therewerenovisitors，andafterdinnerHelenaskedhimtoreadsomeofherfavoriteepisodesfromTomSawyer，sohereadthewhitewashingscene，PeterandthePain—killer，andsuchchaptersuntiltea—time。Thentherewasabirthdaycake，andafterwardcigarsandtalkandaquietfiresideevening。

Once，inthecourseofhistalk，heforgotawordanddenouncedhispoormemory：

"I’llforgettheLord’smiddlenamesometime，"hedeclared，"rightinthemidstofastorm，whenIneedallthehelpIcanget。"

Laterhesaid：

"Nobodydreamed，seventy—fouryearsagoto—day，thatIwouldbeinBermudanow。"AndIthoughthemeantagooddealmorethanthewordsconveyed。

ItwasduringthisBermudavisitthatMarkTwainaddedthefinishingparagraphtohisarticle，"TheTurning—PointinMyLife，"which，atHowells’ssuggestion，hehadbeenpreparingforHarper’sBazar。Itwasacharacteristictouch，and，asthelastsummaryofhisphilosophyofhumanlife，mayberepeatedhere。

Necessarilythesceneoftherealturning—pointofmylife(andofyours)wastheGardenofEden。Itwastherethatthefirstlinkwasforgedofthechainthatwasultimatelytoleadtotheemptyingofmeintotheliteraryguild。Adam’stemperamentwasthefirstcommandtheDeityeverissuedtoahumanbeingonthisplanet。AnditwastheonlycommandAdamwouldneverbeabletodisobey。Itsaid，"Beweak，bewater，becharacterless，becheaplypersuadable。"

Thelatercommand，toletthefruitalone，wascertaintobedisobeyed。NotbyAdamhimself，butbyhistemperament——whichhedidnotcreateandhadnoauthorityover。Forthetemperamentistheman；thethingtrickedoutwithclothesandnamedManismerelyitsShadow，nothingmore。Thelawofthetiger’stemperamentis，Thoushaftkill；thelawofthesheep’stemperamentis，Thoushaltnotkill。Toissuelatercommandsrequiringthetigertoletthefatstrangeralone，andrequiringthesheeptoimbrueitshandsinthebloodofthelionisnotworthwhile，forthosecommandscan’tbeobeyed。Theywouldinvitetoviolationsofthelawoftemperament，whichissupreme，andtakesprecedenceofallotherauthorities。IcannothelpfeelingdisappointedinAdamandEve。

Thatis，intheirtemperaments。Notinthem，poorhelplessyoungcreatures——afflictedwithtemperamentsmadeoutofbutter，whichbutterwascommandedtogetintocontactwithfireandbemelted。

WhatIcannothelpwishingis，thatAdamandEvehadbeenpostponed，andMartinLutherandJoanofArcputintheirplace——thatsplendidpairequippedwithtemperamentsnotmadeofbutter，butofasbestos。

Byneithersugarypersuasionsnorbyhell—firecouldSatanhavebeguiledthemtoeattheapple。

Therewouldhavebeenresults！Indeedyes。Theapplewouldbeintactto—day；therewouldbenohumanrace；therewouldbenoyou；

therewouldbenome。Andtheold，oldcreation—dawnschemeofultimatelylaunchingmeintotheliteraryguildwouldhavebeendefeated。

CCLXXXIX

THEDEATHOFJEAN

Hedecidedtogohomefortheholidays，andhowfortunateitseemsnowthathedidso！WesailedforAmericaonthe18thofDecember，arrivingthe21st。Jeanwasatthewharftomeetus，blueandshiveringwiththecold，foritwaswretchedlybleakthere，andIhadthefeelingthatsheshouldnothavecome。

Shewentdirectly，Ithink，toStormfield，hefollowingadayortwolater。Onthe23dIwaslunchingwithJeanalone。ShewasfullofinterestinherChristmaspreparations。Shehadahandsometreesetupintheloggia，andthepackageswerepiledaboutit，withnewonesconstantlyarriving。Withherfarmmanagement，herhousekeeping，hersecretarywork，andherChristmaspreparations，itseemedtomethatshehadherhandsoverfull。Suchamentalpressurecouldnotbegoodforher。IsuggestedthatforatimeatleastImightassumeapartofherburden。

Iwastoremainatmyownhomethatnight，andIthinkitwasasIleftStormfieldthatIpassedjeanonthestair。Shesaid，cheerfully，thatshefeltalittletiredandwasgoinguptoliedown，sothatshewouldbefreshfortheevening。Ididnotgoback，andIneversawheraliveagain。

IwasatbreakfastnextmorningwhenwordwasbroughtinthatoneofthemenfromStormfieldwasoutsideandwishedtoseemeimmediately。WhenI

wentouthesaid："MissJeanisdead。Theyhavejustfoundherinherbath—room。Mr。Clemenssentmetobringyou。"

Itwasasincomprehensibleassuchthingsalwaysare。IcouldnotrealizeatallthatJean，sofullofplansandindustriesandactionlessthanadaybefore，hadpassedintothatvoicelessmysterywhichwecalldeath。

HarryIlesdrovemerapidlyupthehill。AsIenteredClemens’sroomhelookedatmehelplesslyandsaid：

"Well，Isupposeyouhaveheardofthisfinaldisaster。"

Hewasnotviolentorbrokendownwithgrief。Hehadcometothatplacewhere，whatevertheshockortheill—turnoffortune，hecouldacceptit，andeveninthatfirstmomentoflossherealizedthat，forJeanatleast，thefortunewasnotill。Hermaladyhadneverbeencured，andithadbeenoneofhisdeepestdreadsthathewouldleaveherbehindhim。

Itwasbelieved，atfirst；thatJeanhaddrowned，andDr。Smithtriedmethodsofresuscitation；butthenhefoundthatitwassimplyacaseofheartcessationcausedbythecoldshockofherbath。

TheGabrilowitscheswerebythistimeinEurope，andClemenscabledthemnottocome。LaterinthedayheaskedmeifwewouldbewillingtocloseourhomeforthewinterandcometoStormfield。HesaidthatheshouldprobablygobacktoBermudabeforelong；butthathewishedtokeepthehouseopensothatitwouldbethereforhimtocometoatanytimethathemightneedit。

Wecame，ofcourse，fortherewasnothoughtamonganyofhisfriendsbutforhiscomfortandpeaceofmind。JervisLangdonwassummonedfromElmira，forJeanwouldlietherewiththeothers。

Intheloggiastoodthehalf—trimmedChristmastree，andallaboutlaythepackagesofgifts，andinJean’sroom，onthechairsanduponherdesk，werepiledotherpackages。Nobodyhadbeenforgotten。Forherfathershehadboughtahandsomeglobe；hehadalwayswantedone。OncewhenIwentintohisroomhesaid：

"IhavebeenlookinginatJeanandenvyingher。Ihavenevergreatlyenviedanyonebutthedead。Ialwaysenvythedead。"

Hetoldmehowthenightbeforetheyhaddinedtogetheralone；howhehadurgedhertoturnoverapartofherworktome；howshehadclungtoeverydutyasifnow，afteralltheyears，shewasdeterminedtomakeupforlosttime。

Whiletheywereatdinneratelephoneinquiryhadcomeconcerninghishealth，forthepapershadreportedhimasreturningfromBermudainacriticalcondition。Hehadwrittenthisplayfulanswer：

MANAGERASSOCIATEDPRESS，NewYork。

IhearthenewspaperssayIamdying。Thechargeisnottrue。I

wouldnotdosuchathingatmytimeoflife。IambehavingasgoodasIcan。

MerryChristmastoeverybody！MARKTWAIN。

Jeantelephoneditforhimtothepress。Ithadbeenthelastsecretaryserviceshehadeverrendered。

Shehadkissedhishand，hesaid，whentheyparted，forshehadaseverecoldandwouldnotwishtoimpartittohim；thenhappilyshehadsaidgoodnight，andhehadnotseenheragain。Therecitingofthiswasgoodtohim，foritbroughtthecomfortoftears。

Later，whenIwentinagain，hewaswriting：

"Iamsettingitdown，"hesaid——"everything。Itisarelieftometowriteit。Itfurnishesmeanexcuseforthinking。"

Hecontinuedwritingmostoftheday，andatintervalsduringthenextday，andthenext。

ItwasonChristmasDaythattheywentwithJeanonherlastjourney。

KatieLeary，herbabynurse，haddressedherinthedaintygownwhichshehadwornforClara’swedding，andtheyhadpinnedonitaprettybucklewhichherfatherhadbroughtherfromBermuda，andwhichshehadnotseen。NoGreekstatuewasevermoreclassicallybeautifulthanshewas，lyingthereinthegreatliving—room，whichinitsbriefhistoryhadseensomuchoftheroundoflife。

Theyweretostartwithjeanataboutsixo’clock，andalittlebeforethattimeClemens(hewasunabletomakethejourney)askedmewhathadbeenherfavoritemusic。IsaidthatsheseemedalwaystocaremostfortheSchubertImpromptu。——[Op。142，No。2。]——Thenhesaid：

"Playitwhentheygetreadytoleavewithher，andaddtheIntermezzoforSusyandtheLargoforMrs。Clemens。WhenIhearthemusicIshallknowthattheyarestarting。Tellthemtosetlanternsatthedoor，soI

canlookdownandseethemgo。"

SoIsatattheorganandbeganplayingastheyliftedandboreheraway。

Asoft，heavysnowwasfalling，andthegloomofthoseshortestdayswasclosingin。Therewasnottheleastwindornoise，thewholeworldwasmuffled。Thelanternsatthedoorthrewtheirlightoutonthethicklyfallingflakes。Iremainedattheorgan；butthelittlegroupatthedoorsawhimcometothewindowabove——thelightonhiswhitehairashestoodmournfullygazingdown，watchingJeangoingawayfromhimforthelasttime。Iplayedsteadilyonashehadinstructed，theImpromptu，theIntermezzofrom"Cavalleria，"andHandel’sLargo。WhenIhadfinishedI

wentupandfoundhim。

"PoorlittleJean，"hesaid；"butforheritissogoodtogo。"

Inhisownstoryofithewrote：

FrommywindowsIsawthehearseandthecarriageswindalongtheroadandgraduallygrowvagueandspectralinthefallingsnow，andpresentlydisappear。Jeanwasgoneoutofmylife，andwouldnotcomebackanymore。Thecousinshehadplayedwithwhentheywerebabiestogether——heandherbelovedoldKatie——Wereconductinghertoherdistantchildhoodhome，whereshewillliebyhermother’ssideoncemore，inthecompanyofSusyandLangdon。

Hedidnotcomedowntodinner，andwhenIwentupafterwardIfoundhimcuriouslyagitated。Hesaid：

"ForonewhodoesnotbelieveinspiritsIhavehadamostpeculiarexperience。Iwentintothebath—roomjustnowandclosedthedoor。

Youknowhowwarmitalwaysisinthere，andtherearenodraughts。AllatonceIfeltacoldcurrentofairaboutme。Ithoughtthedoormustbeopen；butitwasclosed。Isaid，’Jean，isthisyoutryingtoletmeknowyouhavefoundtheothers？’Thenthecoldairwasgone。"

Isawthattheincidenthadmadeaverygreatimpressionuponhim；butI

don’trememberthatheevermentioneditafterward。

Nextdaythestormhadturnedintoafearfulblizzard；thewholehilltopwasaraging，drivingmassofwhite。Hewrotemostoftheday，butstoppednowandthentoreadsomeofthetelegramsorlettersofcondolencewhichcamefloodingin。Sometimeshewalkedovertothewindowtolookoutonthefurioustempest。Once，duringtheafternoon，hesaid：

"Jeanalwayssolovedtoseeastormlikethis，andjustnowatElmiratheyareburyingher。"

LaterhereadaloudsomelinesbyAlfredAustin，whichMrs。CranehadsenthimlineswhichhehadrememberedinthesorrowforSusy：

Whenlastcamesorrow，aroundbarnandbyreWind—careensnow，theyear’swhitesepulchre，lay。

"Comein，"Isaid，"andwarmyoubythefire"；

Andthereshesitsandnevergoesaway。

ItwasthateveningthathecameintotheroomwhereMrs。PaineandIsatbythefire，bringinghismanuscript。

"IhavefinishedmystoryofJean’sdeath，"hesaid。"Itistheendofmyautobiography。Ishallneverwriteanymore。Ican’tjudgeitmyselfatall。Oneofyoureaditaloudtotheother，andletmeknowwhatyouthinkofit。Ifitisworthy，perhapssomedayitmaybepublished。"

Itwas，infact，oneofthemostexquisiteandtenderpiecesofwritinginthelanguage。Hehadendedhisliterarylaborswiththatperfectthingwhichsomarvelouslyspeakstheloftinessandtende