T155

第19章

WehavenotheardofJoeGoodmansincethetryingdaysof”90and”91，whenhewasseekingtopromotethefortunesofthetype-settingmachine。Goodman，meantime，whohadinturnbeenminer，printer，publisher，andfarmer；hadbeendevotinghisenergiesandgeniustosomethingentirelynew：hehadbeentranslatingtheprehistoricMayaninscriptionsofYucatan，andwithsuchsuccessthathisworkwaselaboratelypublishedbyanassociationofBritishscientists。

InduetimeacopyofthispublicationcametoClemens，whowasfullofadmirationofthegreatachievement。

ToJ。T。Goodman，inCalifornia：

RIVERDALE-ON-THE-HUDSON，June13，”02。

DEARJOE，——Iamlostinreverenceandadmiration！Itisnowtwenty-fourhoursthatIhavebeentryingtocooldownandcontemplatewithquietbloodthisextraordinaryspectacleofenergy，industry，perseverance，pluck，analyticalgenius，penetration，thisirruptionofthundersandfierysplendorsfromafairandflowerymountainthatnobodyhadsupposedwasasleepingvolcano，butIseemtobeasexcitedasever。YesterdayIreadasmuchashalfofthebook，notunderstandingawordbutenchantednevertheless——partlybythewonderofitall，thestudy，theerudition，theincrediblelabor，themodesty，thedignity，themajesticexclusivenessofthefieldanditsloftyremotenessfromthingsandcontactssordidandmeanandearthy，andpartlybythegraceandbeautyandlimpidityofthebook”sunsurpassableEnglish。Science，alwaysgreatandworshipful，goesofteninhoddengrey，butyouhaveclothedheringarmentsmeetforherhighdegree。

Youthinkyouget“poorpay“foryourtwentyyears？No，ohno。YouhavelivedinaparadiseoftheintellectwhoselightestjoyswerebeyondthereachofthelongestpurseinChristendom，youhavehaddailyandnightlyemancipationfromtheworld”sslaveriesandgrossinterests，youhavereceivedabiggerwagethananymanintheland，youhavedreamedasplendiddreamandhaditcometrue，andto-dayyoucouldnotaffordtotradefortuneswithanybody——notevenwithanotherscientist，forhemustdividehisspoilwithhisguild，whereasessentiallytheworldyouhavediscoveredisyourownandmustremainso。

Itisalljustmagnificent，Joe！AndnooneisprouderorgladderthanYoursalwaysMARK。

AtYorkHarbor，Maine，wheretheyhadtakenacottageforthesummer——aprettyplace，withHowellsnotfardistant，atKitteryPoint——Mrs。Clemens”shealthgaveway。Thiswasataperiodwhentelegraphiccommunicationwasfarfromreliable。Theold-timeWesternUnionhadfallenfromgrace；its“system“nolongerjustifiedthebestsignificanceofthatword。Thenewdayofreorganizationwascoming，anditwastimeforit。MarkTwain”sletterconcerningtheserviceatYorkHarborwouldhardlybewarrantedtoday，butthosewhorememberconditionsofthatearliertimewillagreethatitwasjustifiedthen，andwillappreciateitssatire。

TothePresidentofTheWesternUnion，inNewYork：

“THEPINES“

YORKHARBOR，MAINE。

DEARSIR，——Idesiretomakeacomplaint，andIbringittoyou，theheadofthecompany，becausebyexperienceIknowbetterthantocarryittoasubordinate。

Ihavebeenhereamonthandahalf，andbytestimonyoffriends，reinforcedbypersonalexperienceInowfeelqualifiedtoclaimasanestablishedfactthatthetelegraphicservicehereistheworstintheworldexceptthatBoston。

TheseservicesareactuallyslowerthanwastheNewYorkandHartfordserviceinthedayswhenIlastcomplainedtoyou——whichwasfifteenoreighteenyearsago，whentelegraphictimeandtraintimebetweenthementionedpointswasexactlythesame，to-wit，threehoursandahalf。

Sixdaysago——itwasthatrawdaywhichprovokedsomuchcomment——mydaughterwasonherwayupfromNewYork，andatnoonshetelegraphedmefromNewHavenaskingthatImeetherwithacloakatPortsmouth。Hertelegramreachedmefourhoursandaquarterlater——just15minutestoolateformetocatchmytrainandmeether。

Ijudgethatthetelegramtraveledabout200miles。ItisthebesttelegraphicworkIhaveseensinceIhavebeenhere，andIammentioningitinthisplacenotasacomplaintbutasacompliment。Ithinkacomplimentoughtalwaystoprecedeacomplaint，whereoneispossible，becauseitsoftensresentmentandinsuresforthecomplaintacourteousandgentlereception。

Still，thereisadetailortwoconnectedwiththismatterwhichoughtperhapstobementioned。Andnow，havingsmoothedthewaywiththecompliment，Iwillventurethem。TheheadcorpseintheYorkHarborofficesentmethattelegramaltho(1)heknewitwouldreachmetoolatetobeofanyvalue；(2)also，thathewasgoingtosendittomebyhisboy；(3)thattheboywouldnottakethetrolleyandcomethe2milesin12minutes，butwouldwalk；(4)thathewouldbetwohoursandaquarterontheroad；(5)andthathewouldcollect25centsfortransportation，foratelegramwhichtheheknewtobeworthlessbeforehestartedit。

FromthesedataIinferthattheWesternUnionowesme75cents；thatistosay，theamountpaidforcombinedwireandlandtransportation——

arecoupprovidedforintheprintedparagraphwhichheadsthetelegraph-

blank。

BythesehumaneandChristianstageswenowarriveatthecomplaintproper。Wehavehadagravecaseofillnessinthefamily，andarelativewascomingsomesixhundredmilestohelpinthesick-roomduringtheconvalescingperiod。Itwasananxioustime，ofcourse，andIwroteandaskedtobenotifiedastothehouroftheexpectedarrivalofthisrelativeinBostonorinYorkHarbor。Beingafraidofthetelegraph——whichIthinkoughtnottobeusedintimesofhurryandemergency——Iaskedthatthedesiredmessagebebroughttomebysomeswiftmethodoftransportation。Bythemilkman，ifhewascomingthisway。Buttherearealwayspeoplewhothinktheyknowmorethanyoudo，especiallyyoungpeople；soofcoursetheyoungfellowinchargeofthisladyusedthetelegraph。AndatBoston，ofallplaces！ExceptYorkHarbor。

Theresultwasasusual；letmeemployastatelierandexacterterm，andsay，historical。

Thedispatchwashandedtotheh。c。oftheBostonofficeat9thismorning。Itsaid，“ShallbringA。S。toyouelevenforty-fivethismorning。”Thedistancetraveledbythedispatchisfortyorfiftymiles，Isuppose，asthetrain-timeisfiveminutesshortoftwohours，andthetrainsaresoslowthattheycan”tgiveaW。U。telegramtwohoursandtwentyminutesstartandovertakeit。

AsIhavesaid，thedispatchwashandedinatBostonat9。TheexpectedvisitorsleftBostonat9。40，andreachedmyhouseat12noon，beatingthetelegram2solidhours，and5minutesover。

Theboybroughtthetelegram。Itwasbald-headedwithage，butstilllegible。Theboywasprostratewithtravelandexposure，butstillalive，andIwentouttocondolewithhimandgethislastwishesandsendfortheambulance。Hewaswaitingtocollecttransportationbeforeturninghispassingspirittolessseriousaffairs。Ifoundhimstrangelyintelligent，consideringhisconditionandwhereheisgettinghistraining。Iaskedhimatwhathourthetelegramwashandedtotheh。c。inBoston。Heansweredbrightly，thathedidn”tknow。

Iexaminedtheblank，andsureenoughthewaryBostonh。c。hadthoughtfullyconcealedthatstatistic。IaskedhimatwhathourithadstartedfromBoston。Heansweredupasbrightlyasever，andsaidhedidn”tknow。

Iexaminedtheblank，andsureenoughtheBostonh。c。hadleftthatstatisticoutinthecold，too。Infactitturnedouttobeanofficialconcealment——noblankwasprovidedforitsexposure。Andnonerequiredbythelaw，Isuppose。“Itisagoodone-sidedidea，“Iremarked；

“Theycantakeyourmoneyandshipyourtelegramnextyeariftheywantto——you”venoredress。Thelawoughttoextendtheprivilegetoallofus。”

Theboylookeduponmecoldly。

IaskedhimwhenthetelegramreachedYorkHarbor。Hepointedtosomefiguresfollowingthesignatureatthebottomoftheblank”12。14。

“Isaiditwasnow1。45andasked——

“Doyoumeanthatitreachedyourmorgueanhourandahalfago？“

Henoddedassent。

“Itwasatthattimehalfanhourtoolatetobeofanyusetome，ifI

wantedtogoandmeetmypeople——whichwasthecase——forbythewordingofthemessageyoucanseethattheyweretoarriveatthestationat11。45。Whydid，yourh。c。sendmethisuselessmessage？Can”theread？

Ishedead？“

“It”stherules。”

“No，thatdoesnotaccountforit。Wouldhehavesentitifithadbeenthreeyearsold，Iinthemeantimedeceased，andheawareofit？“

Theboydidn”tknow。

“Because，youknow，arulewhichrequiredhimtoforwardtothecemeteryto-dayadispatchduethreeyearsago，wouldbeasgoodaruleasonewhichshouldrequirehimtoforwardatelegramtometo-daywhichheknewhadlostallitsvalueanhourortwobeforehestartedit。Theconstructionofsucharulewoulddiscreditanidiot；infactanidiot——

ImeanacommonordinaryChristianidiot，youunderstand——wouldbeashamedofit，andforthesakeofhisreputationwouldn”tmakeit。Whatdoyouthink？“

Herepliedwithmuchnaturalbrilliancythathewasn”tpaidforthinking。

ThisgavemeabetteropinionofthecommercialintelligencepervadinghismorguethanIhadhadbefore；italsosoftenedmyfeelingstowardhim，andalsomytone，whichhadhithertobeentingedwithbitterness。

“Letbygonesbebygones，“Isaid，gently，“weareallerringcreatures，andmainlyidiots，butGodmadeussoanditisdangeroustocriticise。”

SincerelyS。L。CLEMENS。

OnedaytherearrivedfromEuropeacallerwithaletterofintroductionfromElizabeth，QueenofRumania，betterknownasCarmenSylva。ThevisitorwasMadamHartwig，formerlyanAmericangirl，returningnow，becauseofreducedfortunes，tofindprofitableemploymentinherownland。Herhusband，amanofhighprinciple，haddeclinedtotakepartinan“affairofhonor，“asrecognizedbytheContinentalcode；hencehisruin。ElizabethofRumaniawasoneofthemostlovedandrespectedofEuropeanqueensandanauthorofdistinction。MarkTwainhadknownherinVienna。Herlettertohimandhisownlettertothepublic(perhapsasecondone，foritsdateistwoyearslater)followherewith。

FromCarmenSylvatoMarkTwain：

BUCAREST，May9，1902。

HONOREDMASTER，——IfIventuretoaddressyouonbehalfofapoorlady，whoisstrandedinBucarestIhopenottobetoodisagreeable。

Mrs。HartwigleftAmericaattheageoffourteeninordertolearntosingwhichshehasdonethoroughly。Herhusbandhadquiteabrilliantsituationheretillherefusedtopartake”dansuneafaireonereuse”，soitseems。Theyhaven”tapennyandeachofthemmusttrytofindaliving。Sheisveryniceandpleasantandherschoolissogoodthatshemostcertainlycangiveexcellentsinginglessons。

IbegyourpardonforbeingaboretooneIsodeeplyloveandadmire，towhomIowedaysanddaysofforgetfulnessofselfandtroublesandtheintensestofalljoys：Hero-worship！Peopledon”talwaysrealizewhatahappinessthatis！Godblessyouforeverybeautifulthoughtyoupouredintomytiredheartandforeverysmileonawearyway！

CARMENSYLVA。

FromMarkTwaintothePublic：

Nov。16，”04。

TOWHOMITMAYCONCERN，——IdesiretorecommendMadameHartwigtomyfriendsandthepublicasateacherofsingingandasaconcert-vocalist。

ShehaslivedforfifteenyearsatthecourtofRoumania，andshebroughtwithhertoAmericaanautographletterinwhichherMajestytheQueenofRoumaniacordiallycertifiedhertomeasbeinganaccomplishedandgiftedsingerandteacherofsinging，andexpressedawarmhopethatherprofessionalventureamonguswouldmeetwithsuccess；throughabsenceinEuropeIhavehadnoopportunitytotestthevalidityoftheQueen”sjudgmentinthematter，butthatjudgmentistheutteranceofanentirelycompetentauthority——thebestthatoccupiesathrone，andasgoodasanythatsitselsewhere，asthemusicalworldwellknows——andthereforebackitwithouthesitation，andendorseitwithconfidence。

IwillexplainthatthereasonherMajestytriedtodoherfriendafriendlyofficethroughmeinsteadofthroughsomeoneelsewas，notthatIwasparticularlytherightorbestpersonfortheoffice，butbecauseI

wasnotastranger。ItistruethatIamastrangertosomeofthemonarchs——mainlythroughtheirneglectoftheiropportunities——butsuchisnotthecaseinthepresentinstance。Thelatterfactisahighcomplimenttome，andperhapsIoughttoconcealit。Somepeoplewould。

MARKTWAIN。

Mrs。Clemens”simprovementwasscarcelyperceptible。ItwasnotuntilOctoberthattheywereabletoremovehertoRiverdale，andthenonlyinaspeciallyarrangedinvalid-car。Attheendofthelongjourneyshewascarriedtoherroomanddidnotleaveitagainformanymonths。

ToRev。J。H。Twichell，inHartford：

RIVERDALE，N。Y。，Oct。31，”02。

DEARJOE，——ItistendayssinceSusy[Twichell]wrotethatyouwerelaidupwithasprainedshoulder，sincewhichtimewehavehadnonewsaboutit。Ihopethatnonewsisgoodnews，accordingtotheproverb；still，authoritativeconfirmationofitwillbegladlyreceivedinthisfamily，ifsomeofyouwillfurnishit。Moreover，Ishouldliketoknowhowandwhereithappened。Inthepulpit，aslikeasnot，otherwiseyouwouldnotbetakingsomuchpainstoconcealit。Thisisnotamalicioussuggestion，andnotapersonally-inventedone：youtoldmeyourself，once，thatyouthrewartificialpowerandimpressivenessintoplacesinyoursermonswhereneeded，by“bangingthebible“——(yourownwords。)

Youhavereachedatimeoflifewhenitisnotwisetotaketheserisks。

Youwouldbetterjumparound。Weallhavetochangeourmethodsastheinfirmitiesofagecreepuponus。Jumpingaroundwillbeimpressivenow，whereasbeforeyouweregrayitwouldhaveexcitedremark。

PoorLivydragsalongdrearily。Itmustbehardtimesforthatturbulentspirit。Itwillbealongtimebeforesheisonherfeetagain。Itisamostpatheticcase。IwishIcouldtransferittomyself。Betweenrippingandragingandsmokingandreading，Icouldgetagooddealofaholidayoutofit。

Clararunsthehousesmoothlyandcapably。Sheisdischargingatrial-

cooktodayandhiringanother。

Apoweroflovetoyouall！

MARK。

SuchwasthestateofMrs。Clemens”shealththatvisitorswereexcludedfromthesickroom，andevenClemenshimselfwasallowedtoseehernomorethanafewmomentsatatime。Thesebrief，preciousvisitswerethechiefinterestsofhislongdays。Occasionallyhewasallowedtosendherafewlines，reportinghisoccupations，andtheseshewassometimespermittedtoanswer。Onlyoneofhisnoteshasbeenpreserved，writtenafteraday，nowrare，ofliteraryeffort。Itssignature，theletterY，standsfor“Youth，“alwayshernameforhim。

ToMrs。Clemens：

DEARHEART，——I”vedoneanotherfullday”swork，andfinishedbefore4。

Ihavebeenreadinganddozingsinceandwouldhavehadarealsleepafewminutesagobutforanincursiontobringmeacoupleofunimportantletters。I”vestucktothebedalldayandamgettingbackmylostground。NexttimeIwillbestrictlycarefulandmakemyvisitveryshort——justakissandarush。Thankyouforyourdear，dearnote；youwhoaremyownandonlysweetheart。

Sleepwell！

Y。

XLII

LETTERSOF1903。TOVARIOUSPERSONS。HARDDAYSATRIVERDALE。

LASTSUMMERATELMIRA。THERETURNTOITALY

ThereadermayperhapsrecallthatH。H。Rogers，somefiveorsixyearsearlier，hadtakenchargeofthefortunesofHelenKeller，makingitpossibleforhertocompletehereducation。Helenhadnowwrittenherfirstbook——awonderfulbook——”TheStoryofMyLife”，andithadbeensuccessfullypublished。ForalatergenerationitmaybepropertoexplainthattheMissSullivan，laterMrs。Macy，mentionedintheletterwhichfollows，wasthenoblewomanwhohaddevotedherlifetotheenlightenmentofthisblind，dumbgirl——hadmadeitpossibleforhertospeakandunderstand，and，indeed，toseewiththeeyesofluminousimagination。

Thecaseofplagiarismmentionedinthisletterisnotnowremembered，anddoesnotmatter，butitfurnishedatextforMarkTwain，whoseremarksonthesubjectingeneralareeminentlyworthwhile。

ToHelenKeller，inWrentham，Mass。：

RIVERDALE-ON-THE-HUDSON，ST。PATRICK”SDAY，”03。

DEARHELEN，——ImuststealhalfamomentfrommyworktosayhowgladIamtohaveyourbook，andhowhighlyIvalueit，bothforitsownsakeandasaremembrancesofanaffectionatefriendshipwhichhassubsistedbetweenusfornineyearswithoutabreak，andwithoutasingleactofviolencethatIcancalltomind。Isupposethereisnothinglikeitinheaven；andnotlikelytobe，untilwegetthereandshowoff。Ioftenthinkofitwithlonging，andhowthey”llsay，“Theretheycome——sitdowninfront！“Iampracticingwithatinhalo。Youdothesame。IwasatHenryRogers”slastnight，andofcoursewetalkedofyou。Heisnotatallwell；youwillnotliketohearthat；butlikeyouandme，heisjustaslovelyasever。

Iamcharmedwithyourbook-enchanted。Youareawonderfulcreature，themostwonderfulintheworld——youandyourotherhalftogether——

MissSullivan，Imean，forittookthepairofyoutomakeacompleteandperfectwhole。Howshestandsoutinherletters！herbrilliancy，penetration，originality，wisdom，character，andthefineliterarycompetenciesofherpen——theyareallthere。

Oh，dearme，howunspeakablyfunnyandowlishlyidioticandgrotesquewasthat“plagiarism“farce！Asiftherewasmuchofanythinginanyhumanutterance，oralorwritten，exceptplagiarism！Thekernal，thesoul——letusgofurtherandsaythesubstance，thebulk，theactualandvaluablematerialofallhumanutterances——isplagiarism。Forsubstantiallyallideasaresecond-hand，consciouslyandunconsciouslydrawnfromamillionoutsidesources，anddailyusedbythegarnererwithaprideandsatisfactionbornofthesuperstitionthatheoriginatedthem；whereasthereisnotaragoforiginalityaboutthemanywhereexceptthelittlediscolorationtheygetfromhismentalandmoralcalibreandhistemperament，andwhichisrevealedincharacteristicsofphrasing。Whenagreatoratormakesagreatspeechyouarelisteningtotencenturiesandtenthousandmen——butwecallithisspeech，andreallysomeexceedinglysmallportionofitishis。Butnotenoughtosignify。ItismerelyaWaterloo。ItisWellington”sbattle，insomedegree，andwecallithis；butthereareothersthatcontributed。Ittakesathousandmentoinventatelegraph，orasteamengine，oraphonograph，oraphotograph，oratelephoneoranyotherimportantthing——andthelastmangetsthecreditandweforgettheothers。Headdedhislittlemite——thatisallhedid。Theseobjectlessonsshouldteachusthatninety-ninepartsofallthingsthatproceedfromtheintellectareplagiarisms，pureandsimple；andthelessonoughttomakeusmodest。Butnothingcandothat。

Thenwhydon”tweunwittinglyreproducethephrasingofastory，aswellasthestoryitself？Itcanhardlyhappen——totheextentoffiftywordsexceptinthecaseofachild：itsmemory-tabletisnotlumberedwithimpressions，andtheactuallanguagecanhavegraving-roomthere，andpreservethelanguageayearortwo，butagrownperson”smemory-tabletisapalimpsest，withhardlyabarespaceuponwhichtoengraveaphrase。

Itmustbeaveryrarethingthatawholepagegetssosharplyprinteduponaman”smind，byasinglereading，thatitwillstaylongenoughtoturnupsometimeorotherandbemistakenbyhimforhisown。Nodoubtweareconstantlylitteringourliteraturewithdisconnectedsentencesborrowedfrombooksatsomeunrememberedtimeandnowimaginedtobeourown，butthatisaboutthemostwecando。In1866IreadDr。Holmes”spoems，intheSandwichIslands。AyearandahalflaterIstolehisdictation，withoutknowingit，andusedittodedicatemy“InnocentsAbroad“with。ThenyearsafterwardsIwastalkingwithDr。Holmesaboutit。Hewasnotanignorantass——no，nothe：hewasnotacollectionofdecayedhumanturnips，likeyour“PlagiarismCourt；“andsowhenIsaid，“IknownowwhereIstoleit，butwhomdidyoustealitfrom，“hesaid，“Idon”tremember；IonlyknowIstoleitfromsomebody，becauseIhaveneveroriginatedanythingaltogethermyself，normetanybodywhohad。”

Tothinkofthosesolemndonkeysbreakingalittlechild”sheartwiththeirignorantrubbishaboutplagiarism！Icouldn”tsleepforblasphemingaboutitlastnight。Why，theirwholelives，theirwholehistories，alltheirlearning，alltheirthoughts，alltheiropinionswereonesolidruckofplagiarism，andtheydidn”tknowitandneversuspectedit。Agangofdullandhoarypiratespiouslysettingthemselvesthetaskofdiscipliningandpurifyingakittenthattheythinkthey”vecaughtfilchingachop！Oh，dam——

Butyoufinishit，dear，Iamrunningshortofvocabularytoday。Everlovinglyyourfriend，MARK。

(EditedandmodifiedbyClaraClemens，deputytohermother，whoformorethan7monthshasbeenillinbedandunabletoexerciseherofficialfunction。)

TheburdenoftheClemenshouseholdhadfallenalmostentirelyuponClaraClemens。Inadditiontosupervisingitscustomaryaffairs，shealsoshoulderedtheresponsibilityofanunusualcombinationofmisfortunes，forbesidesthecriticalconditionofhermother，hersister，JeanClemens，wasdownwithpneumonia，nowordofwhichmustcometoMrs。Clemens。Certainlyitwasadifficultposition。Insomeaccountofit，whichhesetdownlater，Clemenswrote：“ItwasfortunateforusallthatClara”sreputationfortruthfulnesswassowellestablishedinhermother”smind。Itwasourdailyprotectionfromdisaster。ThemotherneverdoubtedClara”sword。Claracouldtellherlargeimprobabilitieswithoutexcitinganysuspicion，whereasifItriedtomarketevenasmallandsimpleonethecasewouldhavebeendifferent。IwasneverabletogetareputationlikeClara”s。”

TheaccumulationofphysicalailmentsintheClemenshomehadsomewhatmodifiedMarkTwain”snotionofmedicalpractice。Hewasnolongerradical；hehadbecomeeclectic。ItisagooddealofaconcessionthathemakestoTwichell，afterthoseearlierlettersfromSweden，inwhichosteopathyhadbeenheraldedastheanodyneforallhumanills。

ToRev。J。H。Twichell，inHartford：

DEARJOE，——Livydoesreallymakealittleprogressthesepast3or4

days，progresswhichisvisibletoeventheuntrainedeye。Thephysiciansaredoinggoodworkwithher，butmynotionis，thatnoartofhealingisthebestforallills。Ishoulddistributetheailmentsaround：surgerycasestothesurgeons；lupustotheactinic-rayspecialist；nervousprostrationtotheChristianScientist；mostillstotheallopathandthehomeopath；(inmyownparticularcase)rheumatism，goutandbronchialattackstotheosteopathist。

Mr。Rogerswastosailsouthwardthismorning——andhereisthisweather！

Iamsorry。Ithinkit”saquestionifhegetsawaytomorrow。

YsEverMARK。

ItwasthroughJ。Y。M。MacAlister，towhomthenextletteriswritten，thatMarkTwainhadbecomeassociatedwiththePlasmonCompany，whichexplainsthereferenceto“shares。”HehadseenmuchofMacAlisterduringthewinteratTedworthSquare，andhadgrownfondofhim。Itisacharacteristicletter，andoneofinterestingfact。

ToJ。Y。M。MacAlister，inLondon：

RIVERDALE，NEWYORK。

April，7，”03。

DEARMACALISTER，——Yoursarrivedlastnight，andGodknowsIwasgladtogetit，forIwasafraidIhadblunderedintoanoffenceinsomewayandforfeitedyourfriendship——akindofblunderIhavemadesomanytimesinmylifethatIamalwaysstandinginawaitingandmorbiddreadofitsoccurrence。

ThreedaysagoIwasincondition——duringonehorriblylongnight——tosympatheticallyroastwithyouinyour“helloftroubles。”DuringthatnightIwasbackagainwhereIwasintheblackdayswhenIwasburiedunderamountainofdebt。Icalledthedaughterstomeinprivatecouncilandparalysedthemwiththeannouncement，“Ouroutgohasincreasedinthepast8monthsuntilourexpensesarenow125percent。

greaterthanourincome。”

Itwasamistake。WhenIcamedowninthemorningagrayandagedwreck，andwentoverthefiguresagain，Ifoundthatinsomeunaccountableway(unaccountabletoabusinessmanbutnottome)Ihadmultipliedthetotalsby2。ByGodIdropped75yearsonthefloorwhereIstood。

Doyouknowitaffectedmeasoneisaffectedwhenhewakesoutofahideousdreamandfindsthatitwasonlyadream。ItwasagreatcomfortandsatisfactiontometocallthedaughterstoaprivatemeetingoftheBoardagainandsay，“Youneednotworryanymore；ouroutgoisonlyathirdmorethanourincome；inafewmonthsyourmotherwillbeoutofherbedandonherfeetagain——thenweshalldropbacktonormalandbeallright。”

Certainlythereisablisteringandawfulrealityaboutawell-arrangedunreality。Itisquitewithinthepossibilitiesthattwoorthreenightslikethatnightofminecoulddriveamantosuicide。Hewouldrefusetoexaminethefigures；theywouldrevolthimso，andhecouldgotohisdeathunawarethattherewasnothingseriousaboutthem。Icannotgetthatnightoutofmyhead，itwassovivid，soreal，soghastly。Inanyotheryearofthese33thereliefwouldhavebeensimple：gowhereyoucancutyourclothtofityourincome。Youcan”tdothatwhenyourwifecan”tbemoved，evenfromoneroomtothenext。

Clamspellsthetrainednurseafternoons；IamallowedtoseeMrs。

Clemens20minutestwiceadayandwritehertwolettersadayprovidedI

putnonewsinthem。Nootherpersoneverseesherexceptthephysicianandnowandthenanerve-specialistfromNewYork。Shesawtherewassomethingthematterthatmorning，butshegotnofactsoutofme。Butthatisnothing——shehasn”thadanythingbutliesfor8months。Afactwouldgiveherarelapse。

Thedoctorandaspecialistmetinconspiracyfivedaysago，andintheirbeliefshewillbyandbycomeoutofthisasgoodasnew，substantially。

TheyorderedhertoItalyfornextwinter——whichseemstoindicatethatbyautumnshewillbeabletoundertakethevoyage。SoClaraiswritingaFlorencefriendtotakealookroundamongthevillasforusintheregionsnearthatcity。Itseemsearlytodothis，butJoanBergheimthoughtitwouldbewise。

Heandhiswifelunchedwithushereyesterday。TheyhavebeenabroadinHavana4months，andtheysailedforEnglandthismorning。

Iamenclosinganorderforhalfofmy(your)Foundersshares。Youarenottorefusethemthistime，thoughyouhavedoneittwicebefore。Theyareyours，notmine，andforyourfamily”ssakeifnotyourownyoucannotinthesecloudydaysrenouncethispropertywhichissoclearlyyoursandtheirs。Youhavebeengenerouslongenough；bejust，nowtoyourself。Mr。Rogersisoffyachtingfor5or6weeks——I”llgetthemwhenhereturns。TheheadofthehousejoinsmeinwarmestgreetingsandremembrancestoyouandMrs。MacAlister。

Everyours，Mark。

May8。GreatScott！Inevermailedthisletter！Iaddressedit，put“Registered“onit——thenleftitlyingunsealedonthearmofmychair，andrusheduptomybedquakingwithachill。I”veneverbeenoutofthebedsince——oh，bronchitis，rheumatism，twosetsofteethaching，land，I”vehadadandytimefor4weeks。Andto-day——greatguns，oneoftheveryworst！……

I”mdevilishsorry，andIdoapologise——foralthoughIamnotasslowasyouareaboutansweringletters，asarule，IseewhereI”mstandingthistime。

TwoweeksagoJeanwastakendownagain——thistimewithmeasles，andI

haven”tbeenabletogotoherandshehasn”tbeenabletocometome。

ButMrs。Clemensismakingniceprogress，andcanstandaloneamomentortwoatatime。

NowI”llpostthis。

MARK

Thetwolettersthatfollow，thoughwrittenonlyafewdaysapart，wereseparatedintheirarrivalbyaperiodofsevenyears。Thesecondletterwas，insomeway，mislaidandnotmailed；anditwasnotuntilafterthewriterofitwasdeadthatitwasfoundandforwarded。

MarkTwaincouldnevergetupmuchenthusiasmforthewritingsofScott。HispraiseofQuentinDurwardisabouttheonlyapprovalheeveraccordedtotheworksofthegreatromanticist。

ToBranderMatthews，inNewYork：

NEWYORKCITY，May4，”03。

DEARBRANDER，——Ihaven”tbeenoutofmybedforfourweeks，but——well，I

havebeenreading，agooddeal，anditoccurstometoaskyoutositdown，sometimeorotherwhenyouhave8or9monthstospare，andjotmedownacertainfewliteraryparticularsformyhelpandelevation。Yourtimeneednotbethrownaway，foratyourfurtherleisureyoucanmakeColombianlecturesoutoftheresultsanddoyourstudentsagoodturn。

1。ArethereinSirWalter”snovelspassagesdoneingoodEnglish——

Englishwhichisneitherslovenlyorinvolved？

2。AretherepassageswhoseEnglishisnotpoorandthinandcommonplace，butisofaqualityabovethat？

3。Aretherepassageswhichburnwithrealfire——notpunk，fox-fire，makebelieve？

4。Hasheheroesandheroineswhoarenotcadsandcadesses？

5。Hashepersonageswhoseactsandtalkcorrespondwiththeircharactersasdescribedbyhim？

6。Hasheheroesandheroineswhomthereaderadmires，admires，andknowswhy？

7。Hashefunnycharactersthatarefunny，andhumorouspassagesthatarehumorous？

8。Doesheeverchainthereader”sinterest，andmakehimreluctanttolaythebookdown？

9。Aretherepageswhereheceasesfromposing，ceasesfromadmiringtheplacidfloodandflowofhisowndilutions，ceasesfrombeingartificial，andisforatime，longorshort，recognizablysincereandinearnest？

10。DidheknowhowtowriteEnglish，anddidn”tdoitbecausehedidn”twantto？

11。Didheusetherightwordonlywhenhecouldn”tthinkofanotherone，ordidherunsomuchtowrongbecausehedidn”tknowtherightonewhenhesawit？

13。Canyoureadhim？andkeepyourrespectforhim？Ofcourseapersoncouldinhisday——aneraofsentimentalityandsloppyromantics——

butland！canabodydoittoday？

Brander，Ilieheredying，slowlydying，undertheblightofSirWalter。

IhavereadthefirstvolumeofRobRoy，andasfaraschapterXIXofGuyMannering，andIcannolongerholdmyheadupnortakemynourishment。

Lord，it”sallsojuvenile！soartificial，soshoddy；andsuchwaxfiguresandskeletonsandspectres。Interest？Why，itisimpossibletofeelaninterestinthesebloodlessshams，thesemilk-and-waterhumbugs。

Andoh，thepovertyoftheinvention！Notpovertyininventingsituations，butpovertyinfurnishingreasonsforthem。SirWalterusuallygiveshimselfawaywhenhearrangesforasituation——elaborates，andelaborates，andelaborates，tillifyoulivetogettoityoudon”tbelieveinitwhenithappens。

Ican”tfindtherestofRobRoy，Ican”tstandanymoreMannering——Idonotknowjustwhattodo，butIwillreflect，andnotquitthisgreatstudyrashly。Hewasgreat，inhisday，andtohisproperaudience；andsowasGodinJewishtimes，forthatmatter，butwhyshouldeitherofthemrankhighnow？Anddothey？——honest，now，dothey？Dam”difI

believeit。

My，IwishIcouldseeyouandLeighHunt！

`SincerelyYoursS。L。CLEMENS。

ToBranderMatthews，inNewYork：

RIVERDALE，May8”03(MailedJune，1910)。

DEARBRANDER，——I”mstillinbed，butthedayshavelosttheirdulnesssinceIbrokeintoSirWalterandlostmytemper。IfinishedGuyMannering——thatcurious，curiousbook，withitsmobofsqualidshadowsjabberingaroundasingleflesh-and-bloodbeing——Dinmont；abookcrazilyputtogetheroutoftheveryrefuseoftheromance-artist”sstageproperties——finisheditandtookupQuentinDurward，andfinishedthat。

Itwaslikeleavingthedeadtominglewiththeliving：itwaslikewithdrawingfromtheinfantclassintheCollegeofjournalismtositunderthelecturesinEnglishliteratureinColumbiaUniversity。

IwonderwhowroteQuentinDurward？

YrseverMARK。

In1903，preparationsweregoingonforagreatworld”sfair，tobeheldinSt。Louis，andamongotherfeaturesproposedwasaWorld”sLiteraryConvention，withaweektobesetapartinhonorofMarkTwain，andaspecialMarkTwainDayinit，onwhichtheNationalAssociationwouldholdgrandservicesinhonorofthedistinguishedMissourian。Aletteraskinghisconsenttotheplanbroughtthefollowingreply。

ToT。F。Gatts，ofMissouri：

NEWYORK，May30，1903。

DEARMR。GATTS，——ItisindeedahighcomplimentwhichyouoffermeinnaminganassociationaftermeandinproposingthesettingapartofaMarkTwaindayatthegreatSt。Louisfair，butsuchcomplimentsarenotproperfortheliving；theyareproperandsafeforthedeadonly。I

valuetheimpulsewhichmovesyoutotendermethesehonors。Ivalueitashighlyasanyonecan，andamgratefulforit，butIshouldstandinasortofterrorofthehonorsthemselves。Solongasweremainalivewearenotsafefromdoingthingswhich，howeverrighteouslyandhonorablyintended，canwreckourreputeandextinguishourfriendships。

IhopethatnosocietywillbenamedformewhileIamstillalive，forI

mightatsometimeorotherdosomethingwhichwouldcauseitsmemberstoregrethavingdonemethathonor。AfterIshallhavejoinedthedeadI

shallfollowthecustomsofthosepeopleandbeguiltyofnoconductthatcanwoundanyfriend；butuntilthattimeshallcomeIshallbeadoubtfulquantityliketherestofourrace。

Verytrulyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。

TheNationalMarkTwainAssociationdidnotsurrendereasily。Mr。

Gattswroteasecondletterfullofurgentappeal。IfMarkTwainwastempted，wegetnohintofitinhisanswer。

ToT。F。Gatts，ofMissouri：

NEWYORK，June8，1903。

DEARMR。GATTS，——WhileIamdeeplytouchedbythedesireofmyfriendsofHannibaltoconferthesegreathonorsuponme，Imuststillforbeartoacceptthem。Spontaneousandunpremeditatedhonors，likethosewhichcametomeatHannibal，Columbia，St。Louisandatthevillagestationsalldowntheline，arebeyondallpriceandareatreasureforlifeinthememory，fortheyareafreegiftoutoftheheartandtheycomewithoutsolicitations；butIamaMissourianandsoIshrinkfromdistinctionswhichhavetobearrangedbeforehandandwithmyprivity，forIthenbecameapartytomyownexalting。Iamhumanlyfondofhonorsthathappenbutcharyofthosethatcomebycanvassandintention。

Withsincerethankstoyouandyourassociatesforthishighcomplimentwhichyouhavebeenmindedtoofferme，Iam，Verytrulyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。

WehaveseeninthelettertoMacAlisterthatMarkTwain”swifehadbeenorderedtoItalyandplanswereinprogressforanestablishmentthere。BytheendofJuneMrs。ClemenswasabletoleaveRiverdale，andshemadethejourneytoQuarryFarm，Elmira，wheretheywouldremainuntilOctober，themonthplannedfortheirsailing。ThehouseinHartfordhadbeensold；andahousewhich，priortoMrs。Clemens”sbreakdowntheyhadboughtnearTarrytown(expectingtosettlepermanentlyontheHudson)hadbeenlet。TheyweregoingtoEuropeforanotherindefiniteperiod。

AtQuarryFarmMrs。Clemenscontinuedtoimprove，andClemens，oncemoreabletowork，occupiedthestudywhichMrs。Cranehadbuiltforhimthirtyyearsbefore，andwhereTomSawyerandHuckFinnandtheWanderingPrincehadbeencalledintobeing。

ToRev。J。H。Twichell，inHartford，Conn。：

QUARRYFARM，ELMIRA，N。Y。，July21，”03。

DEARJOE，——Thatlove-letterdelightedLivybeyondanylikeutterancereceivedbyherthesethirtyyearsandmore。Iwasgoingtoansweritforherrightaway，andsaidso；butshereservedtheprivilegetoherself。IjudgesheisaccumulatingHotStuff——asGeorgeAdewouldsay……

Livyiscomingalong：eatswell，sleepssome，ismostlyverygay，notveryoftendepressed；spendsalldayontheporch，sleepsthereapartofthenight，makesexcursionsincarriageandinwheel-chair；and，inthematterofsuperintendingeverythingandeverybody，hasresumedbusinessattheoldstand。

Didyouevergohouse-hunting3，000milesaway？Itcoststhreemonthsofwritingandtelegraphingtopulloffasuccess。Wefinished3or4daysago，andtooktheVillaPapiniano(damthename，Ihavetolookatitaminutesafterwritingit，andthenamalwaysindoubt)forayearbycable。ThreemilesoutsideofFlorence，underFiesole——adarlinglocation，andapparentlyachoicehouse，nearFiske。

There”s7inourgang。Allwomenbutme。Itmeanstrunksandthings。

Butthanksbe！To-day(thisisprivate)comesamosthandsomevoluntarydocumentwithsealsandescutcheonsonitfromtheItalianAmbassador(whoisastrangertome)commandingtheCustomspeopletokeeptheirhandsofftheClemens”sthings。Nowwasn”titlovelyofhim？Andwasn”titlovelyofmetoletLivytakeapencilandeditmyanswerandknockagoodthirdofitout？

Andthat”saniceship——theIrene！new——swift——13，000tons——roomsupinthesky，opentosunandair——andallthat。IwasdesperatelytroubledforLivy——aboutthedown-cellarcellsintheancient“Latin。”

ThecubsareinRiverdale，yet；theycometousthefirstweekinAugust。

Withlotsandlotsoflovetoyouall，MARK。

ThearrangementfortheVillaPapinianowasnotcompleted，afterall，andthroughagoodfriend，GeorgeGregorySmith，aresidentofFlorence，theVillaQuarto，anancienthomeofroyalty，onthehillswestofFlorence，wasengaged。Smithwrotethatitwasaverybeautifulplacewithasouth-easternexposure，lookingouttowardValombrosaandtheChiantiHills。Ithadextensivegroundsandstables，andtheannualrentalforitallwastwothousanddollarsayear。Itseemedanidealplace，inprospect，andtherewasgreathopethatMrs。ClemenswouldfindherhealthoncemoreintheItalianclimatewhichsheloved。

Perhapsatthispoint，whenMarkTwainisoncemoreleavingAmerica，wemayoffertwolettersfromstrangerstohim——lettersofappreciation——suchashewasconstantlyreceivingfromthoseamongthethousandstowhomhehadgivenhappiness。ThefirstisfromSamuelMerwin，onedaytobecomeapopularnovelist，theninthehourofhisbeginnings。

ToMarkTwain，fromSamuelMerwin：

PLAINFIELD，N。J。

August4，1903。

DEARMR。CLEMENS，——ForagoodmanyyearsIhavebeenstrugglingwiththetemptationtowriteyouandthankyoufortheworkyouhavedone；andto-

dayIseemtobeyielding。

DuringthepasttwoyearsIhavebeenreadingthroughagroupofwriterswhoseemtometorepresentaboutthebestwehave——SirThomasMalory，Spenser，Shakespeare，Boswell，Carlyle，LeSage。Inthinkingoveroneandthenanother，andthenallofthemtogether，itwasplaintoseewhytheyweregreatmenandwriters：eachbroughttohistimesomenewblood，newideas，——turnedanewcurrentintothestream。Isupposetherehavealwaysbeenthecareful，painstakingwriters，themenwhoarealwaystakensoseriouslybytheirfellowcraftsmen。Itseemstobetheunconventionalmanwhoissorare——Imeanthehonestlyunconventionalman，whohastoexpresshimselfinhisownbigwaybecausetheconventionalwayisn”tbigenough，becauseneneedsroomandfreedom。

Wehaveagroupofthemoreorlessconventionalmennow——menofdignityandliteraryposition。Butinspiteoftheirinfluenceandofalltheworktheyhavedone，thereisn”toneofthemtowhomonecangiveone”sselfupwithoutreservation，notonewhoseideasseembasedonthedeepfoundationofalltruephilosophy，——exceptMarkTwain。

Ihopethisletterisnotanimpertinence。Ihavejustbeenturningabout，withmyheadfullofSpenserandShakespeareand“GilBlas，“

lookingforsomethinginourownpresentdayliteraturetowhichIcouldsurrendermyselfastothosefivegrippingoldwritings。AndnothingcouldIfinduntilItookup“LifeontheMississippi，“and“HuckleberryFinn，“and，justnow，the“ConnecticutYankee。”Itisn”tthefirsttimeIhavereadanyofthesethree，andit”sbecauseIknowitwon”tbethelast，becausethesebooksaretheonlyoneswritteninmylifetimethatclaimmyunreservedinterestandadmirationand，aboveall，myfeelings，thatI”vefeltIhadtowritethisletter。

Iliketothinkthat“TomSawyer“and“HuckleberryFinn“willbelookedupon，fiftyorahundredyearsfromnow，asthepictureofbuoyant，dramatic，humanAmericanlife。Ifeel，deepinmyownheart，prettysurethattheywillbe。Theywon”tbelookedonthenastheworkofa“humorist“anymorethanwethinkofShakespeareasahumoristnow。

Idon”tmeanbythistosetupacomparisonbetweenMarkTwainandShakespeare：Idon”tfeelcompetenttodoit；andI”mnotatallsurethatitcouldbedoneuntilMarkTwain”sworkshallhaveitsfairshareofhistoricalperspective。ButShakespearewasahumoristandso，thankHeaven！isMarkTwain。AndShakespeareplungeddeepintothedeep，sadthingsoflife；andso，inadifferentway(butinawaythathasmorethanoncebroughttearstomyeyes)hasMarkTwain。Butafterall，itisn”tbecauseofanyresemblanceforanythingthatwaseverbeforewrittenthatMarkTwain”sbooksstrikeinsodeep：it”sratherbecausethey”vebroughtsomethingreallynewintoourliterature——new，yetoldasAdamandEveandtheApple。Andthisachievement，theachievementofputtingsomethingintoliteraturethatwasnottherebefore，is，Ishouldthink，themostthatanywritercaneverhopetodo。Itistheonemarkofdistinctionbetweenthe“lonesome“littlegroupofbigmenandthevastherdofmediumandsmallones。Anyhow，thismuchIamsureof——totheyoungmanwhohopes，howeverfeebly，toaccomplishalittlesomething，someday，asawriter，theoneinspiringexampleofourtimeisMarkTwain。

Verytrulyyours，SAMUELMERWIN。

MarkTwainoncesaidhecouldliveamonthonagoodcompliment，andfromhisreply，wemaybelievethisonetobelongin，thatclass。

ToSamuelMerwin，inPlainfield，N。J。：

Aug。16，”03。

DEARMR。MERWIN，——Whatyouhavesaidhasgivenmedeeppleasure——indeedI

thinknowordscouldbesaidthatcouldgivememore。

Verysincerelyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。

Thenext“compliment“isfromonewhoremainsunknown，forshefailedtosignhernameinfull。Butitisalovelyletter，andlosesnothingbythefactthatthewriterofitwaswillingtoremaininobscurity。

ToMarkTwain，fromMargaretM——：

PORTLAND，OREGON

Aug。18，1903。

MYDEAR，DEARMARKTWAIN，——Mayalittlegirlwriteandtellyouhowdearlyshelovesandadmiresyourwritings？Well，IdoandIwanttotellyouyourownself。Don”tthinkmetooimpertinentforindeedIdon”tmeantobethat！IhavereadeverythingofyoursthatIcouldgetandpartsthattouchmeIhavereadoverandoveragain。Theyseemsuchdearfriendstome，solikereallivehumanbeingstalkingandlaughing，workingandsufferingtoo！Onecannotbutfeelthatitisyourownlifeandexperiencethatyouhavepainted。Sodonotwonderthatyouseemadearfriendtomewhohasneverevenseenyou。Ioftenthinkofyouassuchinmyownthoughts。IwonderifyouwilllaughwhenItellyouI

havemadeaheroofyou？Forwhenpeopleseemverysordidandmeanandstupid(anditseemsasifeverybodywas)thenthethoughtwillcomelikealittlecrumbofcomfort“well，MarkTwainisn”tanyway。”Anditdoesreallybrightenmeup。

YouseeIhavegottenanideathatyouareagreat，brightspiritofkindnessandtenderness。Onewhocantwisteverybody”s-evenyourown-

faultsandabsurditiesintoheartylaughs。Eventhepersonmockedmustlaugh！Oh，Dear！Howoftenyouhavemademelaugh！AndyetasoftenyouhavestrucksomethinginfiniteawaydowndeepinmyheartsothatI

wanttocrywhilehalflaughing！

SothisallmeansthatIwanttothankyouandtotellyou。“GodalwaysloveMarkTwain！“isoftenmywish。Idearlylovetoreadbooks，andI

nevertireofreadingyours；theyalwayshaveacharmforme。Good-bye，IamafraidIhavenotexpressedwhatIfeel。ButatleastIhavetried。

Sincerelyyours。

MARGARETM——

ClemensandfamilyleftElmiraOctoberthe5thforNewYorkCity。

TheyremainedattheHotelGrosvenoruntiltheirsailingdate，October24th。Afewdaysearlier，Mr。FrankDoubledaysentavolumeofKipling”spoemsanddeBlowitz”sMemoirsforentertainmentontheship。MarkTwain”sacknowledgmentfollows。

ToF。N。Doubleday，inNewYork：

THEGROSVENOR，October12，”03。

DEARDOUBLEDAY，——Thebookscame——eversomanythanks。Ihavebeenreading“TheBellBuoy“and“TheOldMen“overandoveragain——mycustomwithKipling”swork-andsavinguptherestforotherleisurelyandluxuriousmeals。Abell-buoyisadeeplyimpressivefellow-being。InthesemanyrecenttripsupanddowntheSoundintheKanawha——

[Mr。Rogers”syacht。]——hehastalkedtomenightly，sometimesinhispatheticandmelancholyway，sometimeswithhisstrenuousandurgentnote，andIgothismeaning——nowIhavehiswords！NoonebutKiplingcoulddothisstrongandvividthing。SomedayIhopetohearthepoemchantedorsung——withthebell-buoybreakingin，outofthedistance。

“TheOldMen，“delicious，isn”tit？Andsocomicallytrue。Ihaven”tarrivedthereyet，butIsupposeIamontheway……

Yoursever，MARK。

P。S。Yourletterhasarrived。Itmakesmeproudandglad——whatKiplingsays。IhopeFatewillfetchhimtoFlorencewhilewearethere。

Iwouldratherseehimthananyotherman。

We”velettheTarrytownhouseforayear。Man，youwouldneverhavebelievedapersoncouldletahouseinthesetimes。Thatone”sforsale，theHartfordoneissold。Whenwebuyagainmaywe——mayI——bedamned……

I”vedippedintoBlowitzandfindhimquaintlyandcuriouslyinteresting。

Ithinkhetellsthestraighttruth，too。Iknewhimalittle，23yearsago。

TheappreciativewordwhichKiplinghadsentDoubledaywas：“IlovetothinkofthegreatandGod-likeClemens。Heisthebiggestmanyouhaveonyoursideofthewaterbyadamnsight，anddon”tyouforgetit。Cervanteswasarelationofhis。”

XLIII

LETTERSOF1904。TOVARIOUSPERSONS。LIFEINVILLAQUARTO。DEATHOF

MRS。CLEMENS。THERETURNTOAMERICA

Mrs。ClemensstoodthevoyagetoItalyverywelland，induetime，thefamilywereinstalledintheVillaRealediQuarto，thepicturesqueoldPalaceofCosimo，aspacious，luxuriousplace，evenifnotentirelycheerfuloralwayscomfortableduringthechangeableTuscanwinter。

CongratulatedinaletterfromMacAlisterinbeinginthemidstofFlorentinesunshine，heanswered：“Florentinesunshine？Blessyou，thereisn”tany。Wehaveheavyfogseverymorning，andrainallday。Thishouseisnotmerelylarge，itisvast——thereforeIthinkitmustalwayslackthehomefeeling。”

Neitherwastheirlandlady，theAmericanwifeofanItaliancount，allthatcouldbedesired。FromalettertoTwichell，however，welearnthatMarkTwain”sworkwasprogressingwell。

ToRev。J。H。Twichell，inHartford：

VILLADIQUARTO，FLORENCE，Jan。7，”04。

DEARJOE，……Ihavehadahandsomesuccess，inoneway，here。

IleftNewYorkunderasortofhalfpromisetofurnishtotheHarpermagazines30，000wordsthisyear。Magaziningisdifficultworkbecauseeverythirdpagerepresents2pagesthatyouhaveputinthefire；

(becauseyouarenearlysuretostartwrongtwice)andsowhenyouhavefinishedanarticleandarewillingtoletitgotoprintitrepresentsonly10centsawordinsteadof30。

ButthistimeIhadthecurious(andunprecedented)lucktostartrightineachcase。Iturnedout37，000wordsin25workingdays；andthereasonIthinkIstartedrighteverytimeis，thatnotonlyhaveI

approvedandacceptedtheseveralarticles，butthecourtoflastresort(Livy)hasdonethesame。

Onmanyofthebetween-daysIdidsomework，butonlyofanidleandnotnecessarilynecessarysort，sinceitwillnotseeprintuntilIamdead。

Ishallcontinuethis(anhourperday)buttherestoftheyearIexpecttoputinonacoupleoflongbooks(half-completedones。)Nomoremagazine-workhangingovermyhead。

Thissecludedandsilentsolitudethisclean，softairandthisenchantingviewofFlorence，thegreatvalleyandthesnow-mountainsthatframeitaretherightconditionsforwork。Theyareapersistentinspiration。To-dayisverylovely；whentheafternoonarrivestherewillbeanewpictureeveryhourtilldark，andeachofthemdivine——orprogressingfromdivinetodivineranddivinest。Onthis(second)floorClara”sroomcommandsthefinest；shekeepsawindowtenfeethighwideopenallthetimeandframesitin。Igoinfromtimetotime，everydayandtradesassforalook。Thecentraldetailisadistantandstatelysnow-humpthatrisesaboveandbehindblackforestedhills，anditsslopingvastbuttresses，velvetyandsun-polishedwithpurpleshadowsbetween，makethesortofpictureweknewthattimewewalkedinSwitzerlandinthedaysofouryouth。

IwishIcouldshowyourlettertoLivy——butshemustwaitaweekorsoforit。IthinkItoldyoushehadaprostratingweekoftonsilitisamonthago；shehasremainedveryfeebleeversince，andconfinedtothebedofcourse，butweallowourselvestobelieveshewillregainthelostgroundinanothermonth。HerphysicianisProfessorGrocco——shecouldnothaveabetter。Andshehasaverygoodtrainednurse。

Lovetoallofyoufromallofus。AndtoallofourdearHartfordfriends。

MARK

P。S。3dayslater。

Livyisasremarkableasever。ThedayIwroteyou——thatnight，Imean——

shehadabitterattackofgoutorrheumatismoccupyingthewholeleftarmfromshouldertofingers，accompaniedbyfever。Thepainsrackedher50or6ohours；theyhavedeparted，now——andalreadysheisplanningatriptoEgyptnextfall，andawinter”ssojournthere！Thisislifeinheryet。

YouwillbesurprisedthatIwaswillingtodosomuchmagazine-writing——

athingIhavealwaysbeencharyabout——butIhadgoodreasons。Ourexpenseshavebeensoprodigiousforayearandahalf，andarestillsoprodigious，thatLivywasworryingaltogethertoomuchaboutthem，anddoingaverydangerousamountoflyingawakeontheiraccount。Itwasnecessarytostopthat，anditisnowstopped。

Yes，sheisremarkable，Joe。Herrheumaticattacksetmetocursingandswearing，withoutlimitastotimeorenergy，butitmerelyconcentratedherpatienceandherunconquerablefortitude。Itisthedifferencebetweenus。Ican”tcountthedifferentkindsofailmentswhichhaveassaultedherinthisfiendishyearandahalf——andIforgivenoneofthem——buthereshecomesupagainasbrightandfreshandenterprisingasever，andgoestoplanningaboutEgypt，withahopeandaconfidencewhicharetomeamazing。

Claraiscallingforme——wehavetogointotownandpaycalls。

MARK。

InFlorence，thatwinter，Clemensbegandictatingtohissecretarysomeautobiographicalchapters。Thiswastheworkwhichwas“nottoseeprintuntilIamdead。”Hefounditapleasant，lazyoccupationandwrotehisdelightinittoHowellsinaletterwhichseemsnottohavesurvived。Inhisreply，Howellswrote：“YoudostirmemightilywiththehopeofdictatingandIwilltryitwhenIgetthechance。Butthereisthetempermentaldifference。Youaredramaticandunconscious；youcountthethingmorethanyourself；Iamcursedwithconsciousnesstothecore，andcan”tsaymyselfout；Iamalwayssayingmyselfin，andsettingmyselfaboveallthatIsay，asofmoreworth。LatelyIhavefeltasifIwererottingwithegotism。Idon”tadmiremyself；Iamsickofmyself；butIcan”tthinkofanythingelse。HereIamatitnow，whenIoughttoberejoicingwithyouattheblessingyouhavefound……I”dlike，immensely，toreadyourautobiography。Youalwaysratherbewilderedmebyyourveracity，andIfancyyoumaytellthetruthaboutyourself。Butallofit？Theblacktruthwhichweallknowofourselvesinourhearts，oronlythewhity-browntruthofthepericardium，orthenice，whitenedtruthoftheshirtfront？Evenyouwon”ttelltheblackheart”s——truth。Themanwhocoulddoitwouldbefamedtothelastdaythesunshoneupon。”

WegatherfromMarkTwain”sanswerthathewasnotdeceivinghimselfinthematterofhisconfessions。

ToW。D。Howells，inNewYork：

VILLADIQUARTO，FLORENCE，March14，”04。

DEARHOWELLS，——Yes，Isetupthesafeguards，inthefirstday”sdictating；takingthisposition：thatanautobiographyisthetruestofallbooks；forwhileitinevitablyconsistsmainlyofextinctionsofthetruth，shirkingsofthetruth，partialrevealmentsofthetruth，withhardlyaninstanceofplainstraighttruth，theremorselesstruthisthere，betweenthelines，wheretheauthorisrakingdustuponit，theresultbeingthatthereaderknowstheauthorinspiteofhiswilydiligences。

ThesummerinEngland！youcan”taskbetterluckthanthat。ThenyouwillrunovertoFlorence；weshallallbehungrytoseeyou-all。Wearehuntingforanothervilla，(thisoneisplentylargeenoughbuthasnoroominit)butevenifwefinditIamafraiditwillbemonthsbeforewecanmoveMrs。Clemens。Ofcourseitwill。Butitcomfortsustoletonthatwethinkotherwise，andthesepretensionshelptokeephopealiveinher。

Good-bye，withlove，Amen。

YourseverMARK。

NewscameofthedeathofHenryM。Stanley，oneofMarkTwain”soldestfriends。ClemensoncesaidthathehadmetStanleyinSt。

Louiswherehe(Clemens)haddeliveredalecturewhichStanleyhadreported。Inthefollowingletterhefixesthedateoftheirmeetingasearlyin1867，whichwouldbeimmediatelyafterMarkTwain”sreturnfromCalifornia，andjustpriortotheQuakerCityexcursion——afactwhichisinterestingonlybecauseitplacesthetwomentogetherwheneachwasattheverybeginningofagreatcareer。

ToLadyStanley，inEngland：

VILLADIQUARTO，FIRENZE，May11，”04。

DEARLADYSTANLEY，——Ihavelostadearandhonoredfriend——howfasttheyfallaboutmenow，inmyage！Theworldhaslostatriedandprovedhero。Andyou——whathaveyoulost？Itisbeyondestimate——wewhoknowyou，andwhathewastoyou，knowthat。Howfarhestretchesacrossmylife！Iknewhimwhenhisworkwasallbeforehimfiveyearsbeforethegreatdaythathewrotehisnamefar-awayupontheblueoftheskyfortheworldtoseeandapplaudandremember；Ihaveknownhimasfriendandintimateeversince。Itis37years。Ihaveknownnootherfriendandintimatesolong，exceptJohnHay——afriendshipwhichdatesfromthesameyearandthesamehalfofit，thefirsthalfof1867。Igrievewithyouandwithyourfamily，dearLadyStanley，itisallIcando；butthatI

dooutofmyheart。Itwouldbewe，insteadofI，ifMrs。Clemensknew，butinallthese20monthsthatshehaslainaprisonerinherbedwehavehiddenfromherallthingsthatcouldsaddenher。Manyafriendisgonewhomshestillasksaboutandstillthinksisliving。

IndeepestsympathyIbegtheprivilegeofsigningmyselfYourfriend，S。L。CLEMENS。

ToRev。J。H。Twichell，inHartford：

VILLADIQUARTO，May11，”04

DEARJOE，——Yourshasthismomentarrived——justasIwasfinishinganotetopoorLadyStanley。Ibelievethelastcountry-housevisitwepaidinEnglandwastoStanley”s。Lord，howmyfriendsandacquaintancesfallaboutmenow，inmygray-headeddays！Vereschagin，Mommsen，Dvorak，Lenbach，Jokai——allsorecently，andnowStanley。IhadknownStanley37

years。Goodness，whoisitIhaven”tknown！Asarulethenecrologiesfindmepersonallyinterested——whentheytreatofoldstagers。Generallywhenamandieswhoisworthcabling，ithappensthatIhaverunacrosshimsomewhere，sometimeorother。

Oh，say！DownbytheLaurentianLibrarythere”samarbleimagethathasbeensittingonitspedestalsome450Years，ifmydatesareright——

CosimoI。I”veseenthebackofitmanyatime，butnotthefront；butyesterdayItwistedmyheadaroundafterwehaddrivenby，andtheprofaneexclamationburstfrommymouthbeforeIcouldthink：“there”sChaunceyDepew！“

Imeantogetaphotoofit——anduseitifitconfirmsyesterday”sconviction。That”saverynicewordfromtheCatholicMagazineandIamgladyousentit。Imeantoshowittomypriest——weareveryfondofhim。Heisastealingman，andisalsolearnedlyscientific。Heinventedthethingwhichrecordstheseismaticdisturbances，forthepeoplesoftheearth。Andhe”sanastronomerandhasanobservatoryofhisown。

Ah，many”sthecryIhave，overreflectingthatmaybewecouldhavehadYoungHarmonyforLivy，anddidn”thavewitenoughtothinkofit。

SpeakingofLivyremindsmethatyourinquiryarrivesatagoodtime(unberufen)Ithasbeenweeks(Idon”tknowhowmany！)sincewecouldhavesaidahopefulword，butthismorningKatycametheminutetheday-

nursecameonwatchandsaidwordsofastrangeandlong-forgottensound：

“Mr。Clemens，Mrs。Clemensisreallyandtrulybetter！——anybodycanseeit；sheseesitherself；andlastnightat9o”clockshesaidit。”

There——itisheart-warming，itissplendid，itissublime；letusenjoyit，letusmakethemostofittoday——andbetnotafarthingontomorrow。

Thetomorrowshavenothingforus。Toomanytimestheyhavebreathedthewordofpromisetoourearandbrokenittoourhope。Wetakenotomorrow”swordanymore。

You”vedoneawonder，Joe：you”vewrittenaletterthatcanbesentintoLivy——thatdoesn”toftenhappen，wheneitherafriendorastrangerwrites。YoudidwhirlinaP。S。thatwouldn”tdo，butyouwroteitonamarginofapageinsuchawaythatIwasabletoclipoffthemarginclearacrossbothpages，andnowLivywon”tperceivethatthesheetisn”tthesamesizeitusedtowas。ItwasaboutAldrich”sson，andIcamenearforgettingtoremoveit。Itshouldhavebeenwrittenonaloosestripandenclosed。Thatsondiedonthe5thofMarchandAldrichwrotemeonthenightbeforethathisminuteswerenumbered。Onthe18thLivyaskedafterthatpatient，andIwasprepared，andabletogiveheragratefulsurprisebytellingher“theAldrichesarenolongeruneasyabouthim。”

IdowishIcouldhavebeenpresentandheardCharleyClark。Whenhecan”tlightupadarkplacenobodycan。

Withlotsoflovetoyouall。

MARK。

Mrs。Clemenshadherbaddaysandhergooddays-dayswhenthereseemednorayoflight，andothersthatseemedalmosttopromiserecovery。TheforegoinglettertoTwichell，andtheonewhichfollows，toRichardWatsonGilder，reflectthehopeandfearthatdailyandhourlyalternatedatVillaQuartoToRichardWatsonGilder，inNewYork：

VILLADIQUARTO，FLORENCE，May12，”04。

DEARGILDER，——Afriendofours(theBaronessdeNolda)washerethisafternoonandwantedanoteofintroductiontotheCentury，forshehassomethingtoselltoyouincaseyou”llwanttomakeheranofferafterseeingasampleofthegoods。Isaid“Withpleasure：getthegoodsready，sendthesametome，IwillhaveJeantype-writethem，thenIwillmailthemtotheCenturyandtonightIwillwritethenotetoMr。Gilderandstartitalong。Alsowritemealetterembodyingwhatyouhavebeensayingtomeaboutthegoodsandyourproposedplanofarrangingandexplainingthem，andIwillforwardthattoGildertoo。”

AstotheBaroness。SheisaGerman；30yearsold；wasmarriedat17；isverypretty-indeedImightsayverypretty；hasalotofsons(5)runningupfromsevento12yearsold。HerhusbandisaRussian。TheylivehalfthetimeinRussiaandtheotherhalfinFlorence，andsupplypopulationalternatelytotheonecountryandthentotheother。Ofcourseitisafamilythatspeakslanguages。Thisoccursattheirtable——Iknowitbyexperience：ItisBabelcomeagain。Theotherday，whennoguestswerepresenttokeeporder，thetribeswerealltalkingatonce，and6

languageswerebeingtradedin；atlastthelittlestboylosthistemperandscreamedoutatthetopofhisvoice，withangrysobs：“Mais，vraiment，iononcapiscogarnichts。”

TheBaronessisalittleafraidofherEnglish，thereforeshewillwriteherremarksinFrench——Isaidthere”saplentyoftranslatorsinNewYork。Examinehersamplesanddropheraline。

Fortwoentiredays，now，wehavenotbeenanxiousaboutMrs。Clemens(unberufen)。After20monthsofbed-riddensolitudeandbodilymiserysheallofasuddenceasestobeapallidshrunkenshadow，andlooksbrightandyoungandpretty。Sheremainswhatshealwayswas，themostwonderfulcreatureoffortitude，patience，enduranceandrecuperativepowerthateverwas。Butah，dear，itwon”tlast；thisfiendishmaladywillplaynewtreacheriesuponher，andIshallgobacktomyprayersagain——unutterablefromanypulpit！

Withlovetoyouandyours，S。L。C。

May1310A。M。Ihavejustpaidoneofmypairofpermitted2minutesvisitsperdaytothesickroom。AndfoundwhatIhavelearnedtoexpect——retrogression，andthatpatheticsomethingintheeyewhichbetraysthesecretofawaninghope。

TheyearoftheWorld”sFairhadcome，andaninvitationfromGov。

Francis，ofMissouri，cametoMarkTwaininFlorence，personallyinvitinghimtoattendthegreatcelebrationandcarryofffirstprize。WemaybelievethatClemensfeltlittleinthespiritofhumor，buttosuchaninvitationhemustsendacheerful，evenifdisappointing，answer。

ToGov。Francis，ofMissouri：

VILLADIQUARTO，FIRENZE，May26，1904。

DEARGOVERNORFRANCIS，——IthasbeenadearwishofminetoexhibitmyselfattheGreatFairandgetaprize，butcircumstancesbeyondmycontrolhaveinterfered，andImustremaininFlorence。AlthoughIhavenevertakenprizesanywhereelseIusedtotakethematschoolinMissourihalfacenturyago，andIoughttobeabletorepeat，now，ifIcouldhaveachance。Iusedtogetthemedalforgoodspelling，everyweek，andI

couldhavehadthemedalforgoodconductiftherehadn”tbeensomuchcurruptioninMissouriinthosedays；still，Igotitseveraltimesbytradingmedalsandgivingboot。Iamwillingtogivebootnow，if——

however，thosedaysareforevergonebyinMissouri，andperhapsitisbetterso。Nothingeverstopsthewayitwasinthischangeableworld。

AlthoughIcannotbeattheFair，Iamgoingtoberepresentedthereanyway，byaportrait，byProfessorGelli。Youwillfinditexcellent。

Goodjudgesheresayitisbetterthantheoriginal。Theysayithasallthemeritsoftheoriginalandkeepsstill，besides。Itsoundslikeflattery，butitisjusttrue。

Isupposeyouwillgetaprize，becauseyouhavecreatedthemostprodigiousandinallwaysmostwonderfulFairtheplanethaseverseen。

Verywell，youhaveindeedearnedit：andwithitthegratitudeoftheStateandthenation。

Sincerelyyours，MARKTWAIN

ItwasonlyafewdaysaftertheforegoingwaswrittenthatdeathenteredVillaQuarto——unexpectedlyatlast——forwiththefirstJunedaysMrs。Clemenshadseemedreallytoimprove。ItwasonSunday，June5th，thattheendcame。Clemens，withhisdaughterJean，hadreturnedfromalongdrive，duringwhichtheyhadvisitedaVillawiththethoughtofpurchase。Ontheirreturntheyweretoldthattheirpatienthadbeenbetterthatafternoonthanforthreemonths。

Yetitwasonlyafewhourslaterthatsheleftthem，sosuddenlyandquietlythateventhosenearherdidnotatfirstrealizethatshewasgone。

ToW。D。Howells，inNewYork。

VILLADIQUARTO，FLORENCE，June6，”94。[1904]

DEARHOWELLS，——Lastnightat9。20IenteredMrs。Clemens”sroomtosaytheusualgoodnight——andshewasdead——tho”nooneknewit。Shehadbeencheerfullytalking，amomentbefore。Shewassittingupinbed——shehadnotlaindownformonths——andKatieandthenurseweresupportingher。

Theysupposedshehadfainted，andtheywereholdingtheoxygenpipetohermouth，expectingtoreviveher。Ibentoverherandlookedinherface，andIthinkIspoke——Iwassurprisedandtroubledthatshedidnotnoticeme。Thenweunderstood，andourheartsbroke。Howpoorwearetoday！

ButhowthankfulIamthatherpersecutionsareended。IwouldnotcallherbackifIcould。

Today，treasuredinherwornoldTestament，Ifoundadearandgentleletterfromyou，datedFarRockaway，Sept。13，1896，aboutourpoorSusy”sdeath。Iamtiredandold；IwishIwerewithLivy。

Isendmylove-andhers-toyouall。

S。L。C。

InalettertoTwichellhewrote：“Howsweetshewasindeath；howyoung，howbeautiful，howlikeherdear，girlishselfcfthirtyyearsago；notagrayhairshowing。”

ThefamilywasnowwithoutplansforthefutureuntiltheyrememberedthesummerhomeofR。W。Gilder，atTyringham，Massachusetts，andthepossibilityoffindinglodgmentforthemselvesinthatsecludedcornerofNewEngland。Clemenswrotewithoutdelay，asfollows：

ToR。W。Gilder，inNewYork：

VILLADIQUARTO，FLORENCE，June7，”04。

DEARGILDERFAMILY，——Ihavebeenworryingandworryingtoknowwhattodo：atlastIwenttothegirlswithanidea：toasktheGilderstogetusshelterneartheirsummerhome。Itwasthefirsttimetheyhavenotshakentheirheads。Soto-morrowIwillcabletoyouandshallhopetobeintime。

An，houragothebestheartthateverbeatformeandminewentsilentoutofthishouse，andIamasonewhowandersandhaslosthisway。Shewhoisgonewasourhead，shewasourhands。Wearenowtryingtomakeplans——we：wewhohavenevermadeaplanbefore，noreverneededto。Ifshecouldspeaktousshewouldmakeitallsimpleandeasywithaword，andourperplexitieswouldvanishaway。Ifshehadknownshewasneartodeathshewouldhavetolduswheretogoandwhattodo：butshewasnotsuspecting，neitherwerewe。(Shehadbeenchattingcheerfullyamomentbefore，andinaninstantshewasgonefromusandwedidnotknowit。

Wewerenotalarmed，wedidnotknowanythinghadhappened。Itwasablesseddeath——shepassedawaywithoutknowingit。)Shewasallourrichesandsheisgone：shewasourbreath，shewasourlifeandnowwearenothing。

Wesendyouourlove——andwithittheloveofyouthatwasinherheartwhenshedied。

S。L。CLEMENS。

Howellswrotehiswordsofsympathy，adding：“Thecharacterwhichnowremainsamemorywasoneofthemostperfecteverformedontheearth，“andagain，afterhavingreceivedClemens”sletter：“Icannotspeakofyourwife”shavingkeptthatletterofminewhereshedid。

Youknowhowitmusthumiliateamaninhisunworthinesstohaveanythingofhissoconsecrated。Shehallowedwhatshetouched，farbeyondpriests。”

ToW。D。Howells，inNewYork：

VILLADIQUARTO，”04。

June12，6p。m。

DEARHOWELLS，——Wehavetositandholdourhandsandwait——inthesilenceandsolitudeofthisprodigioushouse；waituntilJune25，thenwegotoNaplesandsailinthePrinceOscarthe26th。Thereisaship12daysearlier(butwecameinthatone。)IseeClaratwiceaday——morningandevening——greeting——nothingmoreisallowed。Shekeepsherbed，andsaysnothing。Shehasnotcriedyet。Iwishshecouldcry。ItwouldbreakLivy”shearttoseeClara。Weexcuseourselvesfromallthefriendsthatcall——thoughofcourseonlyintimatescome。Intimates——buttheyarenottheoldoldfriends，thefriendsoftheold，oldtimeswhenwelaughed。

Shallweeverlaughagain？IfIcouldonlyseeadogthatIknewintheoldtimes！andcouldputmyarmsaroundhisneckandtellhimall，everything，andeasemyheart。

Think-in3hoursitwillbeaweek！——andsoonamonth；andbyandbyayear。Howfastourdeadflyfromus。

Shelovedyouso，andwasalwaysaspleasedasachildwithanynoticeyoutookofher。

Soonyourwifewillbewithyou，ohfortunateman！AndJohn，whomminewassofondof。Thesightofhimwassuchadelighttoher。Lord，theoldfriends，howdeartheyare。

S。L。C。

ToRev。J。R。Twichell，inHartford：

VILLADIQUARTO，FLORENCE，June18，”04。

DEARJOE，——Itis13days。Iambewilderedandmustremainsoforatimelonger。Itwassosudden，sounexpected。Imagineamanworthahundredmillionswhofindshimselfsuddenlypennilessandfiftymillionindebtinhisoldage。

Iwasricherthananyotherpersonintheworld，andnowIamthatpauperwithoutpeer。SomedayIwilltellyouaboutit，notnow。

MARK。