第13章
ToMrs。GroverCleveland，inWashington：
HARTFORD，Nov。6，1887。
MYDEARMADAM，——IdonotknowhowitisintheWhiteHouse，butinthishouseofourswhenevertheminorhalfoftheadministrationtriestorunitselfwithoutthehelpofthemajorhalfitgetsaground。LastnightwhenIwasofferedtheopportunitytoassistyouinthethrowingopentheWarnerbrotherssuperbbenefactioninBridgeporttothosefortunatewomen，Inaturallyappreciatedthehonordoneme，andpromptlyseizedmychance。Ihadanengagement，butthecircumstanceswasheditoutofmymind。IfIhadonlylaidthematterbeforethemajorhalfoftheadministrationonthespot，therewouldhavebeennoblunder；butIneverthoughtofthat。SowhenIdidlayitbeforeher，later，Irealizedoncemorethatitwillnotdofortheliteraryfractionofacombinationtotrytomanageaffairswhichproperlybelongintheofficeofthebusinessbulkofit。IsupposethePresidentoftenactsjustlikethat：goesandmakesanimpossiblepromise，andyouneverfinditoutuntilitisnexttoimpossibletobreakitupandsetthingsstraightagain。Well，thatisjustourway，exactly-onehalfoftheadministrationalwaysbusygettingthefamilyintotrouble，andtheotherhalfbusygettingitoutagain。Andsowedoseemtobeallprettymuchalike，afterall。Thefactis，IhadforgottenthatweweretohaveadinnerpartyonthatBridgeportdate——Ithoughtitwasthenextday：whichisagooddealofanimprovementforme，becauseIammoreusedtobeingbehindadayortwothanahead。Butthatisjustthedifferencebetweenoneendofthiskindofanadministrationandtheotherendofit，asyouhavenoticed，yourself——theotherenddoesnotforgetthesethings。Justsowithafuneral；ifitistheman”sfuneral，heismostalwaysthere，ofcourse-
butthatisnocredittohim，hewouldn”tbethereifyoudependedonhinttorememberaboutit；whereas，ifontheotherhand——butIseemtohavegotofffrommylineofargumentsomehow；nevermindaboutthefuneral。OfcourseIamnotmeaningtosayanythingagainstfunerals——
thatis，asoccasions——mereoccasions——forasdiversionsIdon”tthinktheyamounttomuchButasIwassaying——ifyouarenotbusyIwilllookbackandseewhatitwasIwassaying。
Idon”tseemtofindtheplace；butanywayshewasassorryaseveranybodycouldbethatIcouldnotgotoBridgeport，buttherewasnohelpforit。AndI，IhavebeennotonlysorrybutverysincerelyashamedofhavingmadeanengagementtogowithoutfirstmakingsurethatIcouldkeepit，andIdonotknowhowtoapologizeenoughformyheedlessbreachofgoodmanners。
Withthesincerestrespect，S。L。CLEMENS。
SamuelClemenswasoneoftheveryfewauthorstocopyrightabookinEnglandbeforetheenactmentoftheinternationalcopyrightlaw。
Asearlyas1872hecopyrighted”RoughingIt”inEngland，andpiraticalpublishersthererespectedhisrights。Finally，in1887，theinlandrevenueofficeassessedhimwithincometax，whichheverywillinglypaid，instructinghisLondonpublishers，Chatto&
Windus，topayonthefullamounthehadreceivedfromthem。Butwhenthereceiptforhistaxescameitwasnearlyayardsquarewithduepostageofconsiderableamount。Thenhewrote：
ToMr。Chatto，ofChatto&Windus，inLondon：
HARTFORD，Dec。5，”87。
MYDEARCHATTO，——Lookhere，Idon”tmindpayingthetax，butdon”tyoulettheInlandRevenueOfficesendmeanymorereceiptsforit，forthepostageissomethingperfectlydemoralizing。Iftheyfeelobligedtoprintareceiptonahorse-blanket，whydon”ttheyhireashipandsenditoverattheirownexpense？
Wasn”titgoodthattheycaughtmeoutwithanoldbookinsteadofanewone？Thetaxonanewbookwouldbankruptabody。ItwasmypurposetogotoEnglandnextMayandstaytherestoftheyear，butI”vefoundthattaxofficeoutjustintime。MynewbookwouldissueinMarch，andtheywouldtaxthesaleinbothcountries。Come，wemustgetupacompromisesomehow。Yougoandworkinonthegoodsideofthoserevenuepeopleandgetthemtotaketheprofitsandgivemethetax。ThenIwillcomeoverandwewilldividetheswagandhaveagoodtime。
IwishyoutothankMr。Christmasforme；butwewon”tresist。Thecountrythatallowsmecopyrighthasarighttotaxme。
SincerelyYoursS。L。CLEMENS。
AnotherEnglishtaxassessmentcamethatyear，basedonthereportthatitwasunderstoodthathewasgoingtobecomeanEnglishresident，andhadleasedBuckenhamHall，Norwich，forayear。
Clemenswrotehispublishers：“IwillexplainthatallthataboutBuckenhamHallwasanEnglishnewspaper”smistake。IwasnotinEngland，andifIhadbeenIwouldn”thavebeenatBuckenhamHall，anyway，butatBuckinghamPalace，orIwouldhaveendeavoredtofindoutthereasonwhy。Clemensmadeliteratureoutofthistaxexperience。HewroteanopenlettertoHerMajestyQueenVictoria。
Suchaletterhasnoplaceinthiscollection。Itwaspublishedinthe“Drawer“ofHarper”sMagazine，December，1887，andisnowincludedintheuniformeditionofhisworksunderthetitleof，“A
PetitiontotheQueenofEngland。”
Fromthefollowingletter，writtenattheendoftheyear，wegatherthatthetype-settercostswerebeginningtomakeadifferenceintheClemenseconomies。
ToMrs。Moffett，inFredonia：
HARTFORD，Dec。18，”87。
DEARPAMELA，——willyoutakethis$15andbuysomecandyorsomeothertrifleforyourselfandSamandhiswifetorememberthatwerememberyou，by？
Ifweweren”talittlecrowdedthisyearbythetypesetter，I”dsendachecklargeenoughtobuyafamilyBibleorsomeotherusefulthinglikethat。Howeverwegoonandon，butthetype-settergoesonforever——at$3，000amonth；whichismuchmoresatisfactorythanwasthecasethefirstseventeenmonths，whenthebillonlyaveraged$2，000，andpromisedtotakeathousandyears。We”llbethrough，now，in3or4months，I
reckon，andthenthestrainwillletupandwecanbreathefreelyoncemore，whethersuccessensuesorfailure。
Evenwithatype-setteronhandweoughtnottobeintheleastscrimped-
butitwouldtakealonglettertoexplainwhyandwhoistoblame。
AllthefamilysendlovetoallofyouandbestChristmaswishesforyourprosperity。
Affectionately，SAM。
XXVIII
LETTERS，1888。AYALEDEGREE。WORKON“THEYANKEE。”ONINTERVIEWING，ETC。
MarkTwainreceivedhisfirstcollegedegreewhenhewasmadeMasterofArtsbyYale，inJune，1888。EditoroftheCourant，CharlesH。
Clarke，wasselectedtonotifyhimofhisnewtitle。ClarkewasanoldfriendtowhomClemenscouldwritefamiliarly。
ToCharlesH。Clarke，inHartford：
ELMIRA，July2，”88。
MYDEARCHARLES，——Thanksforyourthanks，andforyourinitiationintentions。Ishallbereadyforyou。Ifeelmightyproudofthatdegree；infact，Icouldsqueezethetruthalittlecloserandsayvainofit。Andwhyshouldn”tIbe？——IamtheonlyliteraryanimalofmyparticularsubspecieswhohaseverbeengivenadegreebyanyCollegeinanyageoftheworld，asfarasIknow。
SincerelyYoursS。L。ClemensM。A。
Reply：CharlesH。ClarketoS。LClemens：
MYDEARFRIEND，Youare“theonlyliteraryanimalofyourparticularsubspecies“inexistenceandyou”venocauseforhumilityinthefact。
Yalehasdoneherselfatleastasmuchcreditasshehasdoneyou，and“Don”tyouforgetit。”
C。H。C。
Withtheexceptionofhisbriefreturntotheriverin1882。MarkTwainhadbeentwenty-sevenyearsawayfrompilotsandpiloting。
Nevertheless，healwayskeptatenderplaceinhisheartfortheoldtimesandforoldrivercomrades。Major“Jack“DowninghadbeenaMississippipilotofearlydays，buthadlongsinceretiredfromtherivertoacomfortablelifeashore，inanOhiotown。Clemenshadnotheardfromhimforyearswhenalettercamewhichinvitedthefollowinganswer。
ToMajor“Jack“Downing，inMiddleportOhio：
ELMIRA，N。Y。[nomonth]1888。
DEARMAJOR，——Andhasitcometothisthatthedeadriseupandspeak？
ForIsupposedthatyouweredead，ithasbeensolongsinceIheardyourname。
Andhowyoungyou”vegrown！IwasamereboywhenIknewyouontheriver，whereyouhadbeenpilotingfor35years，andnowyouareonlyayearandahalfolderthanIam！ImeantogotoHotSpringsmyselfandget30or40yearsknockedoffmyage。It”smanifestlytheplacethatPoncedeLeonwasstrikingfor，butthepoorfellowlostthetrail。
PossiblyImayseeyou，forIshallbeinSt。LouisadayortwoinNovember。Iproposetogodowntheriverand“notethechanges“oncemorebeforeImakethelongcrossing，andperhapsyoucancomethere。
Willyou？Iwanttoseealltheboysthatareleftalive。
AndsoGrantMarsh，too，isflourishingyet？Amightygoodfellow，andsmarttoo。WhenweweretakingthatwoodflatdowntotheChambers，whichwasaground，IsoonsawthatIwasaperfectlubberatpilotingsuchathing。IsawthatIcouldneverhittheChamberswithit，soI
resignedinMarsh”sfavor，andheaccomplishedthetasktomyadmiration。
WeshouldallhavegonetothemischiefifIhadremainedinauthority。
Ialwayshadgoodjudgement，morejudgementthantalent，infact。
No；thenomdeplumedidnotoriginateinthatway。Capt。Sellersusedthesignature，“MarkTwain，“himself，whenheusedtowriteuptheantiquitiesinthewayofriverreminiscencesfortheNewOrleansPicayune。HehatedmeforburlesquingtheminanarticleintheTrueDelta；sofouryearslaterwhenhedied，Irobbedthecorpse——thatisI
confiscatedthenomdeplume。Ihavepublishedthisvitalfact3，000
timesnow。Butnomatter，itisgoodpractice；itisabouttheonlyfactthatIcantellthesamewayeverytime。Veryglad，indeed，tohearfromyouMajor，andshallbegladderstilltoseeyouinNovember。
Trulyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。
Hedidnotmakethejourneydowntheriverplannedforthatyear。
HehadalwayshopedtomakeanothersteamboattripwithBixby，butonethingandanotherinterferedandhedidnotgoagain。
AuthorswerealwayssendingtheirbookstoMarkTwaintoread，andnobusymanwasevermorekindlydisposedtowardsuchofferings，moregenerouslyconsiderateofthesenders。LouisPendletonwasayoungunknownwriterin1888，butClemenstooktimetoreadhisstorycarefully，andtowritetohimaboutitaletterthatcostprecioustime，thought，andeffort。Itmusthaverejoicedtheyoungman”shearttoreceivealetterlikethat，fromonewhomallyoungauthorsheldsupreme。
ToLouisPendleton，inGeorgia：
ELMIRA，N。Y。，Aug。4，”88。
MYDEARSIR，——Ifoundyourletteranhouragoamongsomeotherswhichhadlainforgottenacoupleofweeks，andIatoncestoletimeenoughtoreadAriadne。Stoleistherightword，forthesummer“Vacation“istheonlychanceIgetforwork；so，nominutesubtractedfromworkisborrowed，itisstolen。ButthistimeIdonotrepent。Asarule，peopledon”tsendmebookswhichIcanthankthemfor，andsoIsaynothing——whichlooksuncourteous。ButIthankyou。Ariadneisabeautifulandsatisfyingstory；andtrue，too——whichisthebestpartofastory；orindeedofanyotherthing。Evenliarshavetoadmitthat，iftheyareintelligentliars；Imeanintheirprivate[thewordconscientiouswrittenbuterased]intervals。(Istruckthatwordoutbecauseaman”sprivatethoughtcanneverbealie；whathethinks，istohimthetruth，always；
whathespeaks——butthesebeplatitudes。)
Ifyouwantmetopicksomeflaws——verywell——butIdoitunwillingly。
Inoticeonething——whichonemaynoticealsoinmybooks，andinallbookswhetherwrittenbymanorGod：triflingcarelessnessofstatementorExpression。IfIthinkthatyoumeantthatshetookthelizardfromthewaterwhichshehaddrawnfromthewell，itisevidence——itisalmostproof——thatyourwordswerenotasclearastheyshouldhavebeen。True，itisonlyatriflingthing；butsoismistonamirror。IwouldhavehungthepailonAriadne”sarm。Youdidnotdeceivemewhenyousaidthatshecarrieditunderherarm，forIknewshedidn”t；stillitwasnotyourrighttomarmyenjoymentofthegracefulpicture。Ifthepailhadbeenaportfolio，Iwouldn”tbemakingtheseremarks。Theengraverofafinepicturerevises，andrevises，andrevises-andthenrevises，andrevises，andrevises；andthenrepeats。Andalwaysthecharmofthatpicturegrows，underhishand。Itwasgoodenoughbefore——tolditsstory，andwasbeautiful。True：andalovelygirlislovely，withfreckles；butsheisn”tatherlevelbestwiththem。
Thisisnothypercriticism；youhavehadtrainingenoughtoknowthat。
Somuchconcerningexactnessofstatement。Inthatothernot-smallmatter——selectionoftheexactsingleword——youarehardtocatch。
Still，IshouldholdthatMrs。Walkerconsideredthattherewasnooccasionforconcealment；that“motive“impliedadeepermentalsearchthansheexpendedonthematter；thatitdoesn”treflecttheattitudeofhermindwithprecision。Isthishypercriticism？Ishan”tdisputeit。
Ionlysay，thatifMrs。Walkerdidn”tgosofarastohaveamotive，I
hadtosuggestthatwhenawordissoneartherightonethatabodycan”tquitetellwhetheritisorisn”t，it”sgoodpoliticstostrikeitoutandgofortheThesaurus。That”sall。Motivemaystand；butyouhaveallowedasnaketoscream，andIwillnotconcedethatthatwasthebestword。
Idonotapologizeforsayingthesethings，fortheyarenotsaidinthespeck-huntingspirit，butinthespiritofwant-to-help-if-I-can。Theywouldbeusefultomeifsaidtomeonceamonth，theymaybeusefultoyou，saidonce。
Isavetheotherstoriesformyrealvacation——whichisninemonthslong，tomysorrow。Ithankyouagain。
TrulyYoursS。L。CLEMENS。
Inthenextletterwegetasidelightonthetype-settingmachine，theFrankensteinmonsterthatwasdrainingtheirsubstanceandholdingoutfalsehopesofreliefandgoldenreturn。Theprogramhereoutlinedwasonethatwouldcontinueforseveralyearsyet，withtheendalwaysinsight，butneverquiteattained。
ToOrionClemens，inKeokuk，Ia。：
Oct。3，”88。
PrivateSaturday29th，byacloselycalculatedestimate，therewere85days”worktodoonthemachine。
Wecanuse4men，butnotconstantly。Iftheycouldworkconstantlyitwouldcompletethemachinein21days，ofcourse。Theywillallbeonhandandunderwages，andeachwillgetinalltheworkthereisopportunityfor，butbyhowmuchtheycanreducethe85daystowardthe21days，nobodycantell。
To-dayIpayPratt&Whitney$10，000。Thissquaresbackindebtednessandeverythingtodate。TheybeganaboutMayorAprilorMarch1886——alongtheresomewhere，andhavealwayskeptfromadozentotwodozenmaster-
handsonthemachine。
Thatoutgoisdone；4menforamonthortwowillcloseupthatleakandcaulkit。Workonthepatentsisalsokindofdrawingtowardaconclusion。
Lovetoyouboth。Allwellhere。
AndgiveourlovetoMaifshecangettheidea。
SAM。
MarkTwainthatyearwasworkingprettysteadilyon”TheYankeeatKingArthur”sCourt”，abookwhichhehadbeguntwoyearsbefore。
HehadpublishednothingsincetheHuckFinnstory，andhiscompanywasbadlyinneedofanewbookbyanauthorofdistinction。Alsoitwashighlydesirabletoearnmoneyforhimself；whereforehesettoworktofinishtheYankeestory。HehadworkedprettysteadilythatsummerinhisElmirastudy，butonhisreturntoHartfordfoundagooddealofconfusioninthehouse，sowentovertoTwichell”s，wherecarpenterworkwasinprogress。Heseemstohaveworkedtheresuccessfully，thoughwhatimprovementofconditionshefoundinthatnumerous，livelyhousehold，overthoseathomeitwouldbedifficulttosay。
ToTheodoreW。Crane，atQuarryFarm，Elmira，N。Y。
Friday，Oct。，5，”88。
DEARTHEO，——IamhereinTwichell”shouseatwork，withthenoiseofthechildrenandanarmyofcarpenterstohelp。Ofcoursetheydon”thelp，butneitherdotheyhinder。It”slikeaboiler-factoryforracket，andinnailingawoodenceilingontotheroomundermethehammeringticklesmyfeetamazinglysometimes，andjarsmytableagooddeal；butIneveramconsciousoftheracketatall，andImovemyfeetintopositionofreliefwithoutknowingwhenIdoit。IbeganhereMondaymorning，andhavedoneeightypagessince。IwassotiredlastnightthatIthoughtI
wouldlieabedandrest，to-day；butIcouldn”tresist。Imeantotrytoknockofftomorrow，butit”sdoubtfulifIdo。Iwanttofinishthedaythemachinefinishes，andaweekagotheclosestcalculationsforthatindicatedOct。22——butexperienceteachesmethattheircalculationswillmissfire，asusual。
Theotherdaythechildrenwereprojectingapurchase，LivyandItofurnishthemoney-adollarandahalf。Jeandiscouragedtheidea。Shesaid：“Wehaven”tgotanymoney。Children，ifyouwouldthink，youwouldrememberthemachineisn”tdone。
It”sbilliardsto-night。Iwishyouwerehere。
WithlovetoyoubothS。L。C。
P。S。Igotitallwrong。Itwasn”tthechildren，itwasMarie。Shewantedaboxofblacking，forthechildren”sshoes。Jeanreprovedher-
andsaid：
“Why，Marie，youmustn”taskforthingsnow。Themachineisn”tdone。
S。L。C。
Theletterthatfollowsistoanotherofhisoldpilotfriends，onewhowasalsoaschoolmate，WillBowen，ofHannibal。Thereistodaynomeansofknowingtheoccasionuponwhichthisletterwaswritten，butitdoesnotmatter；itistheletteritselfthatisofchiefvalue。
ToWillBowen，inHannibal，Mo。：
HARTFORD，Nov4，”88。
DEARWILL，——Ireceivedyourletteryesterdayevening，justasIwasstartingoutoftowntoattendawedding，andsomymindwasprivatelybusy，alltheevening，inthemidstofthemaelstromofchatandchaffandlaughter，withthesortofreflectionswhichcreatethemselves，examinethemselves，andcontinuethemselves，unaffectedbysurroundings——unaffected，thatisunderstood，bythesurroundings，butnotuninfluencedbythem。Herewasthenearpresenceofthetwosupremeeventsoflife：marriage，whichisthebeginningoflife，anddeathwhichistheendofit。IfoundmyselfseekingchancestoshirkintocornerswhereImightthink，undisturbed；andthemostIgotoutofmythought，wasthis：bothmarriageanddeathoughttobewelcome：theonepromiseshappiness，doubtlesstheotherassuresit。Alongprocessionofpeoplefiledthroughmymind——peoplewhomyouandIknewsomanyyearsago——somanycenturiesago，itseemslike-andtheseancientdeadmarchedtothesoftmarriagemusicofabandconcealedinsomeremoteroomofthehouse；
andthecontentedmusicandthedreamingshadesseemedinrightaccordwitheachother，andfitting。Nobodyelseknewthataprocessionofthedeadwaspassingthoughthisnoisyswarmoftheliving，butthereitwas，andtometherewasnothinguncannyaboutit；Rio，theywerewelcomefacestome。Iwouldhavelikedtobringupeverycreatureweknewinthosedays——eventhedumbanimals——itwouldbebathinginthefabledFountainofYouth。
Weallfeelyourdeeptroublewithyou；andwewouldhope，ifwemight，butyourwordsdenyusthatprivilege。Todieone”sselfisathingthatmustbeeasy，andoflightconsequence，buttoloseapartofone”sself——well，weknowhowdeepthatpanggoes，wewhohavesufferedthatdisaster，receivedthatwoundwhichcannotheal。
SincerelyyourfriendS。L。CLEMENS。
Hisnextisofquiteadifferentnature。EvidentlythetypesettingconditionshadalarmedOrion，andhewasundertakingsomeeconomieswithaviewofretrenchment。Orionwasalwaysreducingeconomytoscience。Once，atanearlierdate，herecordedthathehadfiguredhispersonallivingexpensesdowntosixtycentsaweek，butinasmuchashewasthen，byhisownconfession，unabletoearnthesixtycents，thisparticulareconomywaswasted。Orionwasatrial，certainly，andtheexplosionthatfollowswasnotwithoutexcuse。
Furthermore，itwasnotasbadasitsounds。MarkTwain”sragesalwayshadanelementofhumorinthem，afactwhichnoonemorethanOrionhimselfwouldappreciate。Hepreservedthisletter，quietlynotingontheenvelope，“LetterfromSam，aboutma”snurse。”
LettertoOrionClemens，inKeokuk，Iowa：
NOV。29，”88。
JesusChrist！——Itisperiloustowritesuchaman。Youcangocrazyonlessmaterialthananybodythateverlived。Whatinhellhasproducedallthesemaniacalimaginings？Youtoldmeyouhadhiredanattendantforma。Nowhireoneinstantly，andstopthisnonsenseofwearingMollieandyourselfouttryingtodothatnursingyourselves。Hiretheattendant，andtellmehercostsothatIcaninstructWebster&Co。toadditeverymonthtowhattheyalreadysend。Don”tfoolawayanymoretimeaboutthis。Anddon”twritemeanymoredamnedrotabout“storms，“
andinabilitytopaytrivialsumsofmoneyand——and——hellanddamnation！
YouseeI”vereadonlythefirstpageofyourletter；Iwouldn”treadtherestforamilliondollars。
YrSAM。
P。S。Don”timaginethatIhavelostmytemper，becauseIswear。I
swearallday，butIdonotlosemytemper。Anddon”timaginethatIamonmywaytothepoorhouse，forIamnot；orthatIamuneasy，forIamnot；orthatIamuncomfortableorunhappy——forIneveram。Idon”tknowwhatitistobeunhappyoruneasy；andIamnotgoingtotrytolearnhow，atthislateday。
SAM。
FewmenwereeverinterviewedoftenerthanMarkTwain，yetheneverwelcomedinterviewersandwasseldomsatisfiedwiththem。“WhatI
sayinaninterviewlosesitcharacterinprint，“heoftenremarked，“allitslifeandpersonality。Thereporterrealizesthishimself，andtriestoimproveuponme，buthedoesn”thelpmattersany。”
EdwardW。Bok，beforehebecameeditoroftheLadiesHomeJournal，wasconductingaweeklysyndicatecolumnunderthetitleof“Bok”sLiteraryLeaves。”Itusuallyconsistedofnewsandgossipofwriters，comment，etc。，literaryoddsandends，andoccasionalinterviewswithdistinguishedauthors。HewentuptoHartfordonedaytointerviewMarkTwain。TheresultseemedsatisfactorytoBok，butwishingtobecertainthatitwouldbesatisfactorytoClemens，hesenthimacopyforapproval。Theinterviewwasnotreturned；
intheplaceofitcamealetter-notaltogetherdisappointing，asthereadermaybelieve。
ToEdwardW。Bok，inNewYork：
MYDEARMR。BOK，——No，no。Itislikemostinterviews，puretwaddleandvalueless。
Forseveralquiteplainandsimplereasons，an“interview“must，asarule，beanabsurdity，andchieflyforthisreason——Itisanattempttouseaboatonlandorawagononwater，tospeakfiguratively。Spokenspeechisonething，writtenspeechisquiteanother。Printisthepropervehicleforthelatter，butitisn”tfortheformer。Themoment“talk“isputintoprintyourecognizethatitisnotwhatitwaswhenyouheardit；youperceivethatanimmensesomethinghasdisappearedfromit。Thatisitssoul。Youhavenothingbutadeadcarcassleftonyourhands。Color，playoffeature，thevaryingmodulationsofthevoice，thelaugh，thesmile，theinforminginflections，everythingthatgavethatbodywarmth，grace，friendlinessandcharmandcommendedittoyouraffections——or，atleast，toyourtolerance——isgoneandnothingisleftbutapallid，stiffandrepulsivecadaver。
Suchis“talk“almostinvariably，asyouseeitlyinginstateinan“interview“。Theinterviewerseldomtriestotellonehowathingwassaid；hemerelyputsinthenakedremarkandstopsthere。Whenonewritesforprinthismethodsareverydifferent。Hefollowsformswhichhavebutlittleresemblancetoconversation，buttheymakethereaderunderstandwhatthewriteristryingtoconvey。Andwhenthewriterismakingastoryandfindsitnecessarytoreportsomeofthetalkofhischaractersobservehowcautiouslyandanxiouslyhegoesatthatriskyanddifficultthing。“Ifhehaddaredtosaythatthinginmypresence，“
saidAlfred，“takingamockheroicattitude，andcastinganarchglanceuponthecompany，bloodwouldhaveflowed。”
“Ifhehaddaredtosaythatthinginmypresence，“saidHawkwood，withthatinhiseyewhichcausedmorethanoneheartinthatguiltyassemblagetoquake，“bloodwouldhaveflowed。”
“Ifhehaddaredtosaythatthinginmypresence，“saidthepaltryblusterer，withvaloronhistongueandpalloronhislips，“bloodwouldhaveflowed。”
Sopainfullyawareisthenovelistthatnakedtalkinprintconveysnomeaningthatheloads，andoftenoverloads，almosteveryutteranceofhischaracterswithexplanationsandinterpretations。Itisaloudconfessionthatprintisapoorvehiclefor“talk“；itisarecognitionthatuninterpretedtalkinprintwouldresultinconfusiontothereader，notinstruction。
Now，inyourinterview，youhavecertainlybeenmostaccurate；youhavesetdownthesentencesIutteredasIsaidthem。Butyouhavenotawordofexplanation；whatmymannerwasatseveralpointsisnotindicated。
Therefore，noreadercanpossiblyknowwhereIwasinearnestandwhereI
wasjoking；orwhetherIwasjokingaltogetherorinearnestaltogether。
Suchareportofaconversationhasnovalue。Itcanconveymanymeaningstothereader，butnevertherightone。Toaddinterpretationswhichwouldconveytherightmeaningisasomethingwhichwouldrequire——what？Anartsohighandfineanddifficultthatnopossessorofitwouldeverbeallowedtowasteitoninterviews。
No；sparethereader，andspareme；leavethewholeinterviewout；itisrubbish。Iwouldn”ttalkinmysleepifIcouldn”ttalkbetterthanthat。
Ifyouwishtoprintanythingprintthisletter；itmayhavesomevalue，foritmayexplaintoareaderhereandtherewhyitisthatininterviews，asarule，menseemtotalklikeanybodybutthemselves。
Verysincerelyyours，MARKTWAIN。
XXIX
LETTERS，1889。THEMACHINE。DEATHOFMR。CRANE。
CONCLUSIONOFTHEYANKEE
InJanuary，1889，Clemensbelieved，afterhislongsevenyearsofwaiting，fruitionhadcomeinthematterofthetypemachine。Paige，theinventor，seemedatlasttohavegivenititsfinishingtouches。Themechanicalmarvelthathadcostsomuchtime，mentalstress，andafortuneinmoney，stoodcomplete，responsivetothehumanwillandtouch——thelatest，andoneofthegreatest，wondersoftheworld。ToGeorgeStandring，aLondonprinterandpublisher，Clemenswrote：“Themachineisfinished！“andadded，“Thisisbyfarthemostmarvelousinventionevercontrivedbyman。Anditisnotathingofragsandpatches；itismadeofmassivesteel，andwilllastacentury。
Inhisfeverofenthusiasmonthatdaywhenhehadactuallyseenitinoperation，hewroteanumberofexuberantletters。Theyweremoreorlessduplicates，butastheonetohisbrotherisoffullerdetailandmoreintimatethantheothers，ithasbeenselectedforpreservationhere。
ToOrionClemens，inKeokuk：
HARTFORD，Jan。5，”89。
DEARORION，——At12。20thisafternoonalineofmovabletypeswasspacedandjustifiedbymachinery，forthefirsttimeinthehistoryoftheworld！AndIwastheretosee。Itwasdoneautomatically——instantly——
perfectly。Thisisindeedthefirstlineofmovabletypesthateverwasperfectlyspacedandperfectlyjustifiedonthisearth。
Thiswasthelastfunctionthatremainedtobetested——andsobylongoddsthemostamazingandextraordinaryinventioneverbornofthebrainofmanstandscompletedandperfect。Livyisdownstairscelebrating。
Butit”sacunningdevil，isthatmachine！——andknowsmorethananymanthateverlived。Youshallsee。Wemadethetestinthisway。Wesetupalotofrandomlettersinastick——three-fourthsofaline；thenfilledoutthelinewithquadsrepresenting14spaces，eachspacetobe35/1000ofaninchthick。Thenwethrewasidethequadsandputthelettersintothemachineandformedtheminto15two-letterwords，leavingthewordsseparatedbytwo-inchvacancies。Thenwestartedupthemachineslowly，byhand，andfastenedoureyesonthespace-selectingpins。Thefirstpin-blockprojecteditsthirdpinasthefirstwordcametravelingalongtherace-way；secondblockdidthesame；butthethirdblockprojecteditssecondpin！
“Oh，hell！stopthemachine——somethingwrong——it”sgoingtoseta30/1000space！“
Generalconsternation。“Aforeignsubstancehasgotintothespacingplates。”Thisfromtheheadmathematician。
“Yes，thatisthetrouble，“assentedtheforeman。
Paigeexamined。“No——lookin，andyoucanseethatthere”snothingofthekind。”Furtherexamination。“NowIknowwhatitis——whatitmustbe：oneofthoseplatesprojectsandbinds。It”stoobad——thefirsttestisafailure。”Apause。“Well，boys，nousetocry。Gettowork——
takethemachinedown——No——Holdon！don”ttouchathing！Gorightahead！Wearefools，themachineisn”t。Themachineknowswhatit”sabout。Thereisaspeckofdirtononeofthosetypes，andthemachineisputtinginathinnerspacetoallowforit！“
Thatwasjustit。Themachinewentrightahead，spacedtheline，justifiedittoahair，andshoveditintothegalleycompleteandperfect！Wetookitoutandexamineditwithaglass。Youcouldnottellbyyoureyethatthethirdspacewasthinnerthantheothers，buttheglassandthecalipersshowedthedifference。Paigehadalwayssaidthatthemachinewouldmeasureinvisibleparticlesofdirtandallowforthem，butevenhehadforgottenthatvastfactforthemoment。
Allthewitnessesmadewrittenrecordoftheimmensehistoricalbirth——
thefirstjustificationofalineofmovabletypebymachinery——andalsosetdownthehourandtheminute。Nobodyhaddrankanything，andyeteverybodyseemeddrunk。Well-dizzy，stupefied，stunned。
Alltheotherwonderfulinventionsofthehumanbrainsinkprettynearlyintocommonplacecontrastedwiththisawfulmechanicalmiracle。
Telephones，telegraphs，locomotives，cottongins，sewingmachines，Babbagecalculators，jacquardlooms，perfectingpresses，Arkwrigbt”sframes——allmeretoys，simplicities！ThePaigeCompositormarchesaloneandfarintheleadofhumaninventions。
Intwoorthreeweeksweshallworkthestiffnessoutofherjointsandhaveherperformingassmoothlyandsoftlyashumanmuscles，andthenweshallspeakoutthebigsecretandlettheworldcomeandgaze。
Returnmethisletterwhenyouhavereadit。
SAM。
JudgeoftheelationwhichsuchaletterwouldproduceinKeokuk！
YetitwasnogreaterthanthatwhichexistedinHartford——foratime。
Thenfurtherdelays。Beforethemachinegot“thestiffnessoutofherjoints“that“cunningdevil“manifestedatendencytobreakthetypes，andPaige，whowasneverhappierthanwhenhewaspullingthingstopiecesandmakingimprovements，hadthetype-setterapartagainandthedayofcompletetriumphwaspostponed。
TherewassadnessattheElmirafarmthatspring。TheodoreCrane，whohadlongbeeninpoorhealth，seemedtogrowdailyworse。InFebruaryhehadpaidavisittoHartfordandsawthemachineinoperation，butbytheendofMayhisconditionwasveryserious。
Rememberinghiskeensenseofhumor，Clemensreportedtohimcheeringandamusingincidents。
ToMrs。TheodoreCrane。inElmira，N。Y。：
HARTFORD，May28，”89。
Susiedear，IwantyoutotellthistoTheodore。Youknowhowabsent-
mindedTwichellis，andhowdesolatehisfaceiswhenheisinthatframe。Atsuchtimes，hepassesthewordwithafriendonthestreetandisnotawareofthemeetingatall。Twiceinaweek，ourClarahadthislatterexperiencewithhimwithinthepastmonth。Butthesecondinstancewastoomuchforher，andshewokehimup，inhistracks，withareproach。Shesaid：
“UncleJoe，whydoyoualwayslookasifyouwerejustgoingdownintothegrave，whenyoumeetapersononthestreet？“——andthenwentontorevealtohimthefunerealspectaclewhichhepresentedonsuchoccasions。Well，shehasmetTwichellthreetimessincethen，andwouldswimtheConnecticuttoavoidmeetinghimthefourth。Assoonashesightsher，nomatterhowpublictheplacenorhowfaroffsheis，hemakesaboundintotheair，heavesarmsandlegsintoallsortsoffranticgesturesofdelight，andsocomesprancing，skippingandpirouettingforherlikeadrunkenIndianenteringheaven。
WithafullinvoiceoflovefromusalltoyouandTheodore。
S。L。C。
Thereferenceinthenexttothe“closingsentence“inaletterwrittenbyHowellstoClemensaboutthistime，referstoaheart-
brokenutteranceoftheformerconcerninghisdaughterWinnie，whohaddiedsometimebefore。Shehadbeenagentletalentedgirl，butneverofrobusthealth。Herdeathhadfollowedalongperiodofgradualdecline。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
HARTFORD，Judy13，”89。
DEARHOWELLS，——IcameonfromElmiraadayortwoago，whereIleftahouseofmourning。Mr。Cranedied，aftertenmonthsofpainandtwowholedaysofdying，atthefarmonthehill，the3rdinst：Amanwhohadalwayshopedforaswiftdeath。Mrs。CraneandMrs。Clemensandthechildrenwereinagloomwhichbroughtbacktomethedaysofnineteenyearsago，whenMr。Langdondied。Itisheart-breakingtoseeMrs。
Crane。Manyatime，inthepasttendays，thesightofherhasremindedme，withapang，ofthedesolationwhichuttereditselfintheclosingsentenceofyourlastlettertome。Idoseethatthereisanargumentagainstsuicide：thegriefoftheworshipersleftbehind；theawfulfamineintheirhearts，thesearetoocostlytermsfortherelease。
Ishallbeheretendaysyet，andallalone：nobodyinthehousebuttheservants。Can”tMrs。Howellsspareyoutome？Can”tyoucomeandstaywithme？Thehouseiscoolandpleasant；yourworkwillnotbeinterrupted；wewillkeeptoourselvesandlettherestoftheworlddothesame；youcanhaveyourchoiceofthreebedrooms，andyouwillfindtheChildren”sschoolroom(whichwasbuiltformystudy，)theperfectionofaretiredandsilentdenforwork。Thereisn”taflyoramosquitoontheestate。Come——sayyouwill。
WithkindestregardstoMrs。Howells，andPillaandJohn，YoursEverMARK。
Howellswasmorehopeful。Hewrote：“Ireadsomethinginastrangebook，ThePhysicalTheoryofAnotherLife，thatconsolesalittle；namely，weseeandfeelthepowerofDeityinsuchfullnessthatweoughttoinfertheinfinitejusticeandGoodnesswhichwedonotseeorfeel。”Andafewdayslater，hewrote：“Iwouldratherseeandtalkwithyouthananyothermanintheworldoutsidemyownblood。”
AConnecticutYankeeatKingArthur”sCourtwasbroughttoanendthatyearandgiventotheartistandprinter。DanBeardwasselectedforthedrawings，andwasgivenafreehand，asthenextlettershows。
ToFredJ。Hall，ManagerCharlesL。Webster&Co。：
[CharlesL。Webster，owingtopoorhealth，hadbythistimeretiredfromthefirm。]
ELMIRA，July20，”89。
DEARMR。HALL，——Uponreflection——thus：tellBeardtoobeyhisowninspiration，andwhenheseesapictureinhismindputthatpictureonpaper，beithumorousorbeitserious。Iwanthisgeniustobewhollyunhampered，Ishan”thavefearsastotheresult。TheywillbebetterpicturesthanifImixedinandtriedtogivehimpointsonhisowntrade。
Sendthisnoteandhe”llunderstand。
YrS。L。C。
ClemenshadmadeagoodchoiceinselectingBeardfortheillustrations。Hewaswellqualifiedforthework，andbeingofasocialisticturnofmindputhiswholesoulintoit。Whenthedrawingswerecompleted，Clemenswrote：“Holdmeunderpermanentobligations。Whatluckitwastofindyou！Therearehundredsofartiststhatcouldillustrateanyotherbookofmine，buttherewasonlyonewhocouldillustratethisone。Yes，itwasafortunatehourthatIwentnettingforlightningbugsandcaughtameteor。
Liveforever！“
Clemens，ofcourse，wasanxiousforHowellstoreadTheYankee，andMrs。Clemensparticularlyso。Hereyesweregivinghertroublethatsummer，sothatshecouldnotreadtheMS。forherself，andshehadgravedoubtsastosomeofitschapters。Itmaybesaidherethatthebookto-daymighthavebeenbetterifMrs。Clemenshadbeenabletoreadit。Howellswasapeerlesscritic，buttherevolutionarysubject-matterofthebooksodelightedhimthathewasperhapssomewhatblindedtoitsliterarydefects。However，thisispremature。Howellsdidnotatonceseethestory。HehadpromisedtocometoHartford，butwrotethattrivialmattershadmadehisvisitimpossible。Fromthenextletterwegetthesituationatthistime。The“Mr。Church“mentionedwasFrederickS。Church，thewell-
knownartist。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
ELMIRA，July24，”89。
DEARHOWELLS，——I，too，wasassorryasIcouldbe；yes，anddesperatelydisappointed。Ievendidaheroicthing：shippedmybookofftoNewYorklestIshouldforgethospitalityandembitteryourvisitwithit。NotthatIthinkyouwouldn”tliketoreadit，forIthinkyouwould；butnotonaholidaythat”snotthetime。Iseehowyouweresituated——anotherfamiliarityofProvidenceandwhollywantonintrusion——andofcoursewecouldnothelpourselves。Well，justthinkofit：awhileago，whileProvidence”sattentionwasabsorbedindisorderingsometime-tablessoastobreakupatripofminetoMr。Church”sontheHudson，thatJohnstowndamgotloose。IswearIwasafraidtopray，forfearIshouldlaugh。
Well，I”mnotgoingtodespair；we”llmanageameetyet。
IexpecttogotoHartfordagaininAugustandmayberemaintillIhavetocomebackhereandfetchthefamily。And，alongthereinAugust，sometime，youletonthatyouaregoingtoMexico，andIwillletonthatI
amgoingtoSpitzbergen，andthenundercoverofthiscleverstratagemwewillglidefromthetrainsatWorcesterandhaveatime。IhavenoticedthatProvidenceisindifferentaboutMexicoandSpitzbergen。
YsEverMARK。
PossiblyMarkTwainwasnotparticularlyanxiousthatHowellsshouldseehisMS。，fearingthathemightlayaruthlesshandonsomeofhismoreviolentfulminationsandwildfancies。Howeverthismaybe，furtherpostponementwassoonatanend。Mrs。Clemens”seyestroubledherandwouldnotpermithertoread，sosherequestedthattheYankeebepasseduponbysobermindedcritics，suchasHowellsandEdmundClarenceStedman。Howellswrotethatevenifhehadn”twantedtoreadthebookforitsownsake，orfortheauthor”ssake，hewouldstillwanttodoitforMrs。Clemens”s。Whereupontheproofswerestartedinhisdirection。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
ELMIRA，Aug。24，”89。
DEARHOWELLS，——IfyoushouldbemovedtospeakofmybookintheStudy，Ishallbegladandproud——andthesooneritgetsin，thebetterforthebook；thoughIdon”tsupposeyoucangetitinearlierthantheNovembernumber——why，no，youcan”tgetitintillamonthlaterthanthat。Well，anywayIdon”tthinkI”llsendoutanyotherpresscopy——exceptperhapstoStedman。I”mnotwritingforthosepartieswhomiscallthemselvescritics，andIdon”tcaretohavethempawthebookatall。It”smyswan-song，myretirementfromliteraturepermanently，andIwishtopasstothecemeteryunclodded。
Ijudgethattheproofshavebeguntoreachyouaboutthistime，asIhadsome(thoughnotrevises，)thismorning。I”msureI”mgoingtobecharmedwithBeard”spictures。Observehisnicetake-offofMiddle-Ageart-dinner-tablescene。
YssincerelyMARK。
Howells”sapprovaloftheYankeecamealmostintheformofexultantshouts，oneafterreadingeachbatchofproof。Firsthewrote：
“It”scharming，original，wonderful！goodinfancyandsoundtothecoreinmorals。”Andagain，“It”samightygreatbook，anditmakesmyheartburnwithwrath。ItseemsGoddidnotforgettoputasoulintoyou。Heshutsmostliterarymenoffwithabrain，merely。”
Then，afewdayslater：“Thebookisglorious——simplynoble；whatmassesofvirgintruthnevertouchedinprintbefore！“and，finally，“LastnightIreadyourlastchapter。AsStedmansaysofthewholebook，it”stitanic。”
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
HARTFORD，Sept。22，”89。
DEARHOWELLS，——Itisimmenselygoodofyoutogrindthroughthatstuffforme；butitgivespeacetoMrs。Clemens”ssoul；andIamasgratefultoyouasabodycanbe。IamgladyouapproveofwhatIsayabouttheFrenchRevolution。Fewpeoplewill。ItisoddthateventothisdayAmericansstillobservethatimmortalbenefactionthroughEnglishandothermonarchicaleyes，andhavenoshredofanopinionaboutitthattheydidn”tgetatsecond-hand。
Nexttothe4thofJulyanditsresults，itwasthenoblestandtheholiestthingandthemostpreciousthateverhappenedinthisearth。
Anditsgraciousworkisnotdoneyet——notanywhereintheremoteneighborhoodofit。
Don”ttroubletosendmealltheproofs；sendmethepageswithyourcorrectionsonthem，andwaste-baskettherest。WeissuethebookDec。10；consequentlyanoticethatappearsDec。20willbejustingoodtime。
IamwaitingtoseeyourStudysetafashionincriticism。Whenthathappens——aspleaseGoditmust——considerthatifyoulivedthreecenturiesyoucouldn”tdoamorevaluableworkforthiscountry，orahumaner。
Asaruleacritic”sdissentmerelyenrages，andsodoesnogood；butbythenewartwhichyouuse，yourdissentmustbeaswelcomeasyourapproval，andasvaluable。Idonotknowwhatthesecretofitis，unlessitisyourattitude——mancourteouslyreasoningwithmanandbrother，inplaceofthewornandwearisomecriticalattitudeofallthislongtime——superiorbeinglecturingaboy。
Well，mybookiswritten——letitgo。Butifitwereonlytowriteoveragaintherewouldn”tbesomanythingsleftout。Theyburninme；andtheykeepmultiplyingandmultiplying；butnowtheycan”teverbesaid。
Andbesides，theywouldrequirealibrary——andapenwarmedupinhell。
YsEverMARK。
Thetype-settingmachinebegantoloomlargeinthebackground。
Clemensbelieveditperfectedbythistime。Paigehadgotittogetheragainanditwasrunningsteadily——orapproximatelyso——settingtypeatamarvelousspeedandwithperfectaccuracy。Intimeanexpertoperatorwouldbeabletosetashighaseightthousandemsperhour，orabouttentimesasmuchasagoodcompositorcouldsetanddistributebyhand。Thosewhosawitwereconvinced——mostofthem——thatthetype-settingproblemwassolvedbythisgreatmechanicalmiracle。Iftherewereanywhodoubted，itwasbecauseofitsmarvelouslyminuteaccuracywhichtheothersonlyadmired。Suchaccuracy，itwassometimeswhispered，requiredabsolutelyperfectadjustment，andwhatwouldhappenwhenthegreatinventor”thepoetinsteel，“asClemensoncecalledhim——wasnolongerathandtosuperviseandtocorrecttheslightestvariation。
ButnosuchbreathofdoubtcametoMarkTwain；hebelievedthemachineasreliableasaconstellation。
Butnowtherewasneedofcapitaltomanufactureandmarketthewonder。Clemens，castingaboutinhismind，rememberedSenatorJones，ofNevada，amanofgreatwealth，andhisoldfriend，JoeGoodman，ofNevada，inwhomJoneshadunlimitedconfidence。HewrotetoGoodman，andinthisletterwegetaprettyfullexpositionofthewholematterasitstoodinthefallof1889。WenoteinthiscommunicationthatClemenssaysthathehasbeenatthemachinethreeyearsandsevenmonths，butthiswasonlytheperiodduringwhichhehadspenttheregularmonthlysumofthreethousanddollars。Hisinterestintheinventionhadbegunasfarbackas1880。
ToJosephT。Goodman，inNevada：
Private。HARTFORD，Oct。7，”89。
DEARJOE，-IhadaletterfromAleckBadlamdaybeforeyesterday，andinansweringhimImentionedamatterwhichIaskedhimtoconsiderasecretexcepttoyouandJohnMcComb，——[ThisisCol。McComb，oftheAlta-
California，whohadsentMarkTwainontheQuakerCityexcursion]——asI
amnotreadyyettogetintothenewspapers。
Ihavecomenearwritingyouaboutthismatterseveraltimes，butitwasn”tripe，andIwaited。Itisripe，now。Itisatype-settingmachinewhichIundertooktobuildfortheinventor(foraconsideration)。
Ihavebeenatitthreeyearsandsevenmonthswithoutlosingaday，atacostof$3，000amonth，andinsoprivateawaythatHartfordhasknownnothingaboutit。Indeedonlyadozenmenhaveknownofthematter。
IhavereportedprogressfromtimetotimetotheproprietorsoftheN。Y。Sun，Herald，Times，World，HarperBrothersandJohnF。Trow；alsototheproprietorsoftheBostonHeraldandtheBostonGlobe。ThreeyearsagoIaskedallthesepeopletosquelchtheirfranticdesiretoloaduptheirofficeswiththeMergenthaler(N。Y。Tribune)machine，andwaitformineandthenchoosebetweenthetwo。Theyhavewaited——withnoverygaudypatience——butstilltheyhavewaited；andIcouldprovetothemto-daythattheyhavenotlostanythingbyit。ButIreservetheproofforthepresent——exceptinthecaseoftheN。Y。Herald；Isentaninvitationtheretheotherday——acourtesydueapaperwhichordered$240，000worthofourmachineslongagowhenitwasstillinacrudecondition。TheHeraldhasordereditsforemantocomeupherenextThursday；butthatistheonlyinvitationwhichwillgooutforsometimeyet。
Themachinewasfinishedseveralweeksago，andhasbeenrunningeversinceinthemachineshop。Itisamagnificentcreatureofsteel，allofPratt&Whitney”ssuper-bestworkmanship，andasnicelyadjustedandasaccurateasawatch。Inconstructionitisaselaborateandcomplexasthatmachinewhichitranksnextto，byeveryright——Man——andinperformanceitisassimpleandsure。
Anybodycansettypeonitwhocanread——andcandoitafteronly15
minutes”instruction。Theoperatordoesnotneedtoleavehisseatatthekeyboard；forthereasonthatheisnotrequiredtodoanythingbutstrikethekeysandsettype——merelyonefunction；thespacing，justifying，emptyingintothegalley，anddistributingofdeadmatterisalldonebythemachinewithoutanybody”shelp——fourfunctions。
Theeasewithwhichacubcanlearnissurprising。DaybeforeyesterdayIsawournewestcubset，perfectlyspaceandperfectlyjustify2，150emsofsolidnonpareilinanhouranddistributethelikeamountinthesamehour——andsixhourspreviouslyhehadneverseenthemachineoritskeyboard。Itwasagoodhour”sworkfor3-yearveteransontheothertype-settingmachinestodo。Wehave3cubs。Thedeanofthetrioisaschoolyouthof18。Yesterdaymorninghehadbeenanapprenticeonthemachine16workingdays(8-hourdays)；andwespeededhimtoseewhathecoulddoinanhour。Inthehourheset5，900emssolidnonpareil，andthemachineperfectlyspacedandjustifiedit，andofcoursedistributedthelikeamountinthesamehour。Consideringthatagoodfaircompositorsets700anddistributes700intheonehour，thisboydidtheworkofabout8xacompositorsinthathour。Thisfactsendsallothertype-settingmachinesathousandmilestotherear，andthebestofthemwillneverbeheardofagainafterwepubliclyexhibitinNewYork。
Weshallputon3morecubs。Wehaveoneschoolboyandtwocompositors，now，——andwethinkofputtingonatypewriter，astenographer，andperhapsashoemaker，toshowthatnospecialgiftsortrainingarerequiredwiththismachine。Weshalltrainthesebeginnerstwoorthreemonths——oruntilsomeoneofthemgetsupto7，000anhour——thenwewillshowupinNewYorkandrunthemachine24hoursaday7daysintheweek，forseveralmonths——toprovethatthisisamachinewhichwillnevergetoutoforderorcausedelay，andcanstandanythingananvilcanstand。Youknowthereisnoothertypesettingmachinethatcanruntwohoursonastretchwithoutcausingtroubleanddelaywithitsincurablecaprices。
Weownthewholefield——everyinchofit——andnothingcandislodgeus。
Nowthen，aboveismypreachment，andherefollowsthereasonandpurposeofit。Iwantyoutorunoverhere，roostoverthemachineaweekandsatisfyyourself，andthengotoJohnP。Jonesortowhomyouplease，andsellmeahundredthousanddollars”worthofthispropertyandtaketenpercentincashorthe“property“foryourtrouble——thelatter，ifyouarewise，becausethepriceIaskisalongwayshortofthevalue。
WhatIcall“property“isthis。Asmallpartofmyownershipconsistsofaroyaltyof$500oneverymachinemarketedundertheAmericanpatents。
Myselling-termsare，apermanentroyaltyofonedollaroneveryAmerican-marketedmachineforathousanddollarscashtomeinhandpaid。
Weshan”tmarketanyfewerthan5，000machinesin15years——areturnoffifteenthousanddollarsforonethousand。Aroyaltyisbetterthanstock，inoneway——itmustbepaid，everysixmonths，rainorshine；itisadebt，andmustbepaidbeforedividendsaredeclared。Byandby，whenwebecomeastockcompanyIshallbuytheseroyaltiesbackforstockifIcangetthemforanythinglikereasonableterms。
Ihaveneverborrowedapennytouseonthemachine，andneversoldapenny”sworthofthepropertyuntilthemachinewasentirelyfinishedandprovenbytheseverestteststobewhatshestartedouttobe——perfect，permanent，andoccupyingtheposition，asregardsallkindredmachines，whichtheCityofParisoccupiesasregardsthecanvas-backsofthemercantilemarine。
Itismypurposetoselltwohundreddollarsofmyroyaltiesattheabovepriceduringthenexttwomonthsandkeeptheother$300。
Mrs。ClemensbegsMrs。Goodmantocomewithyou，andaskspardonfornotwritingthemessageherself——whichwouldbeapathetically-welcomespectacletome；forIhavebeenheramanuensisfor8months，now，sincehereyesfailedher。YoursasalwaysMARK。
WhilethisletterwithitsamazingcontentsisonitswaytoastonishJoeGoodman，wewillconsideroneofquiteadifferent，butequallycharacteristicsort。WemayassumethatMarkTwain”ssisterPamelahadbeenvisitinghiminHartfordandwasnowmakingavisitinKeokuk。
ToMrs。Moffett，inKeokuk：
HARTFORD，Oct9，”89。
DEARPAMELA，——AnhourafteryouleftIwassuddenlystruckwitharealizingsenseoftheutterchuckle-headednessofthatnotionofmine：
tosendyourtrunkafteryou。Land！itwasidiotic。Nonebutalunaticwould，separatehimselffromhisbaggage。
Well，Iamsoulfullygladthebaggagefetchersavedmefromconsummatingmyinsaneinspiration。Imethimonthestreetintheafternoonandpaidhimagain。Ishallpayhimseveraltimesmore，asopportunityoffers。
IdeclinedtheinvitationtobanquetwiththevisitingSouthAmericanCongress，inapolitenoteexplainingthatIhadtogotoNewYorktoday。
IconveyedthenoteprivatelytoPatrick；hegottheenvelopesoiled，andaskedLivytoputonacleanone。ThatiswhyIamgoingtothebanquet；alsowhyIhavedisinvitedtheboysIthoughtIwasgoingtopunchbilliardswith，upstairsto-night。
PatrickisoneoftheinjudiciousestpeopleIeverstruck。AndIamtheother。
YourBrotherSAM。
TheYankeewasnowreadyforpublication，andadvancesheetswerealreadyinthereviewers”hands。JustatthismomenttheBrazilianmonarchycrumbled，andClemenswasmovedtowriteSylvesterBaxter，oftheBostonHerald，aletterwhichisofspecialinterestinitsprophecyofthenewday，thedawnofwhichwasevennearerthanhesuspected。
DEARMR。BAXTER，Anotherthronehasgonedown，andIswiminoceansofsatisfaction。IwishImightlivefiftyyearslonger；IbelieveIshouldseethethronesofEuropesellingatauctionforoldiron。IbelieveI
shouldreallyseetheendofwhatissurelythegrotesquestofalltheswindleseverinventedbyman-monarchy。Itisenoughtomakeagravenimagelaugh，toseeapparentlyrationalpeople，awaydownhereinthiswholesomeandmercilessslaughter-dayforshams，stillmouthingemptyreverenceforthosemoss-backedfraudsandscoundrelisms，hereditarykingshipandso-called“nobility。”Itisenoughtomakethemonarchsandnoblesthemselveslaugh——andinprivatetheydo；therecanbenoquestionaboutthat。Ithinkthereisonlyonefunnierthing，andthatisthespectacleofthesebastardAmericans——theseHamersleysandHuntingtonsandsuch——offeringcash，encumberedbythemselves，forrottencarcasesandstolentitles。WhenourgreatbrethrenthedisenslavedBraziliansframetheirDeclarationofIndependence，Ihopetheywillinsertthismissinglink：“Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident：thatallmonarchsareusurpers，anddescendantsofusurpers；forthereasonthatnothronewaseversetupinthisworldbythewill，freelyexercised，oftheonlybodypossessingthelegitimaterighttosetitup——thenumericalmassofthenation。”
Youalreadyhavetheadvancesheetsofmyforthcomingbookinyourhands。
Ifyouwillturntoaboutthefivehundredthpage，youwillfindastatepaperofmyConnecticutYankeeinwhichheannouncesthedissolutionofKingArthur”smonarchyandproclaimstheEnglishRepublic。CompareitwiththestatepaperwhichannouncesthedownfalloftheBrazilianmonarchyandproclaimstheRepublicoftheUnitedStatesofBrazil，andstandbytodefendtheYankeefromplagiarism。Thereismerelyaresemblanceofideas，nothingmore。TheYankee”sproclamationwasalreadyinprintaweekago。Thisismerelyoneofthoseoddcoincidenceswhicharealwaysturningup。Come，protecttheYankfromthatcheapestandeasiestofallcharges——plagiarism。Otherwise，yousee，hewillhavetoprotecthimselfbychargingapproximateandindefiniteplagiarismupontheofficialservantsofourmajestictwindownyonder，andthentheremightbewar，orsomesimilarannoyance。
HaveyounoticedtherumorthatthePortuguesethroneisunsteady，andthatthePortugueseslavesaregettingrestive？Also，thattheheadslave-driverofEurope，AlexanderIII，hassoreducedhisusualmonthlyorderforchainsthattheRussianfoundriesarerunningononlyhalftimenow？AlsothatotherrumorthatEnglishnobilityacquiredanaddedstenchtheotherday——andhadtoshipittoIndiaandthecontinentbecausetherewasn”tanymoreroomforitathome？Thingsareworking。
Byandbythereisgoingtobeanemigration，maybe。Ofcourseweshallmakenopreparation；weneverdo。Inafewyearsfromnowweshallhavenothingbutplayed-outkingsanddukesonthepolice，anddrivingthehorse-cars，andwhitewashingfences，andinfactovercrowdingalltheavenuesofunskilledlabor；andthenweshallwish，whenitistoolate，thatwehadtakencommonandreasonableprecautionsanddrownedthematCastleGarden。
TherefollowedatthistimeanumberofletterstoGoodman，butasthereismuchofasamenessinthem，weneednotprintthemall。
Clemens，infact，keptthemailswarmwithlettersbulgingwithschemesforcapitalization，andpromisingvastwealthtoallconcerned。Whenthelettersdidnotgofastenoughhesenttelegrams。InoneofthelettersGoodmanispromised“fivehundredthousanddollarsoutoftheprofitsbeforewegetanythingourselves。”OnethingwegatherfromtheselettersisthatPaigehastakenthemachineapartagain，neversatisfiedwithitsperfection，orperhapsgettingahintthatcertainofitsperfectionswerenotpermanent。AletterattheendofNovemberseemsworthpreservinghere。
ToJosephT。Goodman，inCalifornia：
HARTFORD，Nov。29，”89。
DEARJOE，Thingsaregettingintobetterandmoreflexibleshapeeveryday。Papersarenowbeingdrawnwhichwillgreatlysimplifytheraisingofcapital；Ishallbeinsupremecommand；itwillnotbenecessaryforthecapitalisttoarriveattermswithanybodybutme。Idon”twanttodickerwithanybodybutJones。Iknowhim；thatistosay，Iwanttodickerwithyou，andthroughyouwithJones。Trytoseeifyoucan”tbeherebythe15thofJanuary。
Themachinewasasperfectasawatchwhenwetookheraparttheotherday；butwhenshegoestogetheragainthe15thofJanuaryweexpecthertobeperfecterthanawatch。
Joe，Iwantyoutosellsomeroyaltiestotheboysoutthere，ifyoucan，forIwanttobefinanciallystrongwhenwegotoNewYork。Youknowthemachine，andyouappreciateitsfutureenormouscareerbetterthananymanIknow。Atthelowestconceivableestimate(2，000machinesayear，)
weshallsell34，000inthelifeofthepatent——17years。
Allthefamilysendlovetoyou——andtheymeanit，ortheywouldn”tsayit。
YourseverMARK。
TheYankeehadcomefromthepress，andHowellshadpraiseditinthe“Editor”sStudy“inHarper”sMagazine。Hehadgivenithishighestcommendation，anditseemsthathisopinionofitdidnotchangewithtime。“Ofallfancifulschemesoffictionitpleasesmemost，“heinoneplacedeclared，andagainreferredtoitas“agreatlyimaginedandsymmetricallydevelopedtale。”
InmorethanonelettertoGoodman，ClemenshadurgedhimtocomeEastwithoutdelay。“Takethetrain，Joe，andcomealong，“hewroteearlyinDecember。AndwejudgefromthefollowingthatJoehaddecidedtocome。
ToW。D。Howells，inBoston：
HARTFORD，Dec。23，”89。
DEARHOWELLS，——Themagazinecamelastnight，andtheStudynoticeisjustgreat。Thesatisfactionitaffordsuscouldnotbemoreprodigiousifthebookdeservedeverywordofit；andmaybeitdoes；Ihopeitdoes，thoughofcourseIcan”trealizeitandbelieveit。ButIamyourgratefulservant，anywayandalways。
IamgoingtoreadtotheCadetsatWestPointJan。11。IgofromheretoNewYorkthe9th，anduptothePointthe11th。Can”tyougowithme？
It”sgreatfun。I”mgoingtoreadthepassagesinthe“Yankee“inwhichtheYankee”sWestPointcadetsfigure——andshallcovertlyworkinalectureonaristocracytothoseboys。IamtobetheguestoftheSuperintendent，butifyouwillgoIwillshakehimandwewillgotothehotel。Heisasplendidfellow，andIknowhimwellenoughtotakethatliberty。
Andwon”tyougivemeadayortwo”svisittowardtheendofJanuary？
Fortworeasons：themachinewillbeatworkagainbythattime，andwewanttoheartherestofthedream-story；Mrs。Clemenskeepsspeakingaboutitandhankeringforit。AndwecanhaveJoeGoodmanonhandagainbythattime，andIwantyoutogettoknowhimthoroughly。It”swellworthit。IamgoingtorunupandstayovernightwithyouassoonasI
cangetachance。
Weareinthefullrushoftheholidaysnow，andanawfulrushitis，too。Yououghttohavebeenheretheotherday，tomakethatdayperfectandcomplete。AllaloneImanagedtoinflictagoniesonMrs：Clemens，whereasIwasexpectingnothingbutpraises。Imadeapartycallthedayaftertheparty——andcalledtheladydownfrombreakfasttoreceiveit。
Ithenleftthereandcalledonanewbride，whoreceivedmeinherdressing-gown；andasthingswentprettywell，Istayedtoluncheon。
Theerrorherewas，thattheappointedreception-hourwas3intheafternoon，andnotatthebride”shousebutatheraunt”sinanotherpartofthetown。However，asImeantwell，noneofthesedisastersdistressedme。
YrseverMARK。
TheYankeedidnotfindaveryheartywelcomeinEngland。EnglishreadersdidnotfancyanyburlesqueoftheirArthuriantales，orAmericanstricturesontheirinstitutions。MarkTwain”spublishershadfearedthis，andaskedthatthestorybeespeciallyeditedfortheEnglishedition。Clemens，however，wouldnotlistentoanysuggestionsofthesort。
ToMessrs。Chatto&Windus，inLondon，Eng。：
GENTLEMEN，——ConcerningTheYankee，Ihavealreadyrevisedthestorytwice；andithasbeenreadcriticallybyW。D。HowellsandEdmundClarenceStedman，andmywifehascausedmetostrikeoutseveralpassagesthathavebeenbroughttoherattention，andtosoftenothers。
Furthermore，IhavereadchaptersofthebookinpublicwhereEnglishmenwerepresentandhaveprofitedbytheirsuggestions。
Now，mindyou，IhavetakenallthispainsbecauseIwantedtosayaYankeemechanic”ssayagainstmonarchyanditsseveralnaturalprops，andyetmakeabookwhichyouwouldbewillingtoprintexactlyasitcomestoyou，withoutalteringaword。
Wearespokenof(byEnglishmen)asathin-skinnedpeople。Itisyouwhoarethin-skinned。AnEnglishmanmaywritewiththemostbrutalfranknessaboutanymanorinstitutionamongusandwerepublishhimwithoutdreamingofalteringalineoraword。ButEnglandcannotstandthatkindofabookwrittenaboutherself。ItisEnglandthatisthin-
skinned。ItcausethmetosmilewhenIreadthemodificationsofmylanguagewhichhavebeenmadeinmyEnglisheditionstofitthemforthesensitiveEnglishpalate。
Now，asIsay，Ihavetakenlaboriouspainstosotrimthisbookofoffensethatyoumightnotlackthenervetoprintitjustasitstands。
IamgoingtogettheproofstoyoujustasearlyasIcan。Iwantyoutoreaditcarefully。Ifyoucanpublishitwithoutalteringasingleword，goahead。Otherwise，pleasehandittoJ。R。Osgoodintimeforhimtohaveitpublishedatmyexpense。
Thisisimportant，forthereasonthatthebookwasnotwrittenforAmerica；itwaswrittenforEngland。SomanyEnglishmenhavedonetheirsincerestbesttoteachussomethingforourbettermentthatitseemstomehightimethatsomeofusshouldsubstantiallyrecognizethegoodintentbytryingtopryuptheEnglishnationtoalittlehigherlevelofmanhoodinturn。
Verytrulyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。
TheEnglishnation，atleastaconsiderableportionofit，didnotwishtobe“prieduptoahigherlevelofmanhood“byaConnecticutYankee。
Thepapersprettygenerallydenouncedthebookascoarse；infact，avulgartravesty。SomeofthecriticsconcludedthatEngland，afterall，hadmadeamistakeinadmiringMarkTwain。Clemensstoodthisforatimeandthenseemstohavedecidedthatsomethingshouldbedone。OneoftheforemostofEnglishcriticswashisfriendandadmirer；hewouldstatethecasetohimfullyandinvitehisassistance。
ToAndrewLang，inLondon：
[Firstpagemissing。]
1889
Theyvotebutdonotprint。Theheadtellsyouprettypromptlywhetherthefoodissatisfactoryornot；andeverybodyhears，andthinksthewholemanhasspoken。Itisadelusion。Onlyhistasteandhissmellhavebeenheardfrom——important，both，inaway，butthesedonotbuilduptheman；andpreservehislifeandfortifyit。
Thelittlechildispermittedtolabelitsdrawings“Thisisacowthisisahorse，“andsoon。Thisprotectsthechild。Itsavesitfromthesorrowandwrongofhearingitscowsanditshorsescriticizedaskangaroosandworkbenches。Amanwhoiswhite-washingafenceisdoingausefulthing，soalsoisthemanwhoisadorningarichman”shousewithcostlyfrescoes；andallofusaresaneenoughtojudgetheseperformancesbystandardspropertoeach。Now，then，tobefair，anauthoroughttobeallowedtoputuponhisbookanexplanatoryline：
“ThisiswrittenfortheHead；“ThisiswrittenfortheBellyandtheMembers。”Andthecriticoughttoholdhimselfinhonorboundtoputawayfromhimhisancienthabitofjudgingallbooksbyonestandard，andthenceforthfollowafairercourse。
Thecriticassumes，everytime，thatifabookdoesn”tmeetthecultivated-classstandard，itisn”tvaluable。Letusapplyhislawallaround：forifitissoundinthecaseofnovels，narratives，pictures，andsuchthings，itiscertainlysoundandapplicabletoallthestepswhichleaduptocultureandmakeculturepossible。Itcondemnsthespellingbook，foraspellingbookisofnousetoapersonofculture；
itcondemnsallschoolbooksandallschoolswhichliebetweenthechild”sprimerandGreek，andbetweentheinfantschoolandtheuniversity；itcondemnsalltheroundsofartwhichliebetweenthecheapterracottagroupsandtheVenusdeMedici，andbetweenthechromoandtheTransfiguration；itrequiresWhitcombRileytosingnomoretillhecansinglikeShakespeare，anditforbidsallamateurmusicandwillgrantitssanctiontonothingbelowthe“classic。”
Isthisanextravagantstatement？No，itisamerestatementoffact。
Itisthefactitselfthatisextravagantandgrotesque。Andwhatistheresult？This——anditissufficientlycurious：thecritichasactuallyimposedupontheworldthesuperstitionthatapaintingbyRaphaelismorevaluabletothecivilizationsoftheearththanisachromo；andtheaugustoperathanthehurdy-gurdyandthevillagers”singingsociety；andHomerthanthelittleeverybody”s-poetwhoserhymesareinallmouthstodayandwillbeinnobody”smouthnextgeneration；andtheLatinclassicsthanKipling”sfar-reachingbugle-note；andJonathanEdwardsthantheSalvationArmy；andtheVenusdeMedicithantheplaster-castpeddler；thesuperstition，inaword，thatthevastandawfulcometthattrailsitscoldlustrethroughtheremoteabyssesofspaceonceacenturyandinterestsandinstructsacultivatedhandfulofastronomersisworthmoretotheworldthanthesunwhichwarmsandcheersallthenationseverydayandmakesthecropstogrow。
Ifacriticshouldstartareligionitwouldnothaveanyobjectbuttoconvertangels：andtheywouldn”tneedit。Thethintopcrustofhumanity——thecultivated——areworthpacifying，worthpleasing，worthcoddling，worthnourishingandpreservingwithdaintiesanddelicacies，itistrue；buttobecaterertothatlittlefactionisnoverydignifiedorvaluableoccupation，itseemstome；itismerelyfeedingtheover-
fed，andtheremustbesmallsatisfactioninthat。Itisnotthatlittleminoritywhoarealreadysavedthatarebestworthtryingtouplift，Ishouldthink，butthemightymassoftheuncultivatedwhoareunderneath。ThatmasswillneverseetheOldMasters——thatsightisforthefew；butthechromomakercanliftthemallonestepupwardtowardappreciationofart；theycannothavetheopera，butthehurdy-gurdyandthesingingclassliftthemalittlewaytowardthatfarlight；theywillneverknowHomer，butthepassingrhymesteroftheirdayleavesthemhigherthanhefoundthem；theymayneverevenhearoftheLatinclassics，buttheywillstrikestepwithKipling”sdrum-beat，andtheywillmarch；forallJonathanEdwards”shelptheywoulddieintheirslums，buttheSalvationArmywillbeguilesomeofthemuptopureairandacleanerlife；theyknownosculpture，theVenusisnotevenanametothem，buttheyareagradehigherinthescaleofcivilizationbytheministrationsoftheplaster-castthantheywerebeforeittookitsplaceuponthenmantelandmadeitbeautifultotheirunexactingeyes。
IndeedIhavebeenmisjudged，fromtheveryfirst。Ihavenevertriedinevenonesingleinstance，tohelpcultivatethecultivatedclasses。
Iwasnotequippedforit，eitherbynativegiftsortraining。AndI
neverhadanyambitioninthatdirection，butalwayshuntedforbiggergame——themasses。Ihaveseldomdeliberatelytriedtoinstructthem，buthavedonemybesttoentertainthem。Tosimplyamusethemwouldhavesatisfiedmydearestambitionatanytime；fortheycouldgetinstructionelsewhere，andIhadtwochancestohelptotheteacher”sone：foramusementisagoodpreparationforstudyandagoodhealeroffatigueafterit。Myaudienceisdumb，ithasnovoiceinprint，andsoIcannotknowwhetherIhavewonitsapprobationoronlygotitscensure。
Yes，yousee，IhavealwayscateredfortheBellyandtheMembers，buthavebeenservedliketheothers——criticizedfromtheculture-standard——tomysorrowandpain；because，honestly，Inevercaredwhatbecameoftheculturedclasses；theycouldgotothetheatreandtheopera——theyhadnouseformeandthemelodeon。
AndnowatlastIarriveatmyobjectandtendermypetition，makingsupplicationtothiseffect：thatthecriticsadoptarulerecognizingtheBellyandtheMembers，andformulateastandardwherebyworkdoneforthemshallbejudged。Helpme，Mr。Lang；novoicecanreachfurtherthanyoursinacaseofthiskind，orcarrygreaterweightofauthority。
Lang”sreplywasanarticleintheIllustratedLondonNewson“TheArtofMarkTwain。”LanghadnoadmirationtoexpressfortheYankee，whichheconfessedhehadnotcaredtoread，butheglorifiedHuckFinntothehighest。“Icanneverforget，norbeungratefulfortheexquisitepleasurewithwhichIreadHuckleberryFinnforthefirsttime，yearsago，“hewrote；“Ireaditagainlastnight，desertingKenilworthforHuck。IneverlaiditdowntillI
hadfinishedit。”
LangclosedhisarticlebyreferringtothestoryofHuckasthe“greatAmericannovelwhichhadescapedtheeyesofthosewhowatchedtoseethisnewplanetswimintotheirken。”
LETTERS，1890，CHIEFLYTOJOS。T。GOODMAN。THEGREATMACHINEENTERPRISE
Dr。JohnBrown”sson，whomMarkTwainandhiswifehadknownin1873
as“Jock，“sentcopiesofDr。JohnBrownandHisSisterIsabella，byE。T。McLaren。ItwasagiftappreciatedintheClemenshome。
ToMr。JohnBrown，inEdinburgh，Scotland：
HARTFORD，Feby11，1890。
DEARMR。BROWN，——Bothcopiescame，andwearereadingandre-readingtheone，andlendingtheother，tooldtimeadorersof“RabandhisFriends。”
Itisanexquisitebook；theperfectionofliteraryworkmanship。Itsaysineveryline，“Don”tlookatme，lookathim“——andonetriestobegoodandobey；butthecharmofthepainterissostrongthatonecan”tkeephisentireattentiononthedevelopingportrait，butmuststealside-
glimpsesoftheartist，andtrytodivinethetrickofherfelicitousbrush。Inthisbookthedoctorlivesandmovesjustashewas。Hewasthemostextensiveslave-holderofhistime，andthekindest；andyethediedwithoutsettingoneofhisbondmenfree。Weallsendourvery，verykindestregards。
SincerelyyoursS。L。CLEMENS。
IfMarkTwainhadbeenlessinterestedinthetype-settingmachinehemightpossiblyhavefoundaprofitthatwinterintheoldSellersplay，whichhehadwrittenwithHowellssevenyearsbefore。TheplayhadeventuallybeenproducedattheLyceumTheatreinNewYork，withA。P。Burbankintheleadingrole，andClemensandHowellsasfinancialbackers。Butitwasalosinginvestment，nordiditpayanybetterwhenClemensfinallysentBurbankwithitontheroad。
Now，however，JamesA。Herne，awell-knownactorandplaywright，becameinterestedintheidea，afteradiscussionofthematterwithHowells，andthereseemedaprobabilitythatwithchangesmadeunderHerne”sadvisementtheplaymightbemadesensibleandsuccessful。
ButMarkTwain”sgreaterinterestwasnowallinthetype-machine，andcertainlyhehadnomoneytoputintoanyotherventure。HisnextlettertoGoodmanisilluminating——theurgencyofhisneedforfundsopposedtothatconscientiousnesswhichwasoneofthemostpositiveforcesofMarkTwain”sbodyspiritual。TheMr。ArnotofthisletterwasanElmiracapitalist。