第11章
AndmindyouJoewasabletocomeuphere，daysafterwards，andreproducethatgiant”spicturesqueandadmirablehistory。Butdernhim，hecan”twriteit——whichisallwrong，andnotasitshouldbe。
AndhehasgoneandrakeduptheMSautobiography(writtenin1848，)ofMrs。PhebeBrown，(authorof“ILovetoStealaWhileAway，“)whoeducatedYungWinginherfamilywhenhewasalittleboy；andIcamenearnotgettingtobedatall，lastnight，onaccountoftheluridfascinationsofit。Whyinthenationithasnevergotintoprint，I
can”tunderstand。
But，byjings！thepostmanwillbehereinaminute；so，congratulationsuponyourmendinghealth，andgratitudethatitismending；andlovetoyouall。
YrsEverMARK。
Don”tanswer——Isparethesick。
XXII。
LETTERS，1882，MAINLYTOHOWELLS。WASTEDFURY。OLDSCENESREVISITED。
THEMISSISSIPPIBOOK
AmanofMarkTwain”sprofessionandprominencemustnecessarilybethesubjectofmuchnewspapercomment。Jest，compliment，criticism——noneofthesethingsdisturbedhim，asarule。Hewaspleasedthathisbooksshouldreceivefavorablenoticesbymenwhoseopinionherespected，buthewasnotgrievedbyadverseexpressions。Jestsathisexpense，ifwellwritten，usuallyamusedhim；cheapjokesonlymadehimsad；butsarcasmsandinnuendoeswerelikelytoenragehim，particularlyifhebelievedthempromptedbymalice。Perhapsamongallthelettersheeverwrote，thereisnonemorecharacteristicthanthisconfessionofviolenceandeagernessforreprisal，followedbyhisacknowledgmentoferrorandamanifestappreciationofhisownweakness。ItshouldbesaidthatMarkTwainandWhitelawReidweregenerallyverygoodfriends，andperhapsforthemomentthisfactseemedtomagnifytheoffense。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
HARTFORD，Jan。28”82。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——NobodyknowsbetterthanI，thattherearetimeswhenswearingcannotmeettheemergency。HowsharplyIfeelthat，atthismoment。Notasingleprofanewordhasissuedfrommylipsthismornin——Ihavenotevenhadtheimpulsetoswear，sowhollyineffectualwouldswearinghavemanifestlybeen，inthecircumstances。ButIwilltellyouaboutit。
Aboutthreeweeksago，asensitivefriend，approachinghisrevelationcautiously，intimatedthattheN。Y。Tribunewasengagedinakindofcrusadeagainstme。ThisseemedahighercomplimentthanIdeserved；butnomatter，itmademeveryangry。Iaskedmanyquestions，andgathered，insubstance，this：SinceReid”sreturnfromEurope，theTribunehadbeenflingingsneersandbrutalitiesatmewithsuchpersistentfrequency“astoattractgeneralremark。”Iwasanangered——whichisjustasgoodanexpression，Itakeit，asanhungered。Next，IlearnedthatOsgood，amongtherestofthe“general，“wasworryingovertheseconstantandpitilessattacks。Nextcamethetestimonyofanotherfriend，thattheattackswerenotmerely“frequent，“but“almostdaily。”Reflectuponthat：“Almostdaily“insults，fortwomonthsonastretch。Whatwouldyouhavedone？
Asforme，Ididthethingwhichwasthenaturalthingformetodo，thatis，Isetaboutcontrivingaplantoaccomplishoneortheotheroftwothings：1。Forceapeace；or2。Getrevenge。WhenIgotmyplanfinished，itpleasedmemarvelously。Itwasinsixorsevensections，eachsectiontobeusedinitsturnandbyitself；theassaulttobeginatoncewithNo。1，andtheresttofollow，oneaftertheother，tokeepthecommunicationopenwhileIwrotemybiographyofReid。Imeanttowindupwiththislattergreatwork，andthendismissthesubjectforgood。
Well，eversincethenIhaveworkeddayandnightmakingnotesandcollectingandclassifyingmaterial。I”vegotcollectorsatworkinEngland。IwenttoNewYorkandsatthreehourstakingevidencewhileastenographersetitdown。Asmylaborsgrew，soalsogrewmyfascination。Maliceandmalignityfadedoutofme——ormaybeIdrovethemoutofme，knowingthatamalignantbookwouldhurtnobodybutthefoolwhowroteit。Igotthoroughlyinlovewiththiswork；forIsawthatI
wasgoingtowriteabookwhichtheverydevilsandangelsthemselveswoulddelighttoread，andwhichwoulddrawdisapprovalfromnobodybuttheheroofit，(andMrs。Clemens，whowasbitteragainstthewholething。)OnepartofmyplanwassodeliciousthatIhadtotrymyhandonitrightaway，justfortheluxuryofit。Isetaboutit，andsureenoughitpannedouttoadmiration。Iwrotethatchaptermostcarefully，andIcouldn”tfindafaultwithit。(Itwasnotforthebiography——no，itbelongedtoanimmediateanddeadlierproject。)
Well，fivedaysago，thisthoughtcameintomymind(fromMrs。Clemens”s)：
“Wouldn”titbewelltomakesurethattheattackshavebeen”almostdaily”？——andtoalsomakesurethattheirnumberandcharacterwilljustifymeindoingwhatIamproposingtodo？“
IatoncesetamantoworkinNewYorktoseekoutandcopyeveryunpleasantreferencewhichhadbeenmadetomeintheTribunefromNov。
1sttodate。OnmyownpartIbegantowatchthecurrentnumbers，forI
hadsubscribedforthepaper。
TheresultarrivedfrommyNewYorkmanthismorning。O，whatapitiablewreckofhighhopes！The“almostdaily“assaults，fortwomonths，consistof——1。AdversecriticismofP。&P。fromanenragedidiotintheLondonAtheneum；2。ParagraphfromsomeindignantEnglishmaninthePallMallGazettewhopaysmethevastcomplimentofgravelyrebukingsomeimaginaryasswhohassetmeupintheneighborhoodofRabelais；3。A
remarkoftheTribune”sabouttheMontrealdinner，touchedwithanalmostinvisiblesatire；4。AremarkoftheTribune”saboutrefusalofCanadiancopyright，notcomplimentary，butnotnecessarilymalicious——andofcourseadversecriticismwhichisnotmaliciousisathingwhichnonebutfoolsirritatethemselvesabout。
There——thatistheprodigiousbugaboo，initsentirety！Canyouconceiveofaman”sgettinghimselfintoasweatoversodiminutiveaprovocation？
IamsureIcan”t。Whatthedevilcanthosefriendsofminehavebeenthinkingabout，tospreadthese3or4harmlessthingsoutintotwomonthsofdailysneersandaffronts？Thewholeoffense，boileddown，amountstojustthis：oneuncourteousremarkoftheTribuneaboutmybook——notmebetweenNov。1andDec。20；andacoupleofforeigncriticisms(ofmywritings，notme，)betweenNov。1andJan。26！IfI
can”tstandthatamountoffriction，Icertainlyneedreconstruction。
Furtherboileddown，thisvastoutpouringofmaliceamountstosimplythis：onejestfromtheTribune(onecanmakenothingmoreseriousthanthatoutofit。)Onejest——andthatisall；fortheforeigncriticismsdonotcount，theybeingmattersofnews，andproperforpublicationinanybody”snewspaper。
Andtooffsetthatonejest，theTribunepaidmeonecomplimentDec。23，bypublishingmynotedecliningtheNewYorkNewEnglanddinner，whilemerely(inthesamebreath，)mentioningthatsimilarletterswerereadfromGeneralShermanandothermenwhomweallknowtobepersonsofrealconsequence。
Well，mymountainhasbroughtforthitsmouse，andasufficientlysmallmouseitis，Godknows。Andmythreeweeks”hardworkhavegottogointotheignominiouspigeon-hole。Confoundit，Icouldhaveearnedtenthousanddollarswithinfinitelylesstrouble。However，Ishouldn”thavedoneit，forIamtoolazy，now，inmysereandyellowleaf，tobewillingtoworkforanythingbutlove……Ikindofenvyyoupeoplewhoarepermittedforyourrighteousness”saketodwellinaboardinghouse；
notthatIshouldalwayswanttoliveinone，butIshouldlikethechangeoccasionallyfromthishousekeepingslaverytothatwildindependence。Alifeofdon”t-care-a-damninaboardinghouseiswhatI
haveaskedforinmanyasecretprayer。Ishallcomebyandbyandrequireofyouwhatyouhaveofferedmethere。
Yoursever，MARK。
Howells，whohadalreadyknownsomethingofthegatheringstorm，replied：“Yourletterwasanimmenserelieftome，foralthoughI
hadanabidingfaiththatyouwouldgetsickofyourenterprise，Iwasn”teasyuntilIknewthatyouhadgivenitup。
JoelChandlerHarrisappearsagaininthelettersofthisperiod。
Twichell，duringatripSouthaboutthistime，hadcalledonHarriswithsomesortofpropositionorsuggestionfromClemensthatHarrisappearwithhiminpublic，andtell，orread，theRemusstoriesfromtheplatform。ButHarriswasabnormallydiffident。Clemenslaterpronouncedhim“theshyestfull-grownman“hehadevermet，andthewordwhichTwichellbroughthomeevidentlydidnotencouragetheplatformidea。
ToJoelChandlerHarris，inAtlanta：
HARTFORD，Apl。2，”82。
Private。
MYDEARMR。HARRIS，——JoTwichellbroughtmeyournoteandtoldmeofhistalkwithyou。Hesaidyoudidn”tbelieveyouwouldeverbeabletomusterasufficiencyofrecklessdaringtomakeyoucomfortableandateasebeforeanaudience。Well，IhavethoughtoutadevicewherebyI
believewecangetaroundthatdifficulty。IwillexplainwhenIseeyou。
JosaysyouwanttogotoCanadawithinamonthorsixweeks——Iforgetjustexactlywhathedidsay；butheintimatedthetripcouldbedelayedawhile，ifnecessary。Ifthisisso，supposeyoumeetOsgoodandmeinNewOrleansearlyinMay——saysomewherebetweenthe1stand6th？
Itwillbewellworthyourwhiletodothis，becausetheauthorwhogoestoCanadaunposted，willnotknowwhatcoursetopursue[tosecurecopyright]whenhegetsthere；hewillfindhimselfinahopelessconfusionastowhatisthecorrectthingtodo。NowOsgoodistheonlymaninAmerica，whocanlayoutyourcourseforyouandtellyouexactlywhattodo。Therefore，youjustcometoNewOrleansandhaveatalkwithhim。
OurideaistostrikeacrosslotsandreachSt。Louisthe20thofApril——
thenceweproposetodriftsouthward，stoppingatsometownafewhoursoranight，everyday，andmakingnotes。
Toescapetheinterviewers，Ishallfollowmyusualcourseanduseafictitiousname(C。L。Samuel，ofNewYork。)Idon”tknowwhatOsgood”snamewillbe，buthecan”tusehisown。
IfyouseeyourwaytomeetusinNewOrleans，dropmealine，now，andasweapproachthatcityIwilltelegraphyouwhatdayweshallarrivethere。
IwouldgotoAtlantaifIcould，butshan”tbeable。WeshallgobackuptherivertoSt。Paul，andthencebyrailX-lotshome。
(Iammakingthislettersodreadfullyprivateandconfidentialbecausemymovementsmustbekeptsecret，elseIshan”tbeabletopickupthekindofbook-materialIwant。)
Ifyouarediffident，IsuspectthatyououghttoletOsgoodbeyourmagazine-agent。Hemakesthosepeoplepaythreeorfourtimesasmuchasanarticleisworth，whereasIneverhadthecheektomakethempaymorethandouble。
YrsSincerelyS。L。CLEMENS。
“Mybackwardnessisanaffliction，“wroteHarris……“Theordealofappearingonthestagewouldbeaterribleone，butmyexperienceisthatwhenadiffidentmandoesbecomefamiliarwithhissurroundingshehasmoreimpudencethanhisneighbors。Extremesmeet。”
Hewassorelytempted，buthiscouragebecameaswateratthethoughtoffootlightsandassembledlisteners。OnceinNewYorkheappearstohavebeencaughtunawaresataTileClubdinnerandmadetotellastory，buthisagonywassuchthatattheprospectofasimilarordealinBostonheavoidedthatcityandheadedstraightforGeorgiaandsafety。
TheNewOrleansexcursionwithOsgood，asplannedbyClemens，provedagreatsuccess。ThelittlepartytookthesteamerGoldDustfromSt。LouisdownrivertowardNewOrleans。Clemenswasquicklyrecognized，ofcourse，andhisassumednamelaidaside。Theauthorof“UncleRemus“madethetriptoNewOrleans。GeorgeW。Cablewasthereatthetime，andwemaybelievethatinthecompanyofMarkTwainandOsgoodthoseSouthernauthorspassedtwoorthreedelightfuldays。ClemensalsomethisoldteacherBixbyinNewOrleans，andcamebackuptheriverwithhim，spendingmostofhistimeinthepilot-house，asintheolddays。Itwasaglorioustrip，and，reachingSt。Louis，hecontinueditnorthward，stoppingoffatHannibalandQuincy。”
ToMrs。Clemens，inHartford：
QUINCY，ILL。May17，”82。
Livydarling，Iamdesperatelyhomesick。ButIhavepromisedOsgood，andmuststickitout；otherwiseIwouldtakethetrainatonceandbreakforhome。
IhavespentthreedelightfuldaysinHannibal，loiteringaroundalldaylong，examiningtheoldlocalitiesandtalkingwiththegrey-headswhowereboysandgirlswithme30or40yearsago。Ithasbeenamovingtime。IspentmynightswithJohnandHelenGarth，threemilesfromtown，intheirspaciousandbeautifulhouse。Theywerechildrenwithme，andafterwardsschoolmates。Nowtheyhaveadaughter19or20yearsold。
Spentanhour，yesterday，withA。W。Lamb，whowasnotmarriedwhenIsawhimlast。HemarriedayoungladywhomIknew。AndnowIhavebeentalkingwiththeirgrown-upsonsanddaughters。LieutenantHickman，thespruceyounghandsomely-uniformedvolunteerof1846，calledonme——agrislyelephantinepatriarchof65now，hisgraceallvanished。
ThatworldwhichIknewinitsblossomingyouthisoldandbowedandmelancholy，now；itssoftcheeksareleatheryandwrinkled，thefireisgoneoutinitseyes，andthespringfromitsstep。ItwillbedustandasheswhenIcomeagain。Ihavebeenclaspinghandswiththemoribund-
andusuallytheysaid，“Itisforthelasttime。”
NowIamunderwayagain，uponthishideoustriptoSt。Paul，withaheartbrimmingfullofthoughtsandimagesofyouandSusieandBayandthepeerlessJean。Andsogoodnight，mylove。
SAML。
Clemens”striphadbeensaddenedbylearning，inNewOrleans，thenewsofthedeathofDr。JohnBrown，ofEdinburgh。ToDoctorBrown”sson，whomhehadknownas“Jock，“hewroteimmediatelyonhisreturntoHartford。
ToMr。JohnBrown，inEdinburghHARTFORD，June1，1882。
MYDEARMR。BROWN，——Iwasthreethousandmilesfromhome，atbreakfastinNewOrleans，whenthedampmorningpaperrevealedthesorrowfulnewsamongthecabledispatches。TherewasnoplaceinAmerica，howeverremote，orhoweverrich，orpoororhighorhumblewherewordsofmourningforyourfatherwerenotutteredthatmorning，forhisworkshadmadehimknownandlovedallovertheland。ToMrs。Clemensandme，thelossispersonal；andourgriefthegriefonefeelsforonewhowaspeculiarlynearanddear。Mrs。ClemenshasneverceasedtoexpressregretthatwecameawayfromEnglandthelasttimewithoutgoingtoseehim，andoftenwehavesinceprojectedavoyageacrosstheAtlanticforthesolepurposeoftakinghimbythehandandlookingintohiskindeyesoncemorebeforeheshouldbecalledtohisrest。
WeboththankyougreatlyfortheEdinburghpaperswhichyousent。MywifeandIjoininaffectionateremembrancesandgreetingstoyourselfandyouraunt，andinthesinceretenderofoursympathies。
Faithfullyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。
OurSusieisstill“Megalops。”Hegaveherthatname：
Canyouspareaphotographofyourfather？Wehavenonebuttheonetakeninagroupwithourselves。
WilliamDeanHowells，attheageofforty-five，reachedwhatmanystillregardhishighestpointofachievementinAmericanrealism。
Hisnovel，TheRiseofSilasLapham，whichwasrunningasaCenturyserialduringthesummerof1882，attractedwideattention，anduponitsissueinbookformtookfirstplaceamonghispublishednovels。
MarkTwain，totheendofhislife，lovedallthatHowellswrote。
Once，longafterward，hesaid：“Mostauthorsgiveusglimpsesofaradiantmoon，butHowells”smoonshinesandsailsallnightlong。”
WhentheinstalmentsofTheRiseofSilasLaphambegantoappear，heoverflowedinadjectives，thesincerityofwhichweneednotdoubt，inviewofhisquiteopencriticismsoftheauthor”sreadingdelivery。
ToW。D。Howells，inBelmont，Mass。：
MYDEARHOWELLS，——IaminastateofwildenthusiasmoverthisJulyinstalmentofyourstory。It”sperfectlydazzling——it”smasterly——
incomparable。YetIheardyoureadit——withoutlosingmybalance。
Well，thedifferencebetweenyourreadingandyourwritingis-remarkable。
Imean，intheeffectsproducedandtheimpressionleftbehind。Why，theoneistotheotherasisoneofJoeTwichell”syarnsrepeatedbyasomnambulist。Goodnessgracious，youreadmeachapter，anditisagentle，pearlydawn，withasprinkleoffaintstarsinit；butbyandbyIstrikeitinprint，andshouttomyself，“Godblessus，howhasthatpallidformerspectaclebeenturnedintothesegorgeoussunsetsplendors！“
Well，Idon”tcarehowmuchyoureadyourtrucktome，youcan”tpermanentlydamageitformethatway。ItisalwaysperfectlyfreshanddazzlingwhenIcomeonitinthemagazine。OfcourseIrecognizetheformofitasbeingfamiliar——butthatisall。Thatis，Irememberitaspyrotechnicfigureswhichyousetupbeforeme，deadandcold，butreadyforthematch——andnowIseethemtouchedoffandallablazewithblindingfires。Youcanread，ifyouwantto，butyoudon”treadworthadamn。Iknowyoucanread，becauseyourreadingsofCableandyourrepeatingsoftheGermandoctor”sremarksprovethat。
That”sthebestdrunkscene——becausethetruest——thatIeverread。TherearetouchesinitthatIneversawanywritertakenoteofbefore。Andtheyaresetbeforethereaderwithamazingaccuracy。Howverydrunk，andhowrecentlydrunk，andhowaltogetheradmirablydrunkyoumusthavebeentoenableyoutocontrivethatmasterpiece！
WhyIdidn”tnoticethatthatreligiousinterviewbetweenMarciaandMrs。
Halleckwassodeliciouslyhumorouswhenyoureadittome——butdearme，it”sjusttoolovelyforanything。(WroteClarktocollaritforthe“Library。”)
Hangit，Iknowwherethemysteryis，now；whenyouarereading，yougliderightalong，andIdon”tgetachancetoletthethingssoakhome；
butwhenIcatchitinthemagazine，Igiveapage20or30minutesinwhichtogentlyandthoroughlyfilterintome。Yourhumorissoverysubtle，andelusive——(well，oftenit”sjustavanishingbreathofperfumewhichabodyisn”tcertainhesmelttillhestopsandtakesanothersmell)whereasyoucansmellother(Remainderobliterated。)
AmongMarkTwain”soldschoolmatesinHannibalwaslittleHelenKercheval，forwhominthoseearlydayshehadaverytenderspotindeed。Butshemarriedanotherschoolmate，JohnGarth，whointimebecameabanker，highlyrespectedandagreatinfluence。JohnandHelenGarthhavealreadybeenmentionedintheletterofMay17th。
ToJohnGarth，inHannibal：
HARTFORD，July3”82。
DEARJOHN，——YourletterofJunei9arrivedjustonedayafterweoughttohavebeeninElmira，N。Y。forthesummer：butatthelastmomentthebabywasseizedwithscarletfever。Ihadtotelegraphandcountermandtheorderforspecialsleepingcar；andinfactweallhadtoflyaroundinalivelywayandundothepatientpreparationsofweeks——rehabilitatethedismantledhouse，unpackthetrunks，andsoon。Acoupleofdayslater，theeldestchildwastakendownwithsofierceafeverthatshewassoondelirious——notscarletfever，however。Next，Imyselfwasstretchedonthebedwiththreediseasesatonce，andallofthemfatal。
ButIneverdidcareforfataldiseasesifIcouldonlyhaveprivacyandroomtoexpressmyselfconcerningthem。
Wegaveearlywarning，andofcoursenobodyhasenteredthehouseinallthistimebutoneortworecklessoldbachelors——andtheyprobablywantedtocarrythediseasetothechildrenofformerflamesoftheirs。Thehouseisstillinquarantineandmustremainsoforaweekortwoyet——atwhichtimewearehopingtoleaveforElmira。
AlwaysyourfriendS。L。CLEMENS。
BytheendofsummerHowellswasinEurope，andClemens，inElmira，wastryingtofinishhisMississippibook，whichwasgivinghimagreatdealoftrouble。Itwasusuallysowithhisnon-fictionbooks；hisinterestinthemwasnotcumulative；hewaspronetogrowwearyofthem，whilethemenaceofhispublisher”scontractwasmaddening。Howells”sletters，meanttobecomforting，oratleastentertaining，didnotalwayscontributetohispeaceofmind。TheLibraryofAmericanHumorwhichtheyhadplannedwasanaddedburden。Beforesailing，Howellshadwritten：“DoyousupposeyoucandoyourshareofthereadingatElmira，whileyouarewritingattheMississippibook？“
InaletterfromLondon，HowellswritesofthegoodtimesheishavingovertherewithOsgood，Hutton，JohnHay，Aldrich，andAlmaTadema，excursioningtoOxford，feasting，especially“attheMitreTavern，wheretheyletyouchooseyourdinnerfromthejointshangingfromtherafter，andhavepassagesthatyouloseyourselfineverytimeyoutrytogotoyourroom……Couldn”tyouandMrs。
Clemensstepoverforalittlewhile？……Wehaveseenlotsofnicepeopleandhavebeenmostpleasantlymadeof；butIwouldratherhaveyousmokeinmyface，andtalkforhalfadayjustforpleasure，thantogotothebesthouseorclubinLondon。”Thereaderwillgatherthatthiscouldnotbeentirelysoothingtoamanshackledbyacontractandabookthatrefusedtocometoanend。
ToW。D。Howells，inLondon：
HARTFORD，CONN。Oct30，1882。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——Idonotexpecttofindyou，soIshan”tspendmanywordsonyoutowindupintheperditionofsomeEuropeandead-letteroffice。Ionlyjustwanttosaythattheclosinginstallmentsofthestoryareprodigious。AllalongIwasafraiditwouldbeimpossibleforyoutokeepupsosplendidlytotheend；butyouwereonly，Iseenow，strikingeleven。Itisintheselastchaptersthatyoustrucktwelve。
Goonandwrite；youcanwritegoodbooksyet，butyoucannevermatchthisone。Andspeakingofthebook，Iinclosesomethingwhichhasbeenhappeningherelately。
Wehaveonlyjustarrivedathome，andIhavenotseenClarkonourmatters。Icannotseehimoranyoneelse，untilIgetmybookfinished。
Theweatherturnedcold，andwehadtorushhome，whileIstilllackedthirtythousandwords。Ihadbeensickandgotdelayed。Iamgoingtowritealldayandtwothirdsofthenight，untilthethingisdone，orbreakdownatit。Thespurandburdenofthecontractareintolerabletome。Icanenduretheirritationofitnolonger。Iwenttoworkatnineo”clockyesterdaymorning，andwenttobedanhouraftermidnight。
Resultoftheday，(mainlystolenfrombooks，tho”creditgiven，)9500
words，soIreducedmyburdenbyonethirdinoneday。Itwasfivedaysworkinone。Ihavenothingmoretoborroworsteal；therestmustallbewritten。Itistendayswork，andunlesssomethingbreaks，itwillbefinishedinfive。WeallsendlovetoyouandMrs。Howells，andallthefamily。
Yoursasever，MARK。
Again，fromVilleneuve，onlakeGeneva，HowellswroteurginghimthistimetospendthewinterwiththeminFlorence，wheretheywouldwritetheirgreatAmericanComedyof”Orme”sMotor”“whichistoenrichusbeyondthedreamsofavarice……Wecouldhavealotoffunwritingit，andyoucouldgohomewithsomeofthegoodoldEtruscanmalariainyourbones，insteadofthewretchedpinch-beckHartfordarticlethatyouaresufferingfromnow……it”sagreatopportunityforyou。Besides，nobodyovertherelikesyouhalfaswellasIdo。”
Itshouldbeaddedthat”Orme”sMotor”wastheprovisionaltitlethatClemensandHowellshadselectedfortheircomedy，whichwastobebuilt，insomemeasure，atleast，aroundthecharacter，orratherfromthepeculiarities，ofOrionClemens。TheCablementionedinMarkTwain”sreplyis，ofcourse，GeorgeW。Cable，whoonlyalittlewhilebeforehadcomeupfromNewOrleanstoconquertheNorthwithhiswonderfultalesandreadings。
ToW。D。Howells，inSwitzerland：
HARTFORD，Nov。4th，1882。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——Yes，itwouldbeprofitableformetodothat，becausewithyoursocietytohelpme，Ishouldswiftlyfinishthisnowapparentlyinterminablebook。ButIcannotcome，becauseIamnotBosshere，andnothingbutdynamitecanmoveMrs。Clemensawayfromhomeinthewinterseason。
Ineverhadsuchafightoverabookinmylifebefore。Andthefoolishestpartofthewholebusinessis，thatIstartedOsgoodtoeditingitbeforeIhadfinishedwritingit。Asaconsequence，largeareasofitarecondemnedhereandthereandyonder，andIhavetheburdenoftheseunfilledgapsharassingmeandthethoughtofthebrokencontinuityofthework，whileIamatthesametimetryingtobuildthelastquarterofthebook。However，atlastIhavesaidwithsufficientpositivenessthatIwillfinishthebookatnoparticulardate；thatI
willnothurryit；thatIwillnothurrymyself；thatIwilltakethingseasyandcomfortably，writewhenIchoosetowrite，leaveitalonewhenI
soprefer。Theprintersmustwait，theartists，thecanvassers，andalltherest。Ihavegoteverythingatadeadstandstill，andthatiswhereitoughttobe，andthatiswhereitmustremain；tofollowanyotherpolicywouldbetomakethebookworsethanitalreadyis。Ioughttohavefinisheditbeforeshowingtoanybody，andthensentitacrosstheoceantoyoutobeedited，asusual；foryouseemtobeagreatmanyshadeshappierthanyoudeservetobe，andifIhadthoughtofthisthingearlier，Iwouldhaveacteduponitandtakenthetucksomewhatoutofyourjoyousness。
Inthesamemailwithyourletter，arrivedtheenclosedfromOrmethemotorman。Youwillobservethathehasanoffice。IwillexplainthatthisisalawofficeandIthinkitprobablydoeshimasmuchgoodtohavealawofficewithoutanythingtodoinit，asitwouldanothermantohaveonewithanactivebusinessattached。Youseeheisontheelectriclightlaynow。GoingtolightthecityandallowmetotakeallthestockifIwantto。Andhewillmanageitfreeofcharge。Itneverwouldoccurtothissimplesoulhowmuchlesscostlyitwouldbetome，tohirehimonagoodsalarynottomanageit。Doyouobservethesameoldeagerness，thesameoldhurry，springingfromthefearthatifhedoesnotmovewiththeutmostswiftness，thatcolossalopportunitywillescapehim？Nowjustfancythissamefranticplungingaftervastopportunities，goingonweekafterweekwiththissameman，duringfiftyentireyears，andhehasnotyetlearned，intheslightestdegree，thatthereisn”tanyoccasiontohurry；thathisvastopportunitywillalwayswait；andthatwhetheritwaitsorflies，hecertainlywillnevercatchit。Thisimmortalhopefulness，fortifiedbyitsimmortalandunteachablemisjudgment，istheimmortalfeatureofthischaracter，foraplay；andwewillwritethatplay。Weshouldbefoolselse。Thatstaccatopostscriptreadsasifsomenewandmightybusinesswereimminent，foritisslungonthepapertelegraphically，allthesmallwordsleftout。
Iamafraidsomethingnewerandbiggerthantheelectriclightisswingingacrosshisorbit。Savethisletterforaninspiration。Ihavegotahundredmore。
Cablehasbeenhere，creatingworshipersonallhands。Heisamarveloustalkeronadeepsubject。IdonotseehowevenSpencercouldunwindathoughtmoresmoothlyororderly，anddoitinacleaner，clearer，crisperEnglish。HeastoundedTwichellwithhisfaculty。Youknowwhenitcomesdowntomoralhonesty，limpidinnocence，andutterlyblemishlesspiety，theApostlesweremerepolicementoCable；sowiththisinmindyoumustimaginehimatamidnightdinnerinBostontheothernight，wherewegatheredaroundtheboardoftheSummersetClub；Osgood，full，BoyleO”Reilly，full，Fairchildresponsivelyloaded，andAldrichandmyselfpossessingthefloor，andproperlyfortified。CabletoldMrs。
Clemenswhenhereturnedhere，thatheseemedtohavebeenentertaininghimselfwithhorses，andhadadreamyideathathemusthavegonetoBostoninacattle-car。Itwasaverylargetime。Hecalleditanorgy。
Andnodoubtitwas，viewedfromhisstandpoint。
IwishIwereinSwitzerland，andIwishwecouldgotoFlorence；butwehavetoleavethesedelightstoyou；thereisnohelpingit。Wealljoininlovetoyouandallthefamily。
YoursaseverMARK。
XXIII。
LETTERS，1883，TOHOWELLSANDOTHERS。AGUESTOFTHEMARQUISOFLORNE。
THEHISTORYGAME。APLAYBYHOWELLSANDMARKTWAIN
MarkTwain，indueseason，finishedtheMississippibookandplaceditinOsgood”shandsforpublication。ItwasasortofpartnershiparrangementinwhichClemenswastofurnishthemoneytomakethebook，andpayOsgoodapercentageforhandlingit。Itwas，infact，thebeginningofMarkTwain”sadventuresasapublisher。
HowellswasnotashappyinFlorenceashehadhopedtobe。Thesociallifethereoverwhelmedhim。InFebruaryhewrote：“OurtwomonthsinFlorencehavebeenthemostridiculoustimethateverevenhalf-wittedpeoplepassed。Wehavespenttheminchasingroundafterpeopleforwhomwecarednothing，andbeingchasedbythem。
Mystoryisn”tfinishedyet，andwhatpartofitisdonebearsthefatalmarksofhasteanddistraction。Ofcourse，Ihaven”tputpentopaperyetontheplay。IwringmyhandsandbeatmybreastwhenIthinkofhowtheseweekshavebeenwasted；andhowIhavebeenforcedtowastethembytheinfernalsocialcircumstancesfromwhichIcouldn”tescape。”
Clemens，nowfreefromtheburdenofhisownbook，waslightofheartandfullofideasandnews；alsoofsympathyandappreciation。
Howells”sstoryofthistimewas“AWoman”sReason。”GovernorJewell，ofthisletter，wasMarshallJewell，GovernorofConnecticutfrom1871to1873。Later，hewasMinistertoRussia，andin1874
wasUnitedStatesPostmaster-General。
ToW。D。Howells，inFlorence：
HARTFORD，March1st，1883。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——Wegotourselvesgroundupinthatsamemill，once，inLondon，andanothertimeinParis。Itisakindofforetasteofhell。
Thereisnowaytoavoiditexceptbythemethodwhichyouhavenowchosen。Onemustlivesecretlyandcuthimselfutterlyofffromthehumanrace，orlifeinEuropebecomesanunbearableburdenandworkanimpossibility。Ilearnedsomethinglastnight，andmaybeitmayreconcilemetogotoEuropeagainsometime。IattendedoneoftheastonishinglypopularlecturesofamanbythenameofStoddard，whoexhibitsinterestingstereopticonpicturesandthenknockstheinterestalloutofthemwithhiscommentsuponthem。Butalltheworldgotheretolookandlisten，andareapparentlywellsatisfied。Andtheyoughttobefullysatisfied，ifthelecturerwouldonlykeepstill，ordieinthefirstact。ButhedescribedhowretiredtradesmenandfarmersinHollandloadalazyscowwiththefamilyandthehouseholdeffects，andthenloafalongthewaterwaysofthelowcountriesallthesummerlong，payingnovisits，receivingnone，andjustlazyingaheavenlylifeoutintheirownprivateunpesteredsociety，anddoingtheirliterarywork，iftheyhaveany，whollyuninterrupted。Ifyouhadhiredsuchaboatandsentforusweshouldhaveacoupleofsatisfactorybooksreadyforthepressnowwithnomarksofinterruption，vexatiouswearinesses，andotherhellishnessesvisibleuponthemanywhere。Weshallhavetodothisanothertime。Wehavelostanopportunityforthepresent。DoyouforgetthatHeavenispackedwithamultitudeofallnationsandthatthesepeopleareallonthemostfamiliarhow-the-hell-are-youfootingwithTalmageswingingaroundthecircletoalleternityhuggingthesaintsandpatriarchsandarchangels，andforcingyoutodothesameunlessyouchoosetomakeyourselfanobjectofremarkifyourefrain？
ThenwhydoyoutrytogettoHeaven？Bewarnedintime。
WehaveallreadyourtwoopeningnumbersintheCentury，andconsiderthemalmostbeyondpraise。Ihearnodissentfromthisverdict。IdidnotknowtherewasanuntouchedpersonageinAmericanlife，butIhadforgottentheauctioneer。Youhavephotographedhimaccurately。
Ihavebeenanutterlyfreepersonforamonthortwo；andIdonotbelieveIeversogreatlyappreciatedandenjoyed——andrealizedtheabsenceofthechainsofslaveryasIdothistime。Usuallymyfirstwakingthoughtinthemorningis，“Ihavenothingtodoto-day，Ibelongtonobody，Ihaveceasedfrombeingaslave。”Ofcoursethehighestpleasuretobegotoutoffreedom，andhavingnothingtodo，islabor。
ThereforeIlabor。ButItakemytimeaboutit。Iworkonehourorfourashappenstosuitmymind，andquitwhenIplease。Andsothesedaysaredaysofentireenjoyment。ItoldClarktheotherday，tojogalongcomfortableandnotgetinasweat。IsaidIbelievedyouwouldnotbeabletoenjoyeditingthatlibraryoverthere，whereyouhaveyourownlegitimateworktodoandbepesteredtodeathbysocietybesides；
thereforeIthoughtifhegotitreadyforyouagainstyourreturn，thatthatwouldbebestandpleasantest。
YourememberGovernorJewell，andthenighthetoldaboutRussia，downinthelibrary。Hewastakenwithacoldaboutthreeweeksago，andI
steppedoveroneevening，proposingtobeguileanidlehourforhimwithayarnortwo，butwasreceivedatthedoorwithwhispers，andtheinformationthathewasdying。Hiscasehadbeendangerousduringthatdayonlyandhediedthatnight，twohoursafterIleft。Histakingoffwasaprodigioussurprise，andhisdeathhasbeenmostwidelyandsincerelyregretted。Win。E。Dodge，thefather-in-lawofoneofJewell”sdaughters，droppedsuddenlydeadthedaybeforeJewelldied，butJewelldiedwithoutknowingthat。Jewell”swidowwentdowntoNewYork，toDodge”shouse，thedayafterJewell”sfuneral，andwastoreturnheredaybeforeyesterday，andshedid——inacoffin。Shefelldead，ofheartdisease，whilehertrunkswerebeingpackedforherreturnhome。
FlorenceStrong，oneofJewell”sdaughters，wholivesinDetroit，startedEastonanurgenttelegram，butmissedaconnectionsomewhere，anddidnotarrivehereintimetoseeherfatheralive。Shewashisfavoritechild，andtheyhadalwaysbeenlikeloverstogether。Healwayssentheraboxoffreshflowersonceaweektothedayofhisdeath；acustomwhichheneversuspendedevenwhenhewasinRussia。Mrs。StronghadonlyjustreachedherWesternhomeagainwhenshewassummonedtoHartfordtoattendhermother”sfuneral。
Ihavehadtheimpulsetowriteyouseveraltimes。Ishalltrytorememberbetterhenceforth。
Withsincerestregardstoallofyou，Yoursasever，MARK。
MarkTwainmadeanothertriptoCanadaintheinterestofcopyright-
thistimetoprotecttheMississippibook。Whenhisjourneywasannouncedbythepress，theMarquisofLornetelegraphedaninvitationinvitinghimtobehisguestatRideauHall，inOttawa。
Clemensaccepted，ofcourse，andwashandsomelyentertainedbythedaughterofQueenVictoriaandherhusband，thenGovernor-GeneralofCanada。
OnhisreturntoHartfordhefoundthatOsgoodhadissuedacuriouslittlebook，forwhichClemenshadpreparedanintroduction。Itwasanabsurdvolume，thoughoriginallyissuedwithseriousintent，itstitlebeingTheNewGuideoftheConversationinPortugueseandEnglish。”——[TheNewGuideoftheConversationinPortugueseandEnglish，byPedroCaxolino，withanintroductionbyMarkTwain。
Osgood，Boston，1883。]——Evidentlythe“NewGuide“waspreparedbysomesimplePortuguesesoulwithbutslightknowledgeofEnglishbeyondthatwhichcouldbeobtainedfromadictionary，andhisliteraltranslationofEnglishidiomsareoftenstartling，as，forinstance，thisone，takenatrandom：
“Alittlelearnedsarehappiesenoughfortomaytosatisfytheirfanciesontheliterature。”
MarkTwainthoughtthisquaintbookmightamusehisroyalhostess，andforwardedacopyinwhatheconsideredtobethesafeandproperform。
ToCol。DeWinton，inOttawa，Canada：
HARTFORD，June4，”83。
DEARCOLONELDEWINTON，——IverymuchwanttosendalittlebooktoherRoyalHighness——thefamousPortuguesephrasebook；butIdonotknowtheetiquetteofthematter，andIwouldnotwittinglyinfringeanyruleofpropriety。ItisabookwhichIperfectlywellknowwillamuseher“someatmost“ifshehasnotseenitbefore，andwillstillamuseher“someatleast，“evenifshehasinspecteditahundredtimesalready。SoIwillsendthebooktoyou，andyouwhoknowallabouttheproperobservanceswillprotectmefromindiscretion，incaseofneed，byputtingthesaidbookinthefire，andremainingasdumbasIgenerallywaswhenIwasupthere。Idonotrebindthething，becausethatwouldlookasifI
thoughtitworthkeeping，whereasitisonlyworthglancingatandcastingaside。
WillyoupleasepresentmycomplimentstoMrs。DeWintonandMrs。
Mackenzie？——andIbegtomakemysincerecomplimentstoyou，also，foryourinfinitekindnessestome。Ididhaveadelightfultimeupthere，mostcertainly。
TrulyyoursS。L。CLEMENS。
P。S。Althoughtheintroductiondatesayearback，thebookisonlyjustnowissued。Agoodlongdelay。
S。L。C。
Howells，writingfromVenice，inApril，manifestedspecialinterestintheplayproject：“SomethingthatwouldrunlikeScheherazade，forathousandandonenights，“soperhapshisbookwasgoingbetter。HeproposedthattheydevotethemonthofOctobertothework，andinclosedaletterfromMallory，whoownednotonlyareligiouspaper，TheChurchman，butalsotheMadisonSquareTheater，andwasanxiousforaHowellsplay。TwentyyearsbeforeHowellshadbeenConsultoVenice，andhewrote，now：“Theideaofmybeinghereisbenumbingandsilencing。IfeelliketheWanderingJew，ortheghostoftheCardiffgiant。”
HereturnedtoAmericainJuly。Clemenssenthimwordofwelcome，withglowingreportsofhisownundertakings。ThestoryonwhichhewaspilingupMS。wasTheAdventuresofHuckleberryFinn，begunsevenyearsbeforeatQuarryFarm。Hehadnogreatfaithinitthen，andthoughhehadtakenitupagainin1880，hisinteresthadnotlastedtoitsconclusion。Thistime，however，hewasintheproperspirit，andthestorywouldbefinished。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
ELMIRA，July20，”83。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——Wearedesperatelygladyouandyourgangarehomeagain——mayyounevertravelagain，tillyougoaloftoralow。CharleyClarkhasgonetotheothersideforarun——willbebackinAugust。Hehasbeensick，andneededthetripverymuch。
Mrs。ClemenshadalongandwastingspellofsicknesslastSpring，butsheispullingup，now。Thechildrenarebooming，andmyhealthisridiculous，it”ssorobust，notwithstandingthenewspapermisreports。
Ihaven”tpiledupMSsoinyearsasIhavedonesincewecameheretothefarmthreeweeksandahalfago。Why，it”slikeoldtimes，tosteprightintothestudy，dampfromthebreakfasttable，andsailrightinandsailrighton，thewholedaylong，withoutthoughtofrunningshortofstufforwords。
Iwrote4000wordsto-dayandItouch3000andupwardsprettyoften，anddon”tfallbelow1600anyworkingday。AndwhenIgetfaggedout，Ilieabedacoupleofdaysandreadandsmoke，andthengoitagainfor6or7
days。Ihavefinishedonesmallbook，andamawayalonginabig433
onethatIhalf-finishedtwoorthreeyearsago。Iexpecttocompleteitinamonthorsixweeksortwomonthsmore。AndIshalllikeit，whetheranybodyelsedoesornot。
It”sakindofcompaniontoTomSawyer。There”saraftepisodefromitinsecondorthirdchapteroflifeontheMississippi……
I”mbooming，thesedays——gothealthandspiritstowaste——gotanoverplus；andifIwereathome，wewouldwriteaplay。Butwemustdoitanyhowbyandby。
WestayheretillSep。10；thenmaybeaweekatIndianNeckforseaair，thenhome。
Wearepowerfulgladyouareallback；andsendloveaccording。
YrsEverMARK
ToOnionClemensandfamily，inKeokuk，Id。：
ELMIRA，July22，”83。
PrivateDEARMAANDORIONANDMOLLIE，——Idon”tknowthatIhaveanythingnewtoreport，exceptthatLivyisstillgaining，andalltherestofusflourishing。Ihaven”thadsuchboomingworking-daysformanyyears。
Iampilingupmanuscriptinareallyastonishingway。IbelieveIshallcomplete，intwomonths，abookwhichIhavebeenfoolingoverfor7years。Thissummeritisnomoretroubletometowritethanitistolie。
DaybeforeyesterdayIfeltslightlywarnedtoknockoffworkforoneday。SoIdidit，andtooktheopenair。ThenIstruckanideafortheinstructionofthechildren，andwenttoworkandcarrieditout。Ittookmeallday。Imeasuredoff817feetoftheroad-wayinourfarmgrounds，withafoot-rule，andthendivideditupamongtheEnglishreigns，fromtheConquerordownto1883，allowingonefoottotheyear。
IwhittledoutabasketoflittlepegsaNddroveoneinthegroundatthebeginningofeachreign，andgaveitthatKing”sname-thus：
Imeasuredallthereignsexactlyasmanyfeettothereignastherewereyearsinit。Youcanlookoutoverthegroundsandseethelittlepegsfromthefrontdoor——someofthemclosetogether，likeRichardII，RichardCromwell，JamesII，&c；andsomeprodigiouslywideapart，likeHenryIII，EdwardIII，GeorgeIII，&c。Itgivesthechildrenarealizingsenseofthelengthorbrevityofareign。Shallinventaviolentgametogowithit。
Andinbed，lastnight，Iinventedawaytoplayitindoors——inafarmorevoluminousway，astomultiplicityofdatesandevents——onacribbageboard。
Hello，supper”sready。
Lovetoall。
Goodbye。
SAML。
OnionClemenswouldnaturallygetexcitedovertheideaofthegameanditscommercialpossibilities。Notmoresothanhisbrother，however，whopresentlyemployedhimtoarrangeaquantityofhistoricaldatawhichthegamewastoteach。Foraseason，indeed，interestinthegamebecameasortofmidsummermadnesswhichpervadedthetwohouseholds，atKeokukandatQuarryFarm。Howellswrotehisapprovaloftheideaof“learninghistorybytherunningfoot，“whichwasapun，evenifunintentional，forinitsout-doorformitwasagameofspeedaswellasknowledge。
HowellsaddsthathehasnoticedthatthenewspapersareexploitingMarkTwain”snewinventionofahistorygame，andweshallpresentlyseehowthishappened。
Also，inthisletter，HowellsspeaksofanEnglishnoblemantowhomhehasgivenaletterofintroduction。“Heseemedasimple，quiet，gentlemanlyman，withagoodtasteinliterature，whichheevincedbygoingaboutwithmybooksinhispockets，andtalkingofyours。”
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
MYDEARHOWELLS，——Howodditseems，tositdowntowritealetterwiththefeelingthatyou”vegottimetodoit。ButI”mdonework，forthisseason，andsohavegottime。I”vedonetwoseasons”workinone，andhaven”tanythinglefttodo，now，butrevise。I”vewritteneightorninehundredMSpagesinsuchabriefspaceoftimethatImustn”tnamethenumberofdays；Ishouldn”tbelieveitmyself，andofcoursecouldn”texpectyouto。Iusedtorestrictmyselfto4or5hoursadayand5daysintheweek，butthistimeI”vewroughtfrombreakfasttill5。15p。m。sixdaysintheweek；andonceortwiceIsmouchedaSundaywhenthebosswasn”tlooking。NothingishalfsogoodasliteraturehookedonSunday，onthesly。
IwroteyouandTwichellonthesamenight，aboutthegame，andwasappalledtogetanotefromhimsayinghewasgoingtoprintpartofmyletter，andwasgoingtodoitbeforeIcouldgetachancetoforbidit。
Itelegraphedhim，butwasofcoursetoolate。
Ifyouhaven”tevertriedtoinventanindoorhistoricalgame，don”t。
I”vegotthethingatlastsoitwillwork，Iguess，butIdon”twantanymoretasksofthatkind。WhenIwroteyou，IthoughtIhadit；whereasI
wasonlymerelyenteringupontheinitiatorydifficultiesofit。Imighthaveknownitwouldn”tbeaneasyjob，orsomebodywouldhaveinventedadecenthistoricalgamelongago——athingwhichnobodyhaddone。IthinkI”vegotitinprettyfairshape——soIhavecaveatedit。
EarlofOnston——isthatit？Allright，weshallbeverygladtoreceivethemandgetacquaintedwiththem。Andmuchobligedtoyou，too。
There”splentyofworsepeoplethanthenobilities。IwentupandspentaweekwiththeMarquisandthePrincessLouise，andhadasgoodatimeasIwant。
I”mpowerfulgladyouareallbackagain；andwewillcomeupthereifourlittletribewillgiveusthenecessaryfurlough；andifwecan”tgetit，youfolksmustcometousandgiveusanextensionoftime。WegethomeSept。11。
Hello，IthinkIseeWaringcoming！
Good-by-letterfromClark，whichexplainsforhim。
LovetoyouallfromtheCLEMENSES。
No——itwasn”tWaring。Iwonderwhatthedevilhasbecomeofthatman。
Hewastospendto-daywithus，andtheday”smostgone，now。
Weareenjoyingyourstorywithourusualunspeakableness；andI”mrightgladyouthrewintheshipwreckandthemystery——Ilikeit。Mrs。Cranethinksit”sthebeststoryyou”vewrittenyet。We——butwealwaysthinkthelastoneisthebest。Andwhyshouldn”titbe？Practicehelps。
P。S。IthoughtIhadsentallourlovestoallofyou，butMrs。ClemenssaysIhaven”t。Damnit，abodycan”tthinkofeverything；butawomanthinksyoucan。Ibettersealthis，now——elsethere”llbemorecriticism。
IperceiveIhaven”tgotthelovein，yet。Well，wedosendtheloveofallthefamilytoalltheHowellses。
S。L。C。
TherehadbeensomedelayandpostponementinthematteroftheplaywhichHowellsandClemensagreedtowrite。TheydidnotputintheentiremonthofOctoberastheyhadplanned，buttheydidputinaportionofthatmonth，thelatterhalf，workingouttheiroldidea。
IntheenditbecamearevivalofColonelSellers，orratheracaricatureofthatgentleheartedoldvisionary。ClemenshadalwayscomplainedthattheactorRaymondhadneverbroughtoutthefinershadesofColonelSellers”scharacter，butRaymondinhisworstperformanceneverbeliedhisoriginalasdidHowellsandClemensinhisdramaticrevival。Thesetwo，workingtogether，lettheirimaginationsrunriotwithdisastrousresults。Thereadercanjudgesomethingofthishimself，fromTheAmericanClaimantthebookwhichMarkTwainwouldlaterbuildfromtheplay。
Butatthistimetheythoughtitagreattriumph。Theyhad“crackedtheirsides“laughingoveritsconstruction，asHowellsoncesaid，andtheythoughttheworldwoulddothesameoveritsperformance。TheydecidedtoofferittoRaymond，butratherhaughtily，indifferently，becauseanynumberofotheractorswouldbewaitingforit。
Butthiswasamiscalculation。Raymondnowturnedthetables。Thoughfavorabletotheideaofanewplay，hedeclaredthisonedidnotpresenthisoldSellersatall，butalunatic。IntheendhereturnedtheMS。
withabriefnote。Attemptshadalreadybeenmadetointerestotheractors，andwouldcontinueforsometime。
XXIV
LETTERS，1884，TOHOWELLSANDOTHERS。CABLE”SGREATAPRILFOOL。
“HUCKFINN“INPRESS。MARKTWAINFORCLEVELAND。CLEMENSANDCABLE
MarkTwainhadalingeringattackofthedramaticfeverthatwinter。
HemadeaplayofthePrinceandPauper，whichHowellspronounced“toothinandslightandnothalflongenough。”HemadeanotherofTomSawyer，andprobablydestroyedit，fornotraceoftheMS。existsto-day。
Howellscouldnotjoinintheseventures，forhewasotherwiseoccupiedandhadsicknessinhishousehold。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
Jan。7，”84。
MYDEARHOWELLS”Omygoodn”s“，asJeansays。Youhavenowencounteredatlasttheheaviestcalamitythatcanbefallanauthor。Thescarletfever，oncedomesticated，isapermanentmemberofthefamily。Moneymaydesertyou，friendsforsakeyou，enemiesgrowindifferenttoyou，butthescarletfeverwillbetruetoyou，throughthickandthin，tillyoubeallsavedordamned，downtothelastone。Isaythesethingstocheeryou。
Thebaresuggestionofscarletfeverinthefamilymakesmeshudder；I
believeIwouldalmostratherhaveOsgoodpublishabookforme。
Youfolkshaveourmostsinceresympathy。Oh，theintrusionofthishideousdiseaseisanunspeakabledisaster。
MybilliardtableisstackedupwithbooksrelatingtotheSandwichIslands：thewallsaxeupholsteredwithscrapsofpaperpenciledwithnotesdrawnfromthem。Ihavesaturatedmyselfwithknowledgeofthatunimaginablybeautifullandandthatmoststrangeandfascinatingpeople。
AndIhavebegunastory。Itshiddenmotivewillillustrateabut-littleconsideredfactinhumannature；thatthereligiousfollyyouareborninyouwilldiein，nomatterwhatapparentlyreasonablerreligiousfollymayseemtohavetakenitsplacemeanwhile，andabolishedandobliteratedit。IstartBillRagsdaleat12yearsofage，andtheheroineat4，inthemidstoftheancientidolatroussystem，withitspicturesqueandamazingcustomsandsuperstitions，3monthsbeforethearrivalofthemissionariesandtheerectionofashallowChristianityupontheruinsoftheoldpaganism。ThenthesetwowillbecomeeducatedChristians，andhighlycivilized。
AndthenIwilljump15years，anddoRagsdale”sleperbusiness。Whenwecametodramatize，wecandrawadealofmatterfromthestory，allreadytoourhand。
YrsEverMARK。
HeneverfinishedtheSandwichIslandsstorywhichheandHowellsweretodramatizelater。Hisheadfilledupwithotherprojects，suchaspublishingplans，reading-tours，andthelike。Thetype-
settingmachinedoesnotappearinthelettersofthisperiod，butitwasanimportantfactor，nevertheless。ItwascostingseveralthousanddollarsamonthforconstructionandbecomingaheavydrainonMarkTwain”sfinances。Itwasnecessarytorecuperate，andtheanxietyforaprofitableplay，orsomeotheradventurethatwouldbringaquickandgenerousreturn，grewoutofthisneed。
ClemenshadestablishedCharlesL。Webster，hisnephewbymarriage，inaNewYorkoffice，assellingagentfortheMississippibookandforhisplays。HewasalsoplanningtoletWebsterpublishthenewbook，HuckFinn。
GeorgeW。Cablehadprovenhisabilityasareader，andClemenssawpossibilitiesinareadingcombination，whichwasfirstplannedtoincludeAldrich，andHowells，andaprivatecar。
ButAldrichandHowellsdidnotwarmtotheidea，andthecarwaseliminatedfromtheplan。CablecametovisitClemensinHartford，andwastakenwiththemumps，sothatthereading-tripwaspostponed。
ThefortunesoftheSellersplayweremostuncertainandbecomingdailymoredoubtful。InFebruary，Howellswrote：“IfyouhavegotanycomfortinregardtoourplayIwishyouwouldheaveitintomybosom。”
Cablerecoveredintime，andoutofgratitudeplannedagreatApril-
foolsurpriseforhishost。Hewasasystematicman，anddiditinhisusualthoroughway。Hesenta“privateandconfidential“
suggestiontoahundredandfiftyofMarkTwain”sfriendsandadmirers，nearlyalldistinguishedliterarymen。ThesuggestionwasthateachoneofthemshouldsendarequestforMarkTwain”sautograph，timingitsothatitwouldarriveonthe1stofApril。
Allseemedtohaveresponded。MarkTwain”swriting-tableonAprilFoolmorningwasheapedwithletters，askingineveryridiculousfashionforhis“valuableautograph。”TheonefromAldrichwasafairsample。Hewrote：“Iammakingacollectionofautographsofourdistinguishedwriters，andhavingreadoneofyourworks，GabrielConvoy，Iwouldliketoaddyournametothelist。”
Ofcourse，thejokeinthiswasthatGabrielConvoywasbyBretHarte，whobythistimewasthoroughlydetestedbyMarkTwain。Thefirstoneortwooftheletterspuzzledthevictim；thenhecomprehendedthesizeandcharacterofthejokeandenteredintoitthoroughly。OneoftheletterswasfromBloodgoodH。Cutter，the“PoetLariat“ofInnocentsAbroad。Cutter，ofcourse，wrotein“poetry，“thatistosay，doggerel。MarkTwain”sAprilFoolwasamostpleasantone。
RhymedletterbyBloodgoodH。CuttertoMarkTwain：
LITTLENECK，LONGISLAND。
LONGISLANDFARMER，TOHISFRIENDANDPILGRIMBROTHER，SAMUELL。CLEMENS，ESQ。
Friends，suggestineachone”sbehalfTowrite，andaskyourautograph。
Torefusethat，Iwillnotdo，Afterthelongvoyagehadwithyou。
ThatwasamemorabletimeYouwroteinprose，IwroteinRhymeTodescribethewondersofeachplace，Andthequeercustomsofeachrace。
ThatisinmymemoryyetForwhileIliveI”llnotforget。
IoftenthinkofthataffairAndthemanythatwerewithusthere。
AsyourfriendsthinkitforthebestIaskyourAutographwiththerest，Hopingyouwillittomesend”Twillpleaseandcheeryourdearoldfriend：
Yourstruly，BLOODGOODH。CUTTER。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
HARTFORD，Apl8，”84。
MYDEARHOWELLS，Ittookmybreathaway，andIhaven”trecoveredityet，entirely——ImeanthegenerosityofyourproposaltoreadtheproofsofHuckFinn。
Nowifyoumeanit，oldman——ifyouareinearnest——proceed，inGod”sname，andbebymeforeverblest。Icannotconceiveofarationalmandeliberatelypilingsuchanatrociousjobuponhimself；butifthereissuchamanandyoubethatman，whythenpileiton。ItwillcostmeapangeverytimeIthinkofit，butthisanguishwillbeeingebussttomeinthejoyandcomfortIshallgetoutofthenothavingtoreadtheverfluchteteproofsmyself。ButifyouhaverepentedofyouraugenblichlicherTobsuchtandgotbacktocalmcoldreasonagain，Iwon”tholdyoutoitunlessIfindIhavegotyoudowninwritingsomewhere。
Herr，Iwouldnotreadtheproofofoneofmybooksforanyfairandreasonablesumwhatever，ifIcouldgetoutofit。
Theproof-readingontheP&Pcostmethelastragsofmyreligion。
M。
HowellshadwrittenthathewouldbegladtohelpoutinthereadingoftheproofsofHuckFinn，whichbookWebsterbythistimehadinhand。
ReplyingtoClemens”seagerandgratefulacceptancenow，hewrote：“Itisallperfectlytrueaboutthegenerosity，unlessIamgoingtoreadyourproofsfromoneoftheshabbymotiveswhichIalwaysfindatthebottomofmysoulifIexamineit。”Acharacteristicutterance，thoughwemaybepermittedtobelievethathisshabbymotiveswerefewerandlessshabbythanthoseofmankindingeneral。
TheproofswhichHowellswasreadingpleasedhimmightily。Once，duringthesummer，hewrote：“ifIhadwrittenhalfasgoodabookasHuckFinnIshouldn”taskanythingbetterthantoreadtheproofs；evenasitis，Idon”t，sosendthemon；theywillalwaysfindmesomewhere。”
ThiswasthesummeroftheBlaine-Clevelandcampaign。MarkTwain，incompanywithmanyotherleadingmen，hadmugwumped，andwassupportingCleveland。Fromthenextletterwegathersomethingoftheaspectsofthatmemorablecampaign，whichwasoneofscandalandvituperation。Welearn，too，thattheyoungsculptor，KarlGerhardt，havingcompletedathreeyears”studyinParis，hadreturnedtoAmericaaqualifiedartist。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
ELMIRA，Aug。21，”84。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——Thispresidentialcampaignistoodeliciousforanything。Isn”thumannaturethemostconsummateshamandliethatwaseverinvented？Isn”tmanacreaturetobeashamedofinprettymuchallhisaspects？Man，“knowthyself“——andthenthouwiltdespisethyself，toadeadmoralcertainty。Takethreequitegoodspecimens——Hawley，Warner，andCharleyClark。EvenIdonotloatheBlainemorethantheydo；yetHawleyishowlingforBlaine，WarnerandClarkareeatingtheirdailycrowinthepaperforhim，andallthreewillvoteforhim。O
Stultification，whereisthysting，Oslavewhereisthyhickory！
IsupposeyouheardhowamarblemonumentforwhichSt。Gaudenswaspecuniarilyresponsible，burneddowninHartfordtheotherday，uninsured——forwhointheworldwouldeverthinkofinsuringamarbleshaftinacemeteryagainstafire？——andleftSt。Gaudenoutofpocket$15，000。
Itwasabaddayforartists。Gerhardtfinishedmybustthatday，andtheworkwaspronouncedadmirablebyallthekinandfriends；butinputtingitinplaster(orrathertakingitout)nextdayitgotruined。
Itwasfourorfiveweekshardworkgonetothedogs。Thenewsflew，andeverybodyonthefarmflockedtothearborandgroupedthemselvesaboutthewreckinaprofoundandmovingsilence——thefarm-help，thecoloredservants，theGermannurse，thechildren，everybody——asilenceinterruptedatwideintervalsbyabsent-mindedejaculationswisingfromunconsciousbreastsasthewholesizeofthedisastergraduallyworkeditswayhometotherealizationofonespiritafteranother。
Someburstoutwithonething，someanother；theGermannurseputupherhandsandsaid，“Oh，Schade！oh，schrecklich！“ButGerhardtsaidnothing；oralmostthat。Hecouldn”twordit，Isuppose。Buthewenttowork，andbydarkhadeverythingthoroughlywellunderwayforafreshstartinthemorning；andinthreedays”timehadbuiltanewbustwhichwasatriflebetterthantheoldone——andto-morrowweshallputthefinishingtouchesonit，anditwillbeaboutasgoodaoneasnearlyanybodycanmake。
YrsEverMARK。
Ifyourunacrossanybodywhowantsabust，besureandrecommendGerhardtonmysay-so。
ButHowellswasdeterminedlyforBlaine。“IshallvoteforBlaine，“hereplied。“Idonotbelieveheisguiltyofthethingstheyaccusehimof，andIknowtheyarenotprovedagainsthim。AsforCleveland，hisprivatelifemaybenoworsethanthatofmostmen，butasanenemyofthatcontemptible，hypocritical，lop-sidedmoralitywhichsaysawomanshallsufferalltheshameofunchastityandmannone，Iwanttoseehimdestroyedpoliticallybyhispast。ThemenwhodefendhimwouldtaketheirwivestotheWhiteHouseifhewerepresident，butifhemarriedhisconcubine——”madeheranhonestwoman”theywouldnotgonearhim。I
can”tstandthat。”
Certainlythiswassoundlogic，inthatday，atleast。ButitleftClemensfarfromsatisfied。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
ELMIRA，Sept。17，”84。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——SomehowIcan”tseemtorestquietundertheideaofyourvotingforBlaine。Ibelieveyousaidsomethingaboutthecountryandtheparty。Certainlyallegiancetotheseiswell；butascertainlyaman”sfirstdutyistohisownconscienceandhonor——thepartyorthecountrycomesecondtothat，andneverfirst。Idon”taskyoutovoteatall——IonlyurgeyoutonotsoilyourselfbyvotingforBlaine。
Whenyouwrotebefore，youwereabletosaythechargesagainsthimwerenotproven。Butyouknownowthattheyareproven，anditseemstomethatthatbarsyouandallotherhonestandhonorablemen(whoareindependentlysituated)fromvotingforhim。
ItisnotnecessarytovoteforCleveland；theonlynecessarythingtodo，asIunderstandit，isthatamanshallkeephimselfclean，(bywithholdinghisvoteforanimproperman)eventhoughthepartyandthecountrygotodestructioninconsequence。Itisnotpartiesthatmakeorsavecountriesorthatbuildthemtogreatness——itiscleanmen，cleanordinarycitizens，rankandfile，themasses。Cleanmassesarenotmadebyindividualsstandingbacktilltherestbecomeclean。
AsIsaidbefore，Ithinkaman”sfirstdutyistohisownhonor；nottohiscountryandnottohisparty。Don”tbeoffended；Imeannooffence。
Iamnotsoconcernedabouttherestofthenation，but——well，good-bye。
YsEverMARK。
TheredoesnotappeartobeanyfurtherdiscussionofthematterbetweenHowellsandClemens。Theirlettersforatimecontainednosuggestionofpolitics。
PerhapsMarkTwain”sownpoliticalconsciencewasnotentirelyclearinhisrepudiationofhisparty；atleastwemaybelievefromhisnextletterthathisClevelandenthusiasmwasqualifiedbyawillingnesstosupportaRepublicanwhowouldcommandhisadmirationandhonor。Theideaofaneleventh-hournominationwasratherstartling，whateveritsmotive。
ToMr。Pierce，inBoston：
HARTFORD，Oct。22，”84。
MYDEARMR。PIERCE，——Youknow，aswellasIdo，thatthereasonthemajorityofrepublicansaregoingtovoteforBlaineisbecausetheyfeelthattheycannothelpthemselves。DonotyoubelievethatifMr。EdmundswouldconsenttorunforPresident，ontheIndependentticket——evenatthislateday——hemightbeelected？
Well，ifhewouldn”tconsent，butshouldevenstrenuouslyprotestandsayhewouldn”tserveifelected，isn”titstillwiseandfairtonominatehimandvoteforhim？sincehisprotestwouldrelievehimfromallresponsibility；andhecouldn”tsurelyfindfaultwithpeopleforforcingacomplimentuponhim。AnddonotyoubelievethathisnamethuscompulsorilyplacedattheheadoftheIndependentcolumnwouldworkabsolutelycertaindefeattoBlainandsavethecountry”shonor？
Politiciansoftencarryavictorybyspringingsomedisgracefulandrascallymineunderthefeetoftheadversaryattheeleventhhour；woulditnotbewholesometovarythisthingforonceandspringasformidableamineofabettersortundertheenemy”sworks？
IfEdmunds”snamewereputup，Iwouldvoteforhimintheteethofalltheprotestingandblaspheminghecoulddoinamonth；andtherearelotsofotherswhowoulddolikewise。
Ifthisnotionisnotafoolishandwickedone，won”tyoujustconsultwithsomechiefIndependents，andseeiftheywon”tcallasuddenconventionandwhoopthethingthrough？TonominateEdmundsthe1stofNovember，wouldbesoonenough，wouldn”tit？
WithkindestregardstoyouandtheAldriches，YrTrulyS。L。CLEMENS。
ClemensandCablesetoutontheirreading-tourinNovember。Theywereacuriously-assortedpair：Cablewasoforthodoxreligion，exactastohabits，neat，prim，allthatClemenswasnot。InthebeginningCableundertooktoreadtheBiblealoudtoClemenseachevening，butthispartoftheday”sprogramwaspresentlyomittedbyrequest。IftheyspentSundayinatown，CablewasupbrightandearlyvisitingthevariouschurchesandSunday-schools，whileMarkTwainremainedatthehotel，inbed，readingorasleep。
XXV
THEGREATYEAROF1885。CLEMENSANDCABLE。PUBLICATIONOF“HUCKFINN。”
THEGRANTMEMOIRS。MARKTWAINATFIFTY
Theyear1885wasinsomerespectsthemostimportant，certainlythemostpleasantlyexciting，inMarkTwain”slife。Itwastheyearinwhichheenteredfullyintothepublishingbusinessandlaunchedoneofthemostspectacularofallpublishingadventures，ThePersonalMemoirsofGeneralU。S。Grant。ClemenshadnotintendedtodogeneralpublishingwhenhearrangedwithWebstertobecomesales-
agentfortheMississippibook，andlatergeneralagentforHuckFinn”sadventures；hehadintendedonlytohandlehisownbooks，becausehewasprettythoroughlydissatisfiedwithotherpublishingarrangements。EventheLibraryofHumor，whichHowells，withClark，oftheCourant，hadputtogetherforhim，heleftwithOsgooduntilthatpublisherfailed，duringthespringof1885。CertainlyheneverdreamedofundertakinganythingoftheproportionsoftheGrantbook。
HehadalwaysbelievedthatGrantcouldmakeabook。Morethanonce，whentheyhadmet，hehadurgedtheGeneraltopreparehismemoirsforpublication。Howells，inhis”MyMarkTwain”，tellsofgoingwithClemenstoseeGrant，thenamemberoftheill-fatedfirmofGrantandWard，andhowtheylunchedonbeans，baconandcoffeebroughtinfromanear-byrestaurant。ItwaswhiletheywereeatingthissoldierfarethatClemens——verylikelyabettedbyHowells——
especiallyurgedthegreatcommandertopreparehismemoirs。ButGranthadbecomeafinancier，ashebelieved，andtheprospectofliteraryearnings，howeverlarge，didnotappealtohim。
Furthermore，hewasconvincedthathewaswithoutliteraryabilityandthatabookbyhimwouldproveafailure。
Butthen，byandby，cameafailuremoredisastrousthananythinghehadforeseen——thedownfallofhisfirmthroughtheNapoleonicrascalityofWard。GeneralGrantwasutterlyruined；hewasleftwithoutincomeandapparentlywithoutthemeansofearningone。ItwastheperiodwhenthegreatWarSerieswasappeasingintheCenturyMagazine。GeneralGrant，hard-pressed，wasinducedbytheeditorstoprepareoneormorearticles，and，findingthathecouldwritethem，becameinterestedintheideaofabook。ItisunnecessarytorepeatherethestoryofhowthepublicationofthisimportantworkpassedintothehandsofMarkTwain；thatistosay，thefirmofCharlesL。Webster&Co。，thedetailshavingbeenfullygivenelsewhere——[SeeMarkTwain：ABiography，chap。cliv。]——
Wewillnowreturnforthemomenttoothermatters，asreportedinorderbytheletters。ClemensandCablehadcontinuedtheirreading-tourintoCanada，andinFebruaryfoundthemselvesinMontreal。HeretheywereinvitedbytheToqueBleueSnow-shoeClubtojoininoneoftheirweeklyexcursionsacrossMt。Royal。Theycouldnotgo，andthereasonsgivenbyMarkTwainarenotwithoutinterest。TheletteristoMr。GeorgeIles，authorofFlame，Electricity，andtheCamera，andmanyotherusefulworks。
ToGeorgeIles，fartheToqueBlewSnow-shoeClub，Montreal：
DETROIT，February12，1885。
Midnight，P。S。
MYDEARILES，——Igotyourothertelegramawhileago，andansweredit，explainingthatIgetonlyacoupleofhoursinthemiddleofthedayforsociallife。Iknowitdoesn”tseemrationalthatamanshouldhavetolieabedalldayinordertoberestedandequippedfortalkinganhouratnight，andyetinmycaseandCable”sitisso。UnlessIgetagreatdealofrest，aghastlydulnesssettlesdownuponmeontheplatform，andturnsmyperformanceintowork，andhardwork，whereasitoughtalwaystobepastime，recreation，solidenjoyment。Usuallyitisjustthislatter，butthatisbecauseItakemyrestfaithfully，andpreparemyselftodomydutybymyaudience。
IamtheobligedandappreciativeservantofmybrethrenoftheSnow-shoeClub，andnothingintheworldwoulddelightmemorethantocometotheirhousewithoutnamingtimeortermsonmyownpart——butyouseehowitis。Mycastirondutyistomyaudience——itleavesmenolibertyandnooption。
WithkindestregardstotheClub，andtoyou，IamSincerelyyoursS。L。CLEMENS。
InthenextletterwereachtheendoftheClemens-CableventureandgetacharacteristicsummingupofMarkTwain”sgeneralattitudetowardthecompanionofhistravels。ItmustbereadonlyintheclearrealizationofMarkTwain”sattitudetowardorthodoxy，andhishabitofhumor。CablewasasrigidlyorthodoxasMarkTwainwasrevolutionary。Thetwowereneveranythingbutthebestoffriends。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
PHILADA。Feb。27，”85。
MYDEARHOWELLS，——To-nightinBaltimore，to-morrowafternoonandnightinWashington，andmyfour-monthsplatformcampaignisendedatlast。Ithasbeenacuriousexperience。IthastaughtmethatCable”sgiftsofmindaregreaterandhigherthanIhadsuspected。But——
That“But“ispointingtowardhisreligion。Youwillnever，neverknow，neverdivine，guess，imagine，howloathsomeathingtheChristianreligioncanbemadeuntilyoucometoknowandstudyCabledailyandhourly。Mindyou，Ilikehim；heispleasantcompany；Irageandswearathimsometimes，butwedonotquarrel；wegetalongmightyhappilytogether；butinhimandhispersonIhavelearnedtohateallreligions。
HehastaughtmetoabhoranddetesttheSabbath-dayandhuntupnewandtroublesomewaystodishonorit。
NatGoodwinwasonthetrainyesterday。HeplaysinWashingtonallthecomingweek。HeisveryanxioustogetourSellersplayandplayitunderchangednames。IsaidtheonlythingIcoulddowouldbetowritetoyou。Well，I”vedoneit。
YsEverMARK。
ClemensandWebsterwereoftenatthehouseofGeneralGrantduringtheseearlydaysof1885，anditmusthavebeenWebsterwhowaspresentwithClemensonthegreatoccasiondescribedinthefollowingtelegram。ItwasonthelastdayandhourofPresidentArthur”sadministrationthatthebillwaspassedwhichplacedUlyssesS。GrantasfullGeneralwithfullpayontheretiredlist，anditissaidthatthecongressionalclockwassetbackinorderthatthisenactmentmightbecomealawbeforetheadministrationchanged。GeneralGranthadbythistimedevelopedcancerandwasalreadyinfeeblehealth。
TelegramtoMrs。Clemens，inHartford：
NEWYORK，Mar。4，1885。
ToMRS。S。L。CLEMENS，WewereatGeneralGrant”satnoonandatelegramarrivedthatthelastactoftheexpiringcongresslatethismorningretiredhimwithfullGeneral”srankandaccompanyingemoluments。Theeffectuponhimwaslikeraisingthedead。Wewerepresentwhenthetelegramwasputinhishand。
S。L。CLEMENS。
SomethinghasbeenmentionedbeforeofMarkTwain”sinvestmentsandthegenerallyunprofitablehabitofthem。Hehadatrustingnature，andwasusuallywillingtoinvestmoneyonanyplausiblerecommendation。Hewasoneofthousandssuch，andbeingapersonofdistinctionhenowandthenreceivedlettersofinquiry，complaint，orcondolence。AministerwrotehimthathehadboughtsomestocksrecommendedbyaHartfordbankerandadvertisedinareligiouspaper。Headded，“AfterImadethatpurchasetheywrotemethatyouhadjustboughtahundredsharesandthatyouwerea”shrewd”man。”
Thewriterclosedbyaskingforfurtherinformation。Hereceivedit，asfollows：
TotheRev。J——，inBaltimore：
WASHINGTON，Mch。2”85。
MYDEARSIR，——ItakemyearliestopportunitytoansweryourfavorofFeb。
B——wasprematureincallingmea“shrewdman。”Iwasn”toneatthattime，butamonenow——thatis，IamatleasttooshrewdtoeveragaininvestinanythingputonthemarketbyB。IknownothingwhateverabouttheBankNoteCo。，andneverdidknowanythingaboutit。B——
soldmeabout$4，000or$5，000worthofthestockat$110，andIownityet。Hesoldme$10，000worthofanotherrose-tintedstockaboutthesametime。Ihavegotthatyet，also。IjudgethatapeculiarityofB——”sstocksisthattheyareofthestayingkind。IthinkyoushouldhaveaskedsomebodyelsewhetherIwasashrewdmanornotfortworeasons：thestockwasadvertisedinareligiouspaper，acircumstancewhichwasverysuspicious；andthecomplimentcametoyoufromamanwhowasinterestedtomakeapurchaserofyou。Iamafraidyoudeserveyourloss。Afinancialschemeadvertisedinanyreligiouspaperisathingwhichanylivingpersonoughttoknowenoughtoavoid；andwhenthefactorisaddedthatM。runsthatreligiouspaper，adeadpersonoughttoknowenoughtoavoidit。
VeryTrulyYoursS。L。CLEMENS。