第5章
Thereisanotherletterwrittenjustatthistimewhichofalllettersmustnotbeomittedhere。OnlyfiveyearsearlierMarkTwain，poor，andcomparativelyunknown，hadbeencarryingwaterwhileJimGillisandDickStokerwashedoutthepansofdirtinsearchofthegoldpocketwhichtheydidnotfind。ClemensmusthavereceivedaletterfromGillisreferringtosomeparticularoccasion，butithasdisappeared；thereply，however，alwaysremainedoneofJamesGillis”streasuredpossessions。
ToJamesGillis，inhiscabinonJackassHill，TuolumneCo。，California：
ELMIRA，N。Y。Jan。26，”70。
DEARJIM，——Irememberthatoldnightjustaswell！AndsomewhereamongmyrelicsIhaveyourremembrancestoredaway。Itmakesmyheartacheyettocalltomindsomeofthosedays。Still，itshouldn”t——forrightinthedepthsoftheirpovertyandtheirpocket-huntingvagabondagelaythegermofmycominggoodfortune。YouremembertheonegleamofjollitythatshotacrossourdismalsojournintherainandmudofAngels”CampImeanthatdaywesataroundthetavernstoveandheardthatchaptellaboutthefrogandhowtheyfilledhimwithshot。Andyourememberhowwequotedfromtheyarnandlaughedoverit，outthereonthehillsidewhileyouanddearoldStokerpannedandwashed。Ijottedthestorydowninmynote-bookthatday，andwouldhavebeengladtogettenorfifteendollarsforit——Iwasjustthatblind。Butthenweweresohardup！
Ipublishedthatstory，anditbecamewidelyknowninAmerica，India，China，England——andthereputationitmadeformehaspaidmethousandsandthousandsofdollarssince。FourorfivemonthsagoIboughtintotheExpress(Ihaveordereditsenttoyouaslongasyoulive——andifthebookkeepersendsyouanybills，youletmehearofit。)Iwentheavilyindebtnevercouldhavedaredtodothat，Jim，ifwehadn”theardthejumpingFrogstorythatday。
Andwouldn”tIlovetotakeoldStokerbythehand，andwouldn”tIlovetoseehiminhisgreatspecialty，hiswonderfulrenditionof“Rinalds“
inthe“BurningShame！“WhereisDickandwhatishedoing？Givehimmyferventloveandwarmoldremembrances。
AweekfromtodayIshallbemarriedtoagirlevenbetter，andlovelierthanthepeerless“ChapparalQuails。”Youcan”tcomesofar，Jim，butstillIcordiallyinviteyoutocome，anyhow——andIinviteDick，too。
Andifyoutwoboysweretolandhereonthatpleasantoccasion，wewouldmakeyourightroyallywelcome。
Trulyyourfriend，SAMLL。CLEMENS。
P。S。“Californiaplumsaregood，Jim——particularlywhentheyarestewed。”
SteveGillis，whosentacopyofhislettertothewriter，added：
“DickStoker——dear，gentleunselfisholdDick-diedoverthreeyearsago，aged78。IamsureitwillbeamelancholypleasuretoMarktoknowthatDicklivedincomfortallhislaterlife，sincerelylovedandrespectedbyallwhoknewhim。HeneverleftJackassHill。Hestruckapocketyearsagocontainingenoughnotonlytobuildhimselfacomfortablehousenearhisoldcabin，buttolasthim，withoutwork，tohispainlessend。HewasaMason，andwasburiedbytheOrderinSonora。
“The”Quails”——thebeautiful，theinnocent，thewildlittleQuails——
livedwayoutintheChapparal；onalittleranchneartheStanislausRiver，withtheirfatherandmother。Theywerefamousfortheirbeautyandhadmanysuitors。”
Thementionof“Californiaplums“referstosomeinediblefruitwhichGillisonce，outofpuregoodnessofheart，boughtofapoorwanderingsquaw，andthen，toconcealhismotive，declaredthattheyweresomethingrareandfine，andpersistedineatingthem，thoughevenwhenstewedtheynearlychokedhim。
X。
LETTERS1870-71。MARKTWAININBUFFALO。MARRIAGE。THEBUFFALOEXPRESS。
“MEMORANDA。”LECTURES。ANEWBOOK
SamuelL。ClemensandOliviaLangdonweremarriedintheLangdonhomeatElmira，February2，1870，andtookuptheirresidenceinBuffaloinabeautifulhome，aweddingpresentfromthebride”sfather。Thestoryoftheirwedding，andtheamusingcircumstancesconnectedwiththeirestablishmentinBuffalo，havebeentoldelsewhere——[MarkTwain：ABiography，chap。lxxiv。]
MarkTwainnowbelievedthathewasthroughwithlecturing。TwoletterstoRedpath，hisagent，expresshiscomfortablecondition。
ToJamesRedpath，inBoston：
BUFFALO，March22，1890。
DEARRED，——Iamnotgoingtolectureanymoreforever。Ihavegotthingsciphereddowntoafractionnow。IknowjustaboutwhatitwillcostustoliveandIcanmakethemoneywithoutlecturing。Thereforeoldman，countmeout。
Yourfriend，S。L。CLEMENS。
ToJamesRedpath，inBoston：
ELMIRA，N。Y。May10，1870。
FRIENDREDPATH，——IguessIamoutofthefieldpermanently。
Havegotalovelywife；alovelyhouse，bewitchinglyfurnished；alovelycarriage，andacoachmanwhosestyleanddignityaresimplyawe-
inspiring——nothingless——andIammakingmoremoneythannecessary——byconsiderable，andthereforewhycrucifymyselfnightlyontheplatform。
Thesubscriberwillhavetobeexcusedfromthepresentseasonatleast。
RemembermetoNasby，BillingsandFall——[Redpath”spartnerinthelecturelyceum。]——Lucktoyou！Iamgoingtoprintyourmenagerie，Partonandall，andmakecomments。
InnextGalaxyIgiveNasby”sfriendandminefromPhiladelphia(JohnQuill，aliterarythief)a“hyste。”
Yoursalwaysandafter。
MARK。
ThereferencetotheGalaxyintheforegoingletterhastodowithadepartmentcalledMemoranda，whichhehadundertakentoconductforthenewmagazine。Thisworkaddedsubstantiallytohisincome，andhebelieveditwouldbecongenial。Hewasallowedfreehandtowriteandprintwhathechose，andsomeofhisbestworkatthistimewaspublishedinthenewdepartment，whichhecontinuedforayear。
MarkTwainnowseemedtohavehisaffairswellregulated。HismotherandsisterwerenolongerfarawayinSt。Louis。Soonafterhismarriagetheyhad，byhisadvice，takenupresidenceatFredonia，NewYork，wheretheycouldbeeasilyvisitedfromBuffalo。
Altogether，theoutlookseemedbrighttoMarkTwainandhiswife，duringthefirstmonthsoftheirmarriage。Thentherecameachange。InaletterwhichClemenswrotetohismotherandsisterwegetthefirstchapterofdisaster。
ToMrs。JaneClemens，andMrs。Moffett，inFredonia，N。Y。：
ELMIRA，N。Y。June25，1870。
MYDEARMOTHERANDSISTER，——Wewerecalledheresuddenlybytelegram，3
daysago。Mr。Langdonisverylow。Wehavewell-nighlosthope——allofusexceptLivy。
Mr。Langdon，whosehopeisoneofhismostprominentcharacteristics，sayshimself，thismorning，thathisrecoveryisonlyapossibility，notaprobability。Hemadehiswillthismorning——thatis，appointedexecutors——nothingelsewasnecessary。ThehouseholdissadenoughCharleyisinBavaria。WetelegraphedMunroe&Co。Paris，tonotifyCharleytocomehome——theysentthemessagetoMunich。Ourmessagelefthereat8inthemorningandCharley”sanswerarrivedlessthaneighthoursafterward。Hesailedimmediately。
Hewillreachhometwoweeksfromnow。Thewholecityistroubled。AsI
write(attheoffice，)adispatcharrivesfromCharleywhohasreachedLondon，andwillsailthenceon28th。Hewantsnews。Wecannotsendhimany。
AffectionatelySAM。
P。S。Isent$300toFredoniaBankforMa——Itisinhername。
Mrs。Clemens，herself，wasnotinthebestofhealthatthistime，butdevotiontoherfathertookhertohisbedside，wheresheinsisteduponstandinglong，hardwatches，thestrainofwhichtolduponherseverely。Meantime，workmustgoon；thedailydemandofthenewspaperandthemonthlycalloftheMemorandacouldnotgounheeded。Also，Blisswantedanewbook，andmetMarkTwainatElmiratoarrangeforit。InalettertoOrionwelearnofthisproject。
ToOrionClemens，inSt。Louis：
ELMIRA，July15，1870
MYDEARBRO。，——PercontractImusthaveanother600-pagebookreadyformypublisherJan。z，andIonlybeganittoday。Thesubjectofitisasecret，becauseImaypossiblychangeit。Butasitstands，IproposetodoupNevadaandCal。，beginningwiththetripacrossthecountryinthestage。Haveyouamemorandumoftheroutewetook——orthenamesofanyoftheStationswestoppedat？Doyourememberanyofthescenes，names，incidentsoradventuresofthecoachtrip？——forIremembernexttonothingaboutthematter。Jotdownafoolscappageofitemsforme。
IwishIcouldhavetwodays”talkwithyou。
IsupposeIamtogetthebiggestcopyright，thistime，everpaidonasubscriptionbookinthiscountry。
GiveourlovetoMollie——Mr。Langdonisverylow。
YrBroSAM。
The“biggestcopyright，“mentionedinthisletter，wasaroyaltyof7？apercent。，whichBlisshadagreedtopay，ontheretailpriceofthebook。ThebookwasRoughingIt，thoughthistitlewasnotdecideduponuntilconsiderablylater。OrionClemenseagerlyfurnishedadetailedmemorandumoftherouteoftheiroverlandjourney，whichbroughtthisenthusiasticacknowledgment：
ToOrionClemens，inSt。Louis：
BUF。，1870。
DEARBRO。，——Ifindthatyourlittlememorandumbookisgoingtobeeversomuchusetome，andwillenablemetomakequiteacoherentnarrativeofthePlainsjourneyinsteadofslurringitoverandjumping2，000milesatastride。ThebookIamwritingwillsell。InreturnfortheuseofthelittlememorandumbookIshalltakethegreatestpleasureinforwardingtoyouthethird$1，000whichthepublisheroftheforthcomingworksendsmeorthefirst$1，000，Iamnotparticular——theywillbothbeinthefirstquarterlystatementofaccountfromthepublisher。
Ingreathaste，YrObligedBro。
SAM。
LovetoMollie。Weareallgettingalongtolerablywell。
Mr。LangdondiedearlyinAugust，andMrs。ClemensreturnedtoBuffalo，exhaustedinmindandbody。Ifshehopedforrestnow，inthequietofherownhome，shewasdisappointed，asthetwobrieflettersthatfollowclearlyshow。
ToMrs。Moffett，inFredonia，N。Y。：
BUFFALO，Aug。31，70。
MYDEARSISTER，——IknowIoughttobethrashedfornotwritingyou，butIhavekeptputtingitoff。Wegetheapsofletterseveryday；itisacomforttohavesomebodylikeyouthatwillletusshirkandbepatientoverit。WegotthebookandIdidthinkIwrotealinethankingyouforit-butIsupposeIneglectedit。
Wearegettingalongtolerablywell。Mother[Mrs。Langdon]ishere，andMissEmmaNye。Livycannotsleepsinceherfather”sdeath——butIgiveheranarcoticeverynightandmakeher。IamjustasbusyasIcanbe——
amstillwritingfortheGalaxyandalsowritingabooklikethe“Innocents“insizeandstyle。Ihavegotmyworkciphereddowntodays，andIhaven”tasingledaytosparebetweenthisandthedatewhich，bywrittencontractIamtodelivertheM。S。ofthebooktothepublisher——
InahurryAffectionatelySAM
ToOrionClemens，inSt，Louis：
BUF。Sept。9th，1870。
MYDEARBRO，——Ohere！Idon”twanttobeconsultedatallaboutTenn。
Idon”twantitevenmentionedtome。WhenImakeasuggestionitisforyoutoactuponitorthrowitaside，butIbeseechyounevertoaskmyadvice，opinionorconsentaboutthathatedproperty。IfitwasbecauseIfelttheslightestpersonalinterestintheinfernallandthatIevermadeasuggestion，thesuggestionwouldneverbemade。
Doexactlyasyoupleasewiththeland——alwaysrememberthis——thatsotrivialapercentageastenpercentwillneversellit。
Itisonlyabidforasomnambulist。
Ihavenotimetoturnround，ayoungladyvisitor(schoolmateofLivy”s)
isdyinginthehouseoftyphoidfever(parentsareinSouthCarolina)
andthepremisesarefullofnursesanddoctorsandweareallfaggedout。
Yrs。
SAM。
MissNye，whohadcometocheerheroldschoolmate，hadbeenprostratedwiththedeadlyfeversoonafterherarrival。Anotherperiodofanxietyandnursingfollowed。Mrs。Clemens，inspiteofherfrailhealth，devotedmuchtimetoherdyingfriend，untilbythetimetheendcameshewasherselfinaprecariouscondition。
ThiswasattheendofSeptember。Alittlemorethanamonthlater，November7th，herfirstchild，LangdonClemens，wasprematurelyborn。TotheRev。JosephH。Twichellandwife，ofHartford，MarkTwaincharacteristicallyannouncedthenewarrival。
ToRev。JosephH。Twichellandwife，inHartford，Conn。：
BUFFALO，Nov12，”70。
DEARUNCLEANDAUNT，——Icameintotheworldonthe7thinst。，andconsequentlyamaboutfivedaysold，now。IhavehadwretchedhealtheversinceImademyappearance。Firstonethingandthenanotherhaskeptmeundertheweather，andasageneralthingIhavebeenchillyanduncomfortable。
Iamnotcorpulent，noramIrobustinanyway。AtbirthIonlyweighed4？poundswithmyclotheson——andtheclotheswerethechieffeatureoftheweight，too，Iamobligedtoconfess。ButIamdoingfinely，allthingsconsidered。Iwasatastandstillfor3daysandahalf，butduringthelast24hoursIhavegainednearlyanounce，avoirdupois。
TheyallsayIlookveryoldandvenerable-andIamaware，myself，thatI
neversmile。Lifeseemsaseriousthing，whatIhaveseenofit——andmyobservationteachesmethatitismadeupmainlyofhiccups，unnecessarywashings，andcolic。Butnodoubtyou，whoareold，havelongsincegrownaccustomedandreconciledtowhatseemstomesuchadisagreeablenovelty。
Myfathersaid，thismorning，whenmyfacewasinreposeandthoughtful，thatIlookedpreciselyasyoungEdwardTwichellofHartfordusedtolooksomeismonthsago——chin，mouth，forehead，expression——everything。
Mylittlemotherisverybrightandcheery，andIguesssheisprettyhappy，butIdon”tknowwhatabout。Shelaughsagreatdeal，notwithstandingsheissickabed。Andsheeatsagreatdeal，thoughshesaysthatisbecausethenursedesiresit。Andwhenshehashadallthenursedesireshertohave，sheasksformore。Sheisgettingalongverywellindeed。
MyauntSusieCranehasbeenheresometendaysortwoweeks，butgoeshometoday，andGrannyFairbanksofClevelandarrivestotakeherplace——
[Mrs。Fairbanks，oftheQuakerCityexcursion。]
Verylovingly，LANGDONCLEMENS。
P。S。FathersaidIhadbetterwritebecauseyouwouldbemoreinterestedinme，justnow，thanintherestofthefamily。
ClemenshadmadetheacquaintanceoftheRev。JosephHopkinsTwichellandhiswifeduringhisseveralsojournsinHartford，inconnectionwithhisbookpublication，andthetwomenhadimmediatelybecomefirmfriends。TwichellhadcometoElmirainFebruarytotheweddingtoassistRev。Thos。K。Beecherinthemarriageceremony。JosephTwichellwasadevoutChristian，whileMarkTwainwasadoubter，evenascoffer，whereorthodoxywasconcerned，yetthesincerityandhumanityofthetwomendrewthemtogether；theirfriendshipwaslifelong。
AsecondlettertoTwichell，somethingmorethanamonthlater，showsasomewhatimprovedconditionintheClemenshousehold。
ToRev。Twichell，inHartford：
BUF。Dec。19th，1870。
DEARJ。H。，——Alliswellwithus，Ibelieve——thoughforsomedaysthebabywasquiteill。Weconsiderhimnearlyrestoredtohealthnow，however。Askmybrotheraboutus——youwillfindhimatBliss”spublishingoffice，whereheisgonetoeditBliss”snewpaper——leftherelastMonday。Makehisandhiswife”sacquaintance。TakeMrs。T。toseethemassoonastheyarefixed。
Livyisup，andtheprincekeepsherbusyandanxioustheselatterdaysandnights，butIamabachelorupstairsanddon”thavetojumpupandgetthesoothingsyrup-thoughIwouldassoondoitasnot，Iassureyou。(Livywillbecertaintoreadthisletter。)
TellHarmony(Mrs。T。)thatIdoholdthebaby，anddoitprettyhandily，too，althoughwithoccasionalapprehensionsthathislooseheadwillfalloff。Idon”thavetoquiethim——hehardlyeveruttersacry。Heisalwaysthinkingaboutsomething。Heisapatient，goodlittlebaby。
Smoke？Ialwayssmokefrom3till5Sundayafternoons——andinNewYorktheotherdayIsmokedaweek，dayandnight。ButwhenLivyiswellI
smokeonlythosetwohoursonSunday。I”m“boss“ofthehabit，now，andshallneverletitbossmeanymore。Originally，IquitsolelyonLivy”saccount，(notthatIbelievedtherewasthefaintestreasoninthematter，butjustasIwoulddeprivemyselfofsugarinmycoffeeifshewishedit，orquitwearingsocksifshethoughtthemimmoral，)andI
sticktoityetonLivy”saccount，andshallalwayscontinuetodoso，withoutapang。Butsomehowitseemsapitythatyouquit，forMrs。T。
didn”tminditifIrememberrightly。Ah，itisturningone”sbackuponakindlyProvidencetospurnawayfromusthegoodcreaturehesenttomakethebreathoflifealuxuryaswellasanecessity，enjoyableaswellasuseful，togoandquitsmokingwhenthenain”tanysufficientexcuseforit！Why，myoldboy，whentheyusetotellmeIwouldshortenmylifetenyearsbysmoking，theylittleknewthedevoteetheywerewastingtheirpuerilewordupon——theylittleknewhowtrivialandvaluelessIwouldregardadecadethathadnosmokinginit！ButIwon”tpersuadeyou，Twichell——Iwon”tuntilIseeyouagain——butthenwe”llsmokeforaweektogether，andthenshutoffagain。
IwouldhavegonetoHartfordfromNewYorklastSaturday，butIgotsohomesickIcouldn”t。ButmaybeI”llcomesoon。
No，Sir，catchmeinthemetropolisagain，togethomesick。
Ididn”tknowWarnerhadabookout。
Wesendoceansandcontinentsoflove——Ihaveworkedmyselfdown，today。
YrsalwaysMARK。
WithhisestablishmentinBuffalo，Clemens，asalreadynoted，hadpersuadedhissister，nowawidow，andhismother，tosettleinFredonia，notfaraway。Later，hehadfoundapositionforOrion，aseditorofasmallpaperwhichBlisshadestablished。Whatwiththeseseveraldiversionsandthesorrowsandsicknessesofhisownhousehold，wecanreadilyimaginethatliteraryworkhadbeenperformedunderdifficulties。Certainly，humorouswritingundersuchdisturbingconditionscouldnothavebeeneasy，norcouldweexpecthimtoacceptaninvitationtobepresentandmakeacomicspeechatanagriculturaldinner，eventhoughHoraceGreeleywouldpreside。However，hesenttothesecretaryoftheassociationaletterwhichmightbereadatthegathering：
ToA。B。Crandall，inWoodberryFalls，N。Y。，tobereadatanagriculturaldinner：
BUFFALO，Dec。26，1870。
GENTLEMEN，——IthankyouverymuchforyourinvitationtotheAgriculturaldinner，andwouldpromptlyacceptitandaspromptlybetherebutforthefactthatMr。GreeleyisverybusythismonthandhasrequestedmetoclandestinelycontinueforhiminTheTribunethearticles“WhatIKnowaboutFarming。”Consequentlythenecessityofexplainingtothereadersofthatjournalwhybuttermilkcannotbemanufacturedprofitablyat8
centsaquartoutofbutterthatcosts60centsapoundcompelsmystayathomeuntilthearticleiswritten。
Withreiteratedthanks，IamYourstruly，MARKTWAIN。
InthisletterMarkTwainmadetheusualmistakeastothetitleoftheGreeleyfarmingseries，“WhatIKnowofFarming“beingthecorrectform。
TheBuffaloExpress，underMarkTwain”smanagement，hadbecomeasortofrepositoryforhumorousefforts，oftenofanindifferentorder。Someofthesethings，signedbynomdeplumes，werechargedtoMarkTwain。WhenBretHarte”s“HeathenChinee“devastatedthecountry，andwassowidelyparodied，animitationofitentitled，“ThreeAces，“andsigned“CarlByng，“wasprintedintheExpress。
ThomasBaileyAldrich，theneditorofEverySaturday，hadnotmetMarkTwain，and，noticingtheversesprintedintheexchangesoverhissignature，wasoneofthosewhoacceptedthemasMarkTwain”swork。HewroteratheranuncomplimentarynoteinEverySaturdayconcerningthepoemanditsauthorship，characterizingitasafeebleimitationofBretHarte”s“HeathenChinee。”ClemenspromptlyprotestedtoAldrich，thenaspromptlyregrettedhavingdoneso，feelingthathewasmakingtoomuchofasmallmatter。Hurriedlyhesentasecondbriefnote。
ToThomasBaileyAldrich，editorof“Every，Saturday，“
Boston，Massachusetts：
BUFFALO，Jan。22，1870。
DEARSIR，——PleasedonotpublishthenoteIsentyoutheotherdayabout“Hy。Slocum”s“plagiarismentitled“ThreeAces“——itisnotimportantenoughforsuchalongparagraph。Webbwritesmethathehasputinaparagraphaboutit，too——andIhaverequestedhimtosuppressit。Ifyouwouldsimplystate，inalineandahalfunder“LiteraryNotes，“thatyoumistookone“Hy。Slocum“(no，itwasone“CarlByng，“Iperceive)“CarlByng“forMarkTwain，andthatitwastheformerwhowrotetheplagiarismentitled“ThreeAces，“Ithinkthatwoulddoafairjusticewithoutanyunseemlydisplay。Butitishardtobeaccusedofplagiarism——acrimeI
neverhavecommittedinmylife。
Yrs。TrulyMARKTWAIN。
Butthiscametoolate。Aldrichrepliedthathecouldnotbepreventedfromdoinghimjustice，asforty-twothousandcopiesofthefirstnote，withtheeditor”sapologydulyappended，werealreadyinpress。HewouldwithdrawhisapologyinthenextnumberofEverySaturday，ifMarkTwainsaidso。MarkTwain”sresponsethistimeassumedtheproportionsofaletter。
ToThomasBaileyAldrich，inBoston：
472DELAWAREST。，BUFFALO，Jan。28。
DEARMR。ALDRICH，——Noindeed，don”ttakebacktheapology！Hangit，I
don”twanttoabuseaman”scivilitymerelybecausehegivesmethechance。
Ihearagooddealaboutdoingthingsonthe“spurofthemoment“——
IinvariablyregretthethingsIdoonthespurofthemoment。Thatdisclaimerofminewasacaseinpoint。IamashamedeverytimeIthinkofmyburstingoutbeforeanunconcernedpublicwiththatbombasticpow-
wowaboutburningpublishers”letters，andallthatsortofimbecility，andaboutmynotbeinganimitator，etc。WhowouldfindoutthatIamanaturalfoolifIkeptalwayscoolandneverletnaturecometothesurface？Nobody。
ButIdidhatetobeaccusedofplagiarizingBretHarte，whotrimmedandtrainedandschooledmepatientlyuntilhechangedmefromanawkwarduttererofcoarsegrotesquenessestoawriterofparagraphsandchaptersthathavefoundacertainfavorintheeyesofevensomeoftheverydecentestpeopleintheland——andthisgratefulremembranceofmineoughttobeworthitsface，seeingthatBretbrokeourlongfriendshipayearagowithoutanycauseorprovocationthatIamawareof。
Well，itisfunny，thereminiscencesthatglareoutfrommurkycornersofone”smemory，nowandthen，withoutwarning。Justatthismomentapictureflitsbeforeme：Scene——privateroominBarnum”sRestaurant，Virginia，Nevada；present，ArtemusWard，JosephT。Goodman，(editorandproprietorDaily“Enterprise“)，and“DandeQuille“andmyself，reportersforsame；remnantsofthefeastthinandscattering，butsuchtautologyandrepetitionofemptybottleseverywherevisibleastobeoffensivetothesensitiveeye；time，2。30A。M。；Artemusthicklyrecitingapoemaboutacertaininfantyouwotof，andinterruptinghimselfandbeinginterruptedeveryfewlinesbypoundingsofthetableandshoutsof“Splendid，byShorzhe！“Finally，along，vociferous，poundiferousandvitreousjinglingofapplauseannouncestheconclusion，andthenArtemus：
“Leteveryman”atloveshisfellowmanand”preciatesapoet”atloveshisfellowman，stan”up！——Stan”upanddrinkhealthandlonglifetoThomasBaileyAldrich！——anddrinkitstanning！“(Onallhandsfervent，enthusiastic，andsincerelyhonestattemptstocomply。)ThenArtemus：
“Well——consideritstanning，anddrinkitjustasyeare！“Whichwasdone。
Youmustexcuseallthisstufffromastranger，forthepresent，andwhenIseeyouIwillapologizeinfull。
DoyouknowtheprettiestfancyandtheneatestthatevershotthroughHarte”sbrain？Itwasthis：WhentheyweretryingtodecideuponavignetteforthecoveroftheOverland，agrizzlybear(ofthearmsoftheStateofCalifornia)waschosen。NahlBras。carvedhimandthepagewasprinted，withhiminit，lookingthus：[Rudesketchofagrizzlybear。]
Asabear，hewasasuccess——hewasagoodbear。Butthen，itwasobjected，thathewasanobjectlessbear——abearthatmeantnothinginparticular，signifiednothing，——simplystoodtheresnarlingoverhisshoulderatnothing——andwaspainfullyandmanifestlyaboorishandill-
naturedintruderuponthefairpage。Allhandssaidthat——noneweresatisfied。Theyhatedbadlytogivehimup，andyettheyhatedasmuchtohavehimtherewhentherewasnopainttohim。ButpresentlyHartetookapencilanddrewthesetwosimplelinesunderhisfeetandbeholdhewasamagnificentsuccess！——theancientsymbolofCaliforniasavagerysnarlingattheapproachingtypeofhighandprogressiveCivilization，thefirstOverlandlocomotive！：[Sketchofasmallsectionofrailwaytrack。]
Ijustthinkthatwasnothinglessthaninspirationitself。
OncemoreIapologize，andthistimeIdoit“stanning！“
Yrs。TrulySAML。L。CLEMENS。
The“twosimplelines，“ofcourse，werethetrainrailsunderthebear”sfeet，andcompletedthestrikingcoverdesignoftheOverlandmonthly。
Thebriefcontroversyoverthe“ThreeAces“wasthebeginningofalongandhappyfriendshipbetweenAldrichandMarkTwain。Howells，Aldrich，Twichell，andCharlesDudleyWarner——thesewereMarkTwain”sintimates，menthatheloved，eachforhisownspecialcharmandworth。
Aldrichheconsideredthemostbrilliantoflivingmen。
InhisreplytoClemens”sletter，Aldrichdeclaredthathewasgladnowthat，forthesakeofsuchaletter，hehadaccusedhimfalsely，andadded：
“Mem。Alwaysabusepeople。
“WhenyoucometoBoston，ifyoudonotmakeyourpresencemanifesttome，I”llputina！！in”EverySaturday”totheeffectthatthoughyouaregenerallyknownasMarkTwainyourfavoritenomdeplumeis”BarryGray。”“
ClemensdidnotfailtoletAldrichknowwhenhewasinBostonagain，andthelittlecoterieofyoungerwritersforgatheredtogivehimwelcome。
BuffaloagreedwithneitherMrs。Clemensnorthebaby。Whatwithnursingandanguishofmind，MarkTwainfoundthathecoulddonothingonthenewbook，andthathemustgiveuphismagazinedepartment。Hehadlostinterestinhispaperandhissurroundingsingeneral。Journalismandauthorshiparepooryoke-mates。ToOnionClemens，atthistimeeditingBliss”spaperatHartford，heexplainedthesituation。
ToOnionClemens，inHartford：
BUFFALO，4th1871。
MYDEARBRO，——WhatIwantedofthe“Liar“Sketch，wastoworkitintotheCaliforniabook——whichIshalldo。ButdaybeforeyesterdayIconcludedtogooutoftheGalaxyonthestrengthofit，soIhaveturneditintothelastMemorandaIshalleverwrite，andpublisheditasa“specimenchapter“ofmyforthcomingbook。
IhavewrittentheGalaxypeoplethatIwillneverfurnishthemanotherarticlelongorshort，foranypricebut$500。00cash——andhaverequestedthemnottoaskmeforcontributionsanymore，evenatthatprice。
Ihopethatletsthemout，forIwillsticktothat。Nowdotryandleavemeclearoutofthe”Publisher”forthepresent，forIamendangeringmyreputationbywritingtoomuch——Iwanttogetoutofthepublicviewforawhile。
IamstillnursingLivynightanddayandcannotwriteanything。Iamnearlywornout。WeshallgotoElmiratendayshence(ifLivycantravelonamattressthen，)andstaytheretillIhavefinishedtheCaliforniabook——saythreemonths。ButIcan”tbeginworkrightawaywhenIgetthere——musthaveaweek”srest，forIhavebeenthrough30
days”terrificsiege。
ThatmakesitafterthemiddleofMarchbeforeIcangofairlytowork——
andthenI”llhavetohumpmyselfandnotloseamoment。YouandBlissjustputyourselvesinmyplaceandyouwillseethatmyhandsarefullandmorethanfull。
WhenItoldBlissinN。Y。thatIwouldwritesomethingforthePublisherIcouldnotknowthatIwasjustabouttolosefiftydays。Doyouseethedifferenceitmakes？JustassoonaseverIcan，IwillsendsomeofthebookM。S。butrightinthefirstchapterIhavegottoalterthewholestyleofoneofmycharactersandre-writehimclearthroughtowhereIamnow。Itisnofoolofajob，Icantellyou，butthebookwillbegreatlybetteredbyit。Holdonafewdays——fourorfive——andIwillseeifIcangetafewchaptersfixedtosendtoBliss。
IhaveofferedthisdwellinghouseandtheExpressforsale，andwhenwegotoElmiraweleavehereforgood。Ishallnotselectanewhometillthebookisfinished，butwehavelittledoubtthatHartfordwillbetheplace。
Wearealmostcertainofthat。AskBlisshowitwouldbetoshipourfurnituretoHartford，rentanupperroominabuildingandunboxitandstoreittherewheresomebodycanfrequentlylookafterit。Isnottheideagood？Thefurnitureisworth$10，000or$12，000andmustnotbejammedintoanykindofaplaceandleftunattendedtoforayear。
Thefirstmanthatoffers$25，000forourhousecantakeit——itcostthat。Whataretaxesthere？Here，allbunchedtogether——ofallkinds，theyare7percent——simplyruin。
ThethingsyouhavewritteninthePublisheraretip-top。
Inhaste，YrBroSAM
TherearenofurtherlettersuntiltheendofApril，bywhichtimethesituationhadimproved。ClemenshadsoldhisinterestintheExpress(thoughataloss)，hadseveredhismagazineconnection，andwaslocatedatQuarryFarm，onabeautifulhilltopaboveElmira，thehomeofMrs。Clemens”ssister，Mrs。TheodoreCrane。Thepureairandrestofthathappyplace，wheretheyweretospendsomanyidyllicsummers，hadprovedbeneficialtothesickones，andworkonthenewbookprogressedinconsequence。ThenMarkTwain”soldeditor，“Joe“Goodman，camefromVirginiaCityforavisit，andhisadviceandencouragementwereofthegreatestvalue。ClemensevenofferedtoengageGoodmanonasalary，toremainuntilhehadfinishedhisbook。Goodmandeclinedthesalary，butextendedhisvisit，andMarkTwainatlastseemstohavefoundhimselfworkingunderidealconditions。Hejubilantlyreportshisprogress。
ToElishaBliss，inHartford：
ELMIRA，Monday。May15th1871
FRIENDBLISS，——Yrsrec”denclosingcheckfor$703。35Theold“Innocents“
holdsouthandsomely。
IhaveMS。enoughonhandnow，tomake(allowingforengravings)about400pagesofthebook——consequentlyamtwo-thirdsdone。IintendedtorunuptoHartfordaboutthemiddleoftheweekandtakeitalong；
becauseithaschaptersinitthatoughtbyallmeanstobeintheprospectus；butIfindmyselfsothoroughlyinterestedinmywork，now(athingIhavenotexperiencedformonths)thatIcan”tbeartoloseasinglemomentoftheinspiration。SoIwillstayhereandpegawayaslongasitlasts。MypresentideaistowriteasmuchmoreasIhavealreadywritten，andthencullfromthemasstheverybestchaptersanddiscardtherest。IamnothalfaswellsatisfiedwiththefirstpartofthebookasIamwithwhatIamwritingnow。WhenIgetitdoneIwanttoseethemanwhowillbegintoreaditandnotfinishit。Ifitfallsshortofthe“Innocents“inanyrespectIshalllosemyguess。
WhenIwaswritingthe“Innocents“mydailystuntwas30pagesofMSandIhardlyevergotbeyondit；butIhavegoneoverthatnearlyeverydayforthelastten。ThatshowsthatIamwritingwithared-hotinterest。
Nothinggrievesmenow——nothingtroublesme，nothingbothersmeorgetsmyattention——Idon”tthinkofanythingbutthebook，andIdon”thaveanhour”sunhappinessaboutanythinganddon”tcaretwocentswhetherschoolkeepsornot。Itwillbeabullybook。IfIkeepupmypresentlickthreeweeksmoreIshallbeableandwillingtoscratchouthalfofthechaptersoftheOverlandnarrative——andshalldoit。
YoudonotmentionhavingreceivedmysecondbatchofMS，sentaweekortwoago——about100pages。
Ifyouwanttoissueaprospectusandgorighttocanvassing，saythewordandIwillforwardsomemoreMS——orsenditbyhand——specialmessenger。Whateverchaptersyouthinkareunquestionablygood，wewillretainofcourse，sotheycangointoaprospectusaswellonetimeasanother。Thebookwillbedonesoon，now。Ihave1200pagesofMS
alreadywrittenandamnowwriting200aweek——morethanthat，infact；
duringthepastweekwrote23oneday，then30，33，35，52，and65——
How”sthat？
Itwillbeastarchybook，andshouldbefullofsnappypictures——
especiallypicturesworkedinwiththeletterpress。Thededicationwillbeworththepriceofthevolume——thus：
TotheLateCain。
ThisBookisDedicated：
Notonaccountofrespectforhismemory，foritmeritslittlerespect；
notonaccountofsympathywithhim，forhisbloodydeedplacedhimwithoutthepaleofsympathy，strictlyspeaking：butoutofamerehumancommiserationforhimthatitwashismisfortunetoliveinadarkagethatknewnotthebeneficentInsanityPlea。
Ithinkitwilldo。
Yrs。CLEMENS。
P。S——Thereactionisbeginningandmystockislookingup。Iamgettingthebulliestoffersforbooksandalmanacs；amfloodedwithlectureinvitations，andoneperiodicaloffersme$6，000cashfor12
articles，ofanylengthandonanysubject，treatedhumorouslyorotherwise。
Thesuggesteddedication“tothelateCain“mayhavebeenthehumoristicimpulseofthemoment。Atallevents，itdidnotmaterialize。
Clemens”senthusiasmforworkwasnowsuchthatheagreedwithRedpathtoreturntotheplatformthatautumn，andhebeganatoncewritinglectures。HisdisposaloftheBuffalopaperhadlefthimconsiderablyindebt，andplatformingwasasureandquickmethodofretrenchment。MorethanonceintheyearsaheadMarkTwainwouldreturntotravelandone-nightstandstoliftaburdenofdebt。
BriefletterstoRedpathofthistimehaveaninterestandevenahumoroftheirown。
LetterstoJamesRedpath，inBoston：
ELMIRA，June27，1871。
DEARRED，——Wroteanotherlecture——athirdone-today。ItistheoneIamgoingtodeliver。IthinkIshallcallit“ReminiscencesofSomePleasantCharactersWhomIHaveMet，“(orshouldthe“whom“beleftout？)
Itcoversmywholeacquaintance——kings，lunatics，idiotsandall。
SupposeyougivetheitemastartintheBostonpapers。IfIwritefiftylecturesIshallonlychooseoneandtalkthatoneonly。
Nosir：Don”tyouputthatscarecrow(portrait)fromtheGalaxyin，I
won”tstandthatnightmare。
Yours，MARK。
ELMIRA，July10，1871。
DEARREDPATH，——Inevermadeasuccessofalecturedeliveredinachurchyet。Peopleareafraidtolaughinachurch。Theycan”tbemadetodoitinanypossibleway。
SuccesstoFall”scarbuncleandmanyhappyreturns。
Yours，MARK。
ToMr。Fall，inBoston：
ELMIRA，N。Y。July20，1871。
FRIENDFALL，——Redpathtellsmetoblowup。Heregoes！IwantedyoutoscareRondoutoffwithabigprice。$125ain”tbig。Igot$100thefirsttimeIevertalkedthereandnowtheyhaveamuchlargerhall。
Itisahardtowntogetto——Irunachanceofgettingcaughtbytheiceandmissingnextengagement。Maketheprice$150andletthemdrawout。
YoursMARK
LetterstoJamesRedpath，inBoston：
HARTFORD，TuesdayAug。8，1871。
DEARRED，——Iamdifferentfromotherwomen；mymindchangesoftener。
Peoplewhohavenomindcaneasilybesteadfastandfirm，butwhenamanisloadeddowntotheguardswithit，asIam，everyheavyseaofforebodingorinclination，maybeofindolence，shiftsthecargo。See？
Therefore，ifyouwillnotice，oneweekIamlikelytogiverigidinstructionstoconfinemetoNewEngland；nextweek，sendmetoArizona；
thenextweekwithdrawmyname；thenextweekgiveyoufulluntrammelledswing；andtheweekfollowingmodifyit。Youmusttrytokeeptherunofmymind，Redpath，itisyourbusinessbeingtheagent，anditalwayswastoomanyforme。ItappearstometobeoneofthefinestpiecesofmechanismIhaveevermetwith。NowabouttheWest，thisweek，IamwillingthatyoushallretainalltheWesternengagements。ButwhatI
shallwantnextweekisstillwithGod。
Letusnotprofanethemysterieswithsoiledhandsandpryingeyesofsin。
Yours，MARK。
P。S。Shallbehere2weeks，willrunuptherewhenNasbycomes。
ELMIRA，N。Y。Sept。15，1871。
DEARREDPATH，——IwishyouwouldgetmereleasedfromthelectureatBuffalo。Imortallyhatethatsocietythere，andIdon”tdoubttheyhiredme。Ioncegavethemapackedhousefreeofcharge，andtheyneverevenhadthecommonpolitenesstothankme。Theyleftmetoshiftformyself，too，alaBretHarteatHarvard。GetmeridofBuffalo！
OtherwiseI”llhavenorecourseleftbuttogetsickthedayIlecturethere。Icangetsickeasyenough，bythesimpleprocessofsayingtheword——wellnevermindwhatword——Iamnotgoingtolecturethere。
Yours，MARK。
BUFFALO，Sept。26，1871。
DEARREDPATH，——Wehavethoughtitalloveranddecidedthatwecan”tpossiblytalkafterFeb。2。
WeshalltakeupourresidenceinHartford6daysfromnowYoursMARK。
XI。
LETTERS1871-72。REMOVALTOHARTFORD。ALECTURETOUR。“ROUGHINGIT。”
FIRSTLETTERTOHOWELLS
ThehousetheyhadtakeninHartfordwastheHookerpropertyonForestStreet，ahandsomeplaceinadistinctlyliteraryneighborhood。HarrietBeecherStowe，CharlesDudleyWarner，andotherwell-knownwriterswerewithineasywalkingdistance；Twichellwasperhapshalfamileaway。
ItwastheproperenvironmentforMarkTwain。Hesettledhislittlefamilythere，andwaspresentlyatRedpath”sofficeinBoston，whichwasacongenialplace，aswehaveseenbefore。HedidnotfailtoreturntothecompanyofNasby，JoshBillings，andthoseothersofRedpath”s“attractions“aslongandasoftenasdistancewouldpermit。BretHarte，whobythistimehadwonfame，wasalsoinBostonnow，andfrequently，withHowells，Aldrich，andMarkTwain，gatheredinsomequietrestaurantcornerforaluncheonthatlastedthroughadimwinterafternoon——aperiodofanecdote，reminiscence，andmirth。Theywereallyoungthen，andlaughedeasily。Howells，haswrittenofonesuchluncheongivenbyRalphKeeler，ayoungCalifornian——agatheringatwhichJamesT。Fieldswaspresent“Nothingremainstomeofthehappytimebutasenseofidleandaimlessandjoyfultalk-play，beginningandendingnowhere，ofeagerlaughter，ofcountlessgoodstoriesfromFields，ofaheat-lightningshimmerofwitfromAldrich，ofanoccasionalconcentrationofourjointmockeriesuponourhost，whotookitgladly。”
ButalecturecircuitcannotberestrictedtotheradiusofBoston。
ClemenswaspresentlywritingtoRedpathfromWashingtonandpointsfartherwest。
ToJamesRedpath，inBoston：
WASHINGTON，Tuesday，Oct。28，1871。
DEARRED，——Ihavecomesquareout，thrown“Reminiscences“overboard，andtaken“ArtemusWard，Humorist，“formysubject。WroteithereonFridayandSaturday，andreaditfromMSlastnighttoanenormoushouse。ItsuitsmeandI”llneverdeliverthenasty，nauseous“Reminiscences“anymore。
Yours，MARK。
TheArtemusWardlecturelastedelevendays，thenhewrote：
ToRedpathandFall，inBoston：
BUFFALODEPOT，Dec。8，1871。
REDPATH&FALL，BOSTON，——NotifyallhandsthatfromthistimeIshalltalknothingbutselectionsfrommyforthcomingbook“RoughingIt。”
Trieditlastnight。Suitsmetip-top。
SAM”LL。CLEMENS。
TheRoughingItchaptersprovedasuccess，andcontinuedinhighfavorthroughtherestoftheseason。
ToJamesRedpath，inBoston：
LOGANSPORT，IND。Jan。2，1872。
FRIENDREDPATH，——HadasplendidtimewithasplendidaudienceinIndianapolislastnight——aperfectlyjammedhouse，justasIhavehadallthetimeouthere。IlikethenewlecturebutIhatethe“ArtemusWard“
talkandwon”ttalkitanymore。Nomaneverapprovedthatchoiceofsubjectinmyhearing，Ithink。
Givemesomecomfort。IfIamtotalkinNewYorkamIgoingtohaveagoodhouse？Idon”tcarenowtohaveanyappointmentscancelled。I”lleven“fetch“thoseDutchPennsylvanianswiththislecture。
Havepaidup$4000indebtedness。Youarethe，lastonmylist。ShallbegintopayyouinafewdaysandthenIshallbeafreemanagain。
Yours，MARK。
Withhisdebtspaid，Clemenswasanxioustobegettinghome。TwoweeksfollowingtheabovehewroteRedpaththathewouldacceptnomoreengagementsatanyprice，outsideofNewEngland，andadded，“ThefewerengagementsIhavefromthistimeforththebetterI
shallbepleased。”BytheendofFebruaryhewasbackinHartford，refusinganengagementinBoston，andannouncingtoRedpath，“IfI
hadanotherengagementI”drotbeforeI”dfillit。”Fromwhichwegatherthathewasnotentirelyhappyinthelecturefield。
Asamatteroffact，MarkTwainloathedthecontinuoustravelandnightlydrudgeryofplatformlife。Hewasfondofentertaining，andthereweremomentsoftriumphthatrepaidhimforagooddeal，butthetyrannyofascheduleandtimetableswasaconstantexasperation。
Meantime，RoughingIthadappearedandwassellingabundantly。MarkTwain，freeofdebt，andinpleasantcircumstances，feltthattheoutlookwasbright。Itbecameevenmoresowhen，inMarch，thesecondchild，alittlegirl，Susy，wasborn，withnoattendingmisfortunes。But，then，intheearlysummerlittleLangdondied。
Itwasseldom，duringallofMarkTwain”slife，thatheenjoyedmorethanabriefperiodofunmixedhappiness。
ItwasinJuneofthatyearthatClemenswrotehisfirstlettertoWilliamDeanHowellsthefirstofseveralhundredthatwouldfollowintheyearstocome，andhasinitsomethingthatischaracteristicofnearlyalltheClemens-Howellsletters——akindoftenderplayfulnessthatansweredtosomethinginHowells”smake-up，hissenseofhumor，hiswideknowledgeofahumanitywhichhepicturedsoamusinglytotheworld。
ToWilliamDeanHowells，inBoston：
HARTFORD，Junez5，z872。
FRIENDHOWELLS，——CouldyoutellmehowIcouldgetacopyofyourportraitaspublishedinHearthandHome？Ihearsomuchtalkaboutitasbeingamongthefinestworksofartwhichhaveyetappearedinthatjournal，thatIfeelastrongdesiretoseeit。Isitsuitableforframing？IhavewrittenthepublishersofH&Htimeandagain，buttheysaythatthedemandfortheportraitimmediatelyexhaustedtheeditionandnowacopycannotbehad，evenfortheEuropeandemand，whichhasnowbegun。BretHartehasbeenhere，andsayshisfamilywouldnotbewithoutthatportraitforanyconsideration。Hesayshischildrengetupinthenightandyellforit。Iwouldgiveanythingforacopyofthatportraittoputupinmyparlor。IhaveOliverWendellHolmesandBretHarte”s，aspublishedinEverySaturday，andofalltheswarmsthatcomeeverydaytogazeuponthemnonegoawaythatarenotsoftenedandhumbledandmademoreresignedtothewillofGod。IfIhadyourstoputupalongsideofthem，Ibelievethecombinationwouldbringmoresoulstoearnestreflectionandultimateconvictionoftheirlostcondition，thananyotherkindofwarningwould。WhereinthenationcanIgetthatportrait？Hereareheapsofpeoplethatwantit，——thatneedit。Thereismyuncle。Hewantsacopy。Heislyingatthepointofdeath。Hehasbeenlyingatthepointofdeathfortwoyears。Hewantsacopy——andIwanthimtohaveacopy。AndIwantyoutosendacopytothemanthatshotmydog。Iwanttoseeifheisdeadtoeveryhumaninstinct。
Nowyousendmethatportrait。Iamsendingyoumine，inthisletter；
andamgladtodoit，forithasbeengreatlyadmired。Peoplewhoarejudgesofart，findintheexecutionagrandeurwhichhasnotbeenequalledinthiscountry，andanexpressionwhichhasnotbeenapproachedinany。
Yrstruly，S。L。CLEMENS。
P。S。62，000copiesof“RoughingIt“soldanddeliveredin4months。
TheClemensfamilydidnotspendthesummeratQuarryFarmthatyear。TheseaairwasprescribedforMrs。Clemensandthebaby，andtheywenttoSaybrook，Connecticut，toFenwickHall。Clemenswroteverylittle，thoughheseemstohaveplannedTomSawyer，andperhapsmadeitsearliestbeginning，whichwasindramaticform。
Hismind，however，wasotherwiseactive。Hewasalwaysmoreorlessgiventoinventions，andinhisnextletterwefindadescriptionofonewhichhebroughttocomparativeperfection。
Hehadalsoconceivedtheideaofanotherbookoftravel，andthiswashispurposeofaprojectedtriptoEngland。
ToOrionClemens，inHartford：
FENWICKHALL，SAYBROOK，CONN。
Aug。11，1872。
MYDEARBRO——IshallsailforEnglandintheScotia，Aug。21。
ButwhatIwishtoputonrecordnow，ismynewinvention——hencethisnote，whichyouwillpreserve。Itisthis——aself-pastingscrap-book——goodenoughideaifsomejugglingtailordoesnotcomealongandante-
datemeacoupleofmonths，asinthecaseoftheelasticveststrap。
Thenuisanceofkeepingascrap-bookis：1。Oneneverhaspasteorgumtragacanthhandy；2。Mucilagewon”tstick，orstay，4weeks；
3。Mucilagesucksouttheinkandmakesthescrapsunreadable；
4。Todaubandpaste3or4pagesofscrapsistedious，slow，nastyandtiresome。Myideaisthis：Makeascrap-bookwithleavesveneeredorcoatedwithgum-stickumofsomekind；wetthepagewithsponge，brush，ragortongue，anddabonyourscrapslikepostagestamps。
Layonthegumincolumnsofstripes。
Eachstripeofgumthelengthofsay20ems，smallpica，andasbroadasyourfinger；ablankaboutasbroadasyourfingerbetweeneach2
stripes——soinwettingthepaperyouneednotwetanymoreofthegumthanyourscraporscrapswillcover——thenyoumayshutupthebookandtheleaveswon”tsticktogether。
Preserve，also，theenvelopeofthisletter——postmarkoughttobegoodevidenceofthedateofthisgreathumanizingandcivilizinginvention。
I”llputitintoDanSlote”shandsandtellhimhemustsendyoualloverAmerica，tourgeitsuseuponstationersandbooksellers——sodon”tbuyintoanewspaper。Thenameofthisthingis“MarkTwain”sSelf-PastingScrapbook。”
Allwellhere。ShallbeupaP。M。Tuesday。Sendthecarriage。
YrBro。
S。L。CLEMENS。
TheDanSloteofthisletteris，ofcourse，hisoldQuakerCityshipmate，whowasengagedintheblank-bookbusiness，thefirmbeingSlote&Woodman，locatedat119and121WilliamStreet，NewYork。
XII。
LETTERS1872-73。MARKTWAININENGLAND。LONDONHONORS。ACQUAINTANCE
WITHDR。JOHNBROWN。ALECTURETRIUMPH。“THEGILDEDAGE“
Clemensdid，infact，sailforEnglandonthegivendate，andwaslavishlyreceivedthere。AllliteraryLondonjoinedingivinghimagoodtime。HehadnotasyetbeenreceivedseriouslybytheolderAmericanmenofletters，butEnglandmadenoquestionastohistitletofirstrank。Already，too，theyclassifiedhimasofthehumantypeofLincoln，andreveledinhimwithoutstint。Howellswrites：“InEngland，rank，fashion，andculturerejoicedinhim。
LordMayors，LordChiefjustices，andmagnatesofmanykindswerehishosts。”
Hewastreatedsowellandenjoyeditallsomuchthathecouldnotwriteabook——thekindofbookhehadplanned。Onecouldnotpokefunatacountryorapeoplethathadwelcomedhimwithopenarms。
Hemadeplentyofnotes，atfirst，butpresentlygaveupthebookideaanddevotedhimselfaltogethertohavingagoodtime。
Hehadonegrievance——apublisherbythenameofHotten，asortofliteraryharpy，ofwhichtherewereagreatnumberinthosedaysofdefectivecopyright，notmerelycontentwithpilferinghisearlywork，hadreprinted，underthenameofMarkTwain，theworkofamixedassortmentofotherhumorists，anoffensivevolumebearingthetitle，ScreamersandEye-openers，byMarkTwain。
TheybesiegedhimtolectureinLondon，andpromisedhimoverflowinghouses。ArtemusWard，duringhislastdays，hadearnedLondonbystormwithhisplatformhumor，andtheypromisedMarkTwainevengreatersuccess。Forsomereason，however，hedidnotwelcometheidea；perhapstherewastoomuchgaiety。ToMrs。Clemenshewrote：
ToMrs。Clemens，inHartford：
LONDON，Sep。15，1872。
Livy，darling，everybodysayslecture-lecture-lecture——butIhavenottheleastideaofdoingit——certainlynotatpresent。Mr。Dolby，whotookDickenstoAmerica，iscomingtotalkbusinesstometomorrow，thoughI
havesenthimwordoncebefore，thatIcan”tbehiredtotalkhere，becauseIhavenotimetospare。
Thereistoomuchsociability——Idonotgetalongfastenoughwithwork。
TomorrowIlunchwithMr。TooleandaMemberofParliament——TooleisthemostableComedianoftheday。AndthenIamdoneforawhile。OnTuesdayImeantohangacardtomykeybox，inscribed”GoneoutoftheCityforaweek“——andthenIshallgotoworkandworkhard。Onecan”tbecaughtinahiveof4，000，000people，likethis。
Ihavegotsuchaperfectlydelightfulrazor。IhaveanotiontobuysomeforCharley，TheodoreandSlee——forIknowtheyhavenosuchrazorsthere。Ihavegotaneatlittlewatch-chainforAnnie——$20。
Iloveyoumydarling。Mylovetoallofyou。
SAML。
ThatMarkTwainshouldfeelandprivatelyreportsomethingofhistriumphsweneednotwonderat。Certainlyhewasneveronetogivehimselfairs，buttohavetheworld”sgreatliterarycenterpayingcourttohim，whoonlytenyearsbeforehadbeenpennilessandunknown，andwhooncehadbeenabarefootTomSawyerinHannibal，wasquitestartling。Itisgratifyingtofindevidenceofhumanweaknessinthefollowingheart-to-heartlettertohispublisher，especiallyinviewoftherelatingcircumstances。
ToElishaBliss，inHartford：
LONDON，Sept。28，1872。
FRIENDBLISS，——Ihavebeenreceivedinasortoftremendousway，tonight，bythebrainsofLondon，assembledattheannualdinneroftheSheriffsofLondon——minebeing(betweenyouandme)anamewhichwasreceivedwithaflatteringoutburstofspontaneousapplausewhenthelonglistofguestswascalled。
ImighthaveperishedonthespotbutforthefriendlysupportandassistanceofmyexcellentfriendSirJohnBennett——andIwantyoutopastetheenclosedinacoupleofthehandsomestcopiesofthe“Innocents“and“RoughingIt，“andsendthemtohim。Hisaddressis“SirJohnBennett，Cheapside，London。”
YrsTrulyS。L。CLEMENS。
The“relatingcircumstances“werethese：Attheabovementioneddinnertherehadbeenaroll-callofthedistinguishedguestspresent，andeachnamehadbeendulyapplauded。Clemens，conversinginawhisperwithhisneighbor，SirJohnBennett，didnotgiveverycloseattentiontothenames，applaudingmechanicallywiththeothers。
Finally，anamewasreadthatbroughtoutavehementhand-clapping。
MarkTwain，nottobeoutdoneincordiality，joinedvigorously，andkepthishandsgoingevenaftertheothersfinished。Then，remarkingthegenerallaughter，hewhisperedtoSirJohn：“Whosenamewasthatwewerejustapplauding？“
“MarkTwain”s。”
Wemaybelievethatthe“friendlysupport“ofSirJohnBennettwaswelcomeforthemoment。Buttheincidentcoulddohimnoharm；thedinersregardeditasoneofhisjokes，andenjoyedhimallthemoreforit。
HewasreadytogohomebyNovember，butbynomeanshadhehadenoughofEngland。Hereallyhadsomethoughtofreturningtherepermanently。InalettertoMrs。Crane，atQuarryFarm，hewrote：
“IfyouandTheodorewillcomeoverintheSpringwithLivyandme，andspendthesummeryouwillseeacountrythatissobeautifulthatyouwillbeobligedtobelieveinFairyland……andTheodorecanbrowsewithmeamongdustyolddensthatlooknowastheylookedfivehundredyearsago；andpuzzleoverbooksintheBritishMuseumthatweremadebeforeChristwasborn；andinthecustomsoftheirpublicdinners，andtheceremoniesofeveryofficialact，andthedressesofathousanddignitaries，tracethespeechandmannersofallthecenturiesthathavedraggedtheirlaggingdecadesoverEnglandsincetheHeptarchyfellasunder。IwouldagooddealratherlivehereifIcouldgettherestofyouover。”
Inaletterhome，tohismotherandsister，wegetafurtherpictureofhisenjoyment。
ToMrs。JaneClemensandMrs。Moffett：
LONDON，Nov。6，1872。
MYDEARMOTHERANDSISTER，——IhavebeensoeverlastingbusythatI
couldn”twrite——andmoreoverIhavebeensounceasinglylazythatI
couldn”thavewrittenanyhow。Icameheretotakenotesforabook，butIhaven”tdonemuchbutattenddinnersandmakespeeches。ButhavehadajollygoodtimeandIdohatetogoawayfromtheseEnglishfolks；theymakeastrangerfeelentirelyathome——andtheylaughsoeasilythatitisacomforttomakeafter-dinnerspeecheshere。Ihavemadehundredsoffriends；andlastnightinthecrushoftheopeningoftheNewGuild-hallLibraryandMuseum，Iwassurprisedtomeetafamiliarfaceeveryfewsteps。Nearly4，000people，ofbothsexes，cameandwentduringtheevening，soIhadagoodopportunitytomakeagreatmanynewacquaintances。
LivyiswillingtocomeherewithmenextAprilandstayseveralmonths——soIamgoinghomenextTuesday。IwouldsailonSaturday，butthatisthedayoftheLordMayor”sannualgrandstatedinner，whentheysay900
ofthegreatmenofthecitysitdowntotable，agreatmanyofthemintheirfineofficialandcourtparaphernalia，soImustnotmissit。
However，ImayyetchangemymindandsailSaturday。IamlookingatafineMagiclanternwhichwillcostadealofmoney，andifIbuyitSammymaycomeandlearntomakethegasandworkthemachinery，andpaintpicturesforitonglass。ImeantogiveexhibitionsforcharitablepurposesinHartford，andchargeadollarahead。
Inahurry，YsafflySAM。
HesailedNovember12thontheBatavia，arrivinginNewYorktwoweekslater。Therehadbeenapresidentialelectioninhisabsence。
GeneralGranthaddefeatedHoraceGreeley，aresult，insomemeasureatleast，attributedtotheamusingandpowerfulpicturesofthecartoonist，ThomasNast。MarkTwainadmiredGreeley”stalents，butheregardedhimaspoorlyqualifiedforthenation”schiefexecutive。Hewrote：
ToTh。Nast，inMorristown，N。J。：
HARTFORD，Nov。1872。
Nast，youmorethananyothermanhavewonaprodigiousvictoryforGrant——Imean，rather，forcivilizationandprogress。Thosepicturesweresimplymarvelous，andifanymaninthelandhasarighttoholdhisheadupandbehonestlyproudofhisshareinthisyear”svasteventsthatmanisunquestionablyyourself。Wealldosincerelyhonoryou，andareproudofyou。
MARKTWAIN。
PerhapsMarkTwainwastoobusyatthistimetowriteletters。HissuccessinEnglandhadmadehimmorethaneverpopularinAmerica，andhecouldbynomeanskeepupwiththedemandsonhim。InJanuaryhecontributedtotheNewYorkTribunesomelettersontheSandwichIslands，butastheseweremoreproperlyarticlestheydonotseemtobelonghere。
Herefusedtogoonthelecturecircuit，thoughhepermittedRedpathtobookhimforanyoccasionalappearance，anditisduetooneofthesespecialengagementsthatwehavetheonlyletterpreservedfromthistime。ItistoHowells，andwrittenwiththatexaggerationwithwhichhewaslikelytoembellishhisdifficulties。
WearenotcalledupontobelievethattherewerereallyanysuchdemonstrationsasthoseascribedtoWarnerandhimself。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
FARMINGTONAVE，HartfordFeb。27。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——IaminasweatandWarnerisinanother。ItoldRedpathsometimeagoIwouldlectureinBostonanytwodayshemightchooseprovidedtheywereconsecutivedays——
IneverdreamedofhischoosingdaysduringLentsincethatwashisspecialhorror——butallatoncehetelegraphsme，andhollersatmeinailmannerofwaysthatIambookedforBostonMarch5ofalldaysintheyear——andtomakemattersjustasmixedanduncertainaspossible，I
can”tfindouttosavemylifewhetherhemeanstolecturemeonthe6thornot。
Warner”sbeeninhereswearinglikealunatic，andsayinghehadwrittenyoutocomeonthe4th，——andIsaid，“Youleather-head，ifItalkinBostonbothafternoonandeveningMarch5，I”llhavetogotoBostonthe4th，“——andthenhejustkickeduphisheelsandwentoffcursingafterafashionIneverheardofbefore。
Nowlet”sjustleavethisthingtoProvidencefor24hours——youbetitwillcomeoutallright。
YourseverMARK。
HewaswritingabookwithWarneratthistime——TheGildedAge——
thetwoauthorshavingbeenchallengedbytheirwivesonenightatdinnertowriteabetterbookthanthecurrentnovelstheyhadbeendiscussingwithsomeseverity。Clemensalreadyhadastoryinhismind，andWarneragreedtocollaborateinthewriting。Itwasbegunwithoutdelay。Clemenswrotethefirstthreehundredandninety-
ninepages，andreadtherealoudtoWarner，whotookupthestoryatthispointandcontinueditthroughtwelvechapters，afterwhichtheyworkedalternately，andwithgreatenjoyment。Theyalsoworkedrapidly，andinAprilthestorywascompleted。Foracollaborationbytwomensodifferentintemperamentandliterarymethoditwasaremarkableperformance。
AnotherthingMarkTwaindidthatwinterwastobuysomelandonFarmingtonAvenueandbeginthebuildingofahome。HehadbynomeansgivenupreturningtoEngland，andmadehisplanstosailwithMrs。ClemensandSusyinMay。MissClaraSpaulding，ofElmira——
[LaterMrs。JohnB。Stanchfield，ofNewYork。]——agirlhoodfriendofMrs。Clemens——wastoaccompanythem。
TheDailyGraphicheardoftheproposedjourney，andwrote，askingforafarewellword。Hischaracteristicreplyistheonlyletterofanykindthathassurvivedfromthatspring。
TotheEditorof“TheDailyGraphic，“inNewYorkCity：
HARTFORD，Apl。17，1873。
ED。GRAPHIC，——Yournoteisreceived。IfthefollowingtwolineswhichI
havecutfromitareyournaturalhandwriting，thenIunderstandyoutoaskme“forafarewellletterinthenameoftheAmericanpeople。”Blessyou，thejoyoftheAmericanpeopleisjustalittlepremature；Ihaven”tgoneyet。Andwhatismore，Iamnotgoingtostay，whenIdogo。
Yes，itistrue。Iamonlygoingtoremainbeyondthesea，sixmonths，thatisall。Ilovestirandexcitement；andsothemomentthespringbirdsbegintosing，andthelaggingwearinessofsummertothreaten，Igrowrestless，Igetthefidgets；Iwanttopackoffsomewherewherethere”ssomethinggoingon。Butyouknowhowthatis——youmusthavefeltthatway。ThisverydayIsawthesignsintheairofthecomingdullness，andIsaidtomyself，“HowgladIamthatIhavealreadycharteredasteamship！“Therewasabsolutelynothinginthemorningpapers。Youcanseeforyourselfwhatthetelegraphicheadingswere：
BYTELEGRAPH
AFatherKilledbyHisSonABloodyFightinKentuckyACourtHouseFired，andNegroesThereinShotwhileEscapingALouisianaMassacreAnEight-year-oldmurdererTwotoThreeHundredMenRoastedAlive！
ATowninaStateofGeneralRiotALivelySkirmishinIndiana(andthirtyothersimilarheadings。)
Theitemsunderthoseheadingsallbeardateyesterday，Apl。16(refertoyourownpaper)——andIgiveyoumywordofhonorthatthatstringofcommonplacestuffwaseverythingtherewasinthetelegraphiccolumnsthatabodycouldcallnews。Well，saidItomyselfthisisgettingprettydull；thisisgettingprettydry；theredon”tappeartobeanythinggoingonanywhere；hasthisprogressivenationgonetosleep？
HaveIgottostandanothermonthofthistorpiditybeforeIcanbegintobrowseamongthelivelycapitalsofEurope？
Butnevermind-thingsmayrevivewhileIamaway。Duringthelasttwomonthsmynext-doorneighbor，Chas。DudleyWarner，hasdroppedhis“Back-
LogStudies，“andheandIhavewrittenabulkynovelinpartnership。
HehasworkedupthefictionandIhavehurledinthefacts。Iconsideritoneofthemostastonishingnovelsthateverwaswritten。NightafternightIsitupreadingitoverandoveragainandcrying。ItwillbepublishedearlyintheFall，withplentyofpictures。Doyouconsiderthisanadvertisement？——andifso，doyouchargeforsuchthingswhenamanisyourfriend？
Yourstruly，SAML。L。CLEMENS，“MARKTWAIN，“
Anamusing，evenifannoying，incidenthappenedaboutthetimeofMarkTwain”sdeparture。AmannamedChewrelatedtoTwichellamostentertainingoccurrence。Twichellsawgreatpossibilitiesinit，andsuggestedthatMarkTwainbeallowedtomakeastoryofit，sharingtheprofitswithChew。Chewagreed，andpromisedtosendthefacts，carefullysetdown。Twichell，inthemeantime，toldthestorytoClemens，whowasdelightedwithitandstronglytemptedtowriteitatonce，whilehewasinthespirit，withoutwaitingonChew。Fortunately，hedidnotdoso，forwhenChew”smaterialcameitwasintheformofaclipping，thestoryhavingbeenalreadyprintedinsomenewspaper。Chew”sknowledgeofliteraryethicswouldseemtohavebeenslight。HethoughthimselfentitledtosomethingundertheagreementwithTwichell。MarkTwain，bythistimeinLondon，naturallyhadadifferentopinion。
ToRev。J。H。Twichell，inHartford：
LONDON，June9，”73。
DEAROLDJOE，——IconsidermyselfwhollyatlibertytodeclinetopayChewanything，andatthesametimestronglytemptedtosuehimintothebargainforcomingsonearruiningme。Ifhehadn”thappenedtosendmethatthinginprint，Iwouldhaveusedthestory(likeaninnocentfool)
andwouldstraightwayhavebeenhoundedtodeathasaplagiarist。Itwouldhaveabsolutelydestroyedme。Icannotconceiveofamanbeingsuchahopelessass(afterservingasalegislativereporter，too)astoimaginethatIoranyotherliterarymaninhissenseswouldconsenttochewoveroldstuffthathadalreadybeeninprint。Ifthatmanwern”taninfantinswaddlingclothes，hisonlyreplytoourpetitionwouldhavebeen，“Ithasbeeninprint。”ItmakesmeasmadastheveryOldHarryeverytimeIthinkofMr。ChewandthefrightfullynarrowescapeIhavehadathishands。ConfoundMr。Chew，withallmyheart！I”mwillingthatheshouldhavetendollarsforhistroubleofwarmingoverhiscoldvictuals——cheerfullywillingtothat——butnomore。IfIhadhadhimnearwhenhislettercame，Iwouldhavegotoutmytomahawkandgoneforhim。
Hedidn”ttellthestoryhalfaswellasyoudid，anyhow。
Iwishtogoodnessyouwereherethismoment——nobodyinourparlorbutLivyandme，——andaverygoodviewofLondontothefore。WehavealuxuriouslyamplesuiteofapartmentsintheLanghamHotel，3rdfloor，ourbedroomlookingstraightupPortlandPlaceandourparlorhavinganoblearrayofgreatwindowslookingoutuponbothstreets(PortlandPlaceandthecrookthatjoinsittoRegentStreet。)
9P。M。Fulltwilight——richsunsettintslingeringinthewest。
Iamnotgoingtowriteanything——rathertellitwhenIgetback。IloveyouandHarmony，andthatisallthefreshnewsI”vegot，anyway。AndI
meantokeepthatfreshallthetime。
LovinglyMARK。
P。S——AmluxuriatingingloriousoldPepy”sDiary，andsmoking。
Lettersareexceedinglyscarcethroughallthisperiod。MarkTwain，nowonhissecondvisittoLondon，wasliterallyoverwhelmedwithhonorsandentertainment；hisroomsattheLanghamwerelikeacourt。SuchmenasRobertBrowning，Turgenieff，SirJohnMillais，andCharlesKingsleyhastenedtocall。Kingsleyandothersgavehimdinners。Mrs。Clemenstohersisterwrote：“Itisperfectlydiscouragingtotrytowriteyou。”