¡¶mark twain, a biography, 1907-1910¡·

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mark twain, a biography, 1907-1910- µÚ1²¿·Ö


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Mark¡¡Twain£»¡¡A¡¡Biography£»¡¡1907¡­1910

By¡¡Albert¡¡Bigelow¡¡Paine






VOLUME¡¡III£»¡¡Part¡¡2£º¡¡1907¡­1910






CCLVI

HONORS¡¡FROM¡¡OXFORD

Clemens¡¡made¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡trip¡¡to¡¡Bermuda¡¡during¡¡the¡¡winter£»¡¡taking¡¡Twichell
along£»¡¡their¡¡first¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡island¡¡since¡¡the¡¡trip¡¡when¡¡they¡¡had
promised¡¡to¡¡come¡¡back¡¡so¡¡soon¡­nearly¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡been
comparatively¡¡young¡¡men¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡old¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡found¡¡the
green¡¡island¡¡as¡¡fresh¡¡and¡¡full¡¡of¡¡bloom¡¡as¡¡ever¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡did¡¡not¡¡find¡¡their
old¡¡landlady£»¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡even¡¡remember¡¡her¡¡name¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡then
Twichell¡¡recalled¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡an¡¡author¡¡of¡¡certain
schoolbooks¡¡in¡¡his¡¡youth£»¡¡and¡¡Clemens¡¡promptly¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Kirkham's¡¡Grammar¡£¡¨¡¡
Kirkham¡¡was¡¡truly¡¡the¡¡name£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡went¡¡to¡¡find¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡dead£»
and¡¡the¡¡daughter£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡young¡¡girl¡¡in¡¡that¡¡earlier¡¡time£»¡¡reigned
in¡¡her¡¡stead¡¡and¡¡entertained¡¡the¡¡successors¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡guests¡£¡¡¡¡They
walked¡¡and¡¡drove¡¡about¡¡the¡¡island£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡taking¡¡up¡¡again¡¡a
long¡­discontinued¡¡book¡¡and¡¡reading¡¡another¡¡chapter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡tale¡£¡¡¡¡It
gave¡¡Mark¡¡Twain¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡Bermuda£»¡¡one¡¡which¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡allow
to¡¡fade¡¡again¡£

Later¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡¡£¨March£»¡¡1907£©¡¡I¡¡also¡¡made¡¡a¡¡journey£»¡¡it¡¡having¡¡been
agreed¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡take¡¡a¡¡trip¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Mississippi¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Pacific
coast¡¡to¡¡see¡¡those¡¡old¡¡friends¡¡of¡¡Mark¡¡Twain's¡¡who¡¡were¡¡so¡¡rapidly
passing¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡John¡¡Briggs¡¡was¡¡still¡¡alive£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡Hannibal
schoolmates£»¡¡also¡¡Joe¡¡Goodman¡¡and¡¡Steve¡¡Gillis£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡few¡¡more¡¡of¡¡the
early¡¡pioneersall¡¡eminently¡¡worth¡¡seeing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡such¡¡work¡¡as
I¡¡had¡¡in¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡billiard¡¡games¡¡would¡¡be¡¡interrupted£»¡¡but¡¡whatever
reluctance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡plan¡¡there¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡on¡¡that¡¡account¡¡was¡¡put¡¡aside
in¡¡view¡¡of¡¡prospective¡¡benefits¡£¡¡¡¡Clemens£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡derive¡¡joy
from¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡commissioning¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡personal¡¡emissary¡¡to
his¡¡old¡¡comrades£»¡¡and¡¡provided¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡of¡¡credentials¡£

It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡successful¡¡trip¡¡that¡¡I¡¡made£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡undertaken¡¡none
too¡¡soon¡£¡¡¡¡John¡¡Briggs£»¡¡a¡¡gentle¡­hearted¡¡man£»¡¡was¡¡already¡¡entering¡¡the
valley¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡as¡¡he¡¡talked¡¡to¡¡me¡¡by¡¡his¡¡fire¡¡one¡¡memorable
afternoon£»¡¡and¡¡reviewed¡¡the¡¡pranks¡¡of¡¡those¡¡days¡¡along¡¡the¡¡river¡¡and¡¡in
the¡¡cave¡¡and¡¡on¡¡Holliday's¡¡Hill¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡was¡¡six¡¡weeks¡¡later¡¡that¡¡he
died£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡others¡¡of¡¡that¡¡scattering¡¡procession¡¡who¡¡did¡¡not
reach¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡£¡¡¡¡Joe¡¡Goodman£»¡¡still¡¡full¡¡of¡¡vigor¡¡£¨in¡¡1912£©£»
journeyed¡¡with¡¡me¡¡to¡¡the¡¡green¡¡and¡¡dreamy¡¡solitudes¡¡of¡¡Jackass¡¡Hill¡¡to
see¡¡Steve¡¡and¡¡Jim¡¡Gillis£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡an¡¡unforgetable¡¡Sunday¡¡when¡¡Steve
Gillis£»¡¡an¡¡invalid£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡still¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡speech£»¡¡sat
up¡¡on¡¡his¡¡couch¡¡in¡¡his¡¡little¡¡cabin¡¡in¡¡that¡¡Arcadian¡¡stillness¡¡and¡¡told
old¡¡tales¡¡and¡¡adventures¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡left¡¡he¡¡said£º

¡¨Tell¡¡Sam¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡die¡¡pretty¡¡soon£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡I¡¡love¡¡him£»¡¡that¡¡I've
loved¡¡him¡¡all¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡love¡¡him¡¡till¡¡I¡¡die¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡last
word¡¡I'll¡¡ever¡¡send¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Jim¡¡Gillis£»¡¡down¡¡in¡¡Sonora£»¡¡was¡¡already
lying¡¡at¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡death£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡for¡¡him¡¡the¡¡visit¡¡was¡¡too¡¡late£»
though¡¡he¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡a¡¡message¡¡from¡¡his¡¡ancient¡¡mining¡¡partner£»
and¡¡to¡¡send¡¡back¡¡a¡¡parting¡¡word¡£

I¡¡returned¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡New¡¡Orleans¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Mississippi¡¡River£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡wished
to¡¡follow¡¡that¡¡abandoned¡¡water¡¡highway£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡its¡¡presiding
genius£»¡¡Horace¡¡Bixby£»£§He¡¡died¡¡August¡¡2£»¡¡1912£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡86£§¡¡still
alive¡¡and¡¡in¡¡service¡¡as¡¡pilot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡government¡¡snagboat£»¡¡his
headquarters¡¡at¡¡St¡£¡¡Louis¡£

Coming¡¡up¡¡the¡¡river¡¡on¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡passenger¡¡steam¡¡boats¡¡that¡¡still
exist£»¡¡I¡¡noticed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡paper¡¡which¡¡came¡¡aboard¡¡that¡¡Mark¡¡Twain¡¡was¡¡to
receive¡¡from¡¡Oxford¡¡University¡¡the¡¡literary¡¡doctor's¡¡degree¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡had
been¡¡no¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡this¡¡when¡¡I¡¡came¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡rather¡¡too¡¡sudden
and¡¡too¡¡good¡¡to¡¡be¡¡true¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡the¡¡little¡¡barefoot¡¡lad¡¡that¡¡had¡¡played
along¡¡the¡¡river¡­banks¡¡at¡¡Hannibal£»¡¡and¡¡received¡¡such¡¡meager¡¡advantages¡¡in
the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡schoolingwhose¡¡highest¡¡ambition¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡pilot¡¡such¡¡a
craft¡¡as¡¡this¡¡onewas¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be¡¡crowned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡world's¡¡greatest
institution¡¡of¡¡learning£»¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡recognition¡¡for
achievement¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡of¡¡letters£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡which¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be
likely¡¡to¡¡happen¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fairy¡¡tale¡£

Returning¡¡to¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡I¡¡ran¡¡out¡¡to¡¡Tuxedo£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡home¡¡for
the¡¡summer¡¡£¨for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡already¡¡May£©£»¡¡and¡¡walking¡¡along¡¡the¡¡shaded¡¡paths
of¡¡that¡¡beautiful¡¡suburban¡¡park£»¡¡he¡¡told¡¡me¡¡what¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Oxford
matter¡£

Moberly¡¡Bell£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡London¡¡Times£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡over¡¡in¡¡April£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡after
his¡¡return¡¡to¡¡England¡¡there¡¡had¡¡come¡¡word¡¡of¡¡the¡¡proposed¡¡honor¡£¡¡¡¡Clemens
privately¡¡and¡¡openly¡¡£¨to¡¡Bell£©¡¡attributed¡¡it¡¡largely¡¡to¡¡his¡¡influence¡£¡¡
He¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡him£º

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡DEAR¡¡MR¡£¡¡BELL£»¡¡Your¡¡hand¡¡is¡¡in¡¡it¡¡&¡¡you¡¡have¡¡my¡¡best¡¡thanks¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Although¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡cross¡¡an¡¡ocean¡¡again¡¡for¡¡the¡¡price¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ship
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡carried¡¡me¡¡I¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡¡for¡¡an¡¡Oxford¡¡degree¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡for¡¡England¡¡a¡¡shade¡¡before¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡June£»¡¡so¡¡that
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡can¡¡have¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡in¡¡London¡¡before¡¡the¡¡26th¡£

A¡¡day¡¡or¡¡two¡¡later£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡time¡¡for¡¡sailing¡¡had¡¡been¡¡arranged£»¡¡he
overtook¡¡his¡¡letter¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cable£º

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡perceive¡¡your¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡have¡¡my¡¡best¡¡thanks¡£¡¡¡¡Sail¡¡on
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Minneapolis¡¡June¡¡8th¡£¡¡¡¡Due¡¡in¡¡Southampton¡¡ten¡¡days¡¡later¡£

Clemens¡¡said¡¡that¡¡his¡¡first¡¡word¡¡of¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡newspaper
cablegram£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡doubtful¡¡concerning¡¡it¡¡until¡¡a¡¡cablegram
to¡¡himself¡¡had¡¡confirmed¡¡it¡£

¡¨I¡¡never¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡the¡¡water¡¡again£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡I¡¡would¡¡be
willing¡¡to¡¡journey¡¡to¡¡Mars¡¡for¡¡that¡¡Oxford¡¡degree¡£¡¨

He¡¡put¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡aside¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡talking¡¡of¡¡Jim¡¡Gillis¡¡and¡¡the
others¡¡I¡¡had¡¡visited£»¡¡dwelling¡¡especially¡¡on¡¡Gillis's¡¡astonishing¡¡faculty
for¡¡improvising¡¡romances£»¡¡recalling¡¡how¡¡he¡¡had¡¡stood¡¡with¡¡his¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the
fire¡¡weaving¡¡his¡¡endless£»¡¡grotesque¡¡yarns£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡other¡¡guide¡¡than¡¡his
fancy¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡happy¡¡walk¡¡we¡¡had£»¡¡though¡¡rather¡¡a¡¡sad¡¡one¡¡in¡¡its
memories£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sense£»¡¡to¡¡close¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡those
early¡¡scenes¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡seldom¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡them¡¡afterward¡£

He¡¡was¡¡back¡¡at¡¡21¡¡Fifth¡¡Avenue¡¡presently£»¡¡arranging¡¡for¡¡his¡¡voyage¡£¡¡
Meantime£»¡¡cable¡¡invitations¡¡of¡¡every¡¡sort¡¡were¡¡pouring¡¡in£»¡¡from¡¡this¡¡and
that¡¡society¡¡and¡¡dignitary£»¡¡invitations¡¡to¡¡dinners¡¡and¡¡ceremonials£»¡¡and
what¡¡not£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡his¡¡English¡¡sojourn¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a
busy¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡by¡¡declining¡¡all¡¡but¡¡two
invitationsa¡¡dinner¡­party¡¡given¡¡by¡¡Ambassador¡¡Whitelaw¡¡Reid¡¡and¡¡a
luncheon¡¡proposed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡¡¨¡¡Pilgrims¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡became¡¡clear¡¡that¡¡this
would¡¡not¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡England¡¡was¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡confer¡¡its¡¡greatest¡¡collegiate
honor¡¡without¡¡being¡¡permitted¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡its¡¡wider¡¡and¡¡more¡¡popular¡¡tribute¡£

Clemens¡¡engaged¡¡a¡¡special¡¡secretary¡¡for¡¡the¡¡tripMr¡£¡¡Ralph¡¡W¡£¡¡Ashcroft£»
a¡¡young¡¡Englishman¡¡familiar¡¡with¡¡London¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡sailed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡8th¡¡of
June£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡coincidence¡¡exactly¡¡forty¡¡years¡¡from¡¡the¡¡day¡¡he¡¡had
sailed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Quaker¡¡City¡¡to¡¡win¡¡his¡¡great¡¡fame¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡went¡¡with¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the
ship¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡first¡¡elation¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡by¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡little
sad£»¡¡remembering£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡who¡¡would¡¡have¡¡enjoyed¡¡this¡¡honor
with¡¡him¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡¡share¡¡it¡¡now¡£




CCLVII

A¡¡TRUE¡¡ENGLISH¡¡WELCOME

Mark¡¡Twain's¡¡trip¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Atlantic¡¡would¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡pleasant
one¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Minneapolis¡¡is¡¡a¡¡fine£»¡¡big¡¡ship£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡plenty¡¡of
company¡£¡¡¡¡Prof¡£¡¡Archibald¡¡Henderson£»¡¡Bernard¡¡Shaw's¡¡biographer£»¡¡was
aboard£»£§Professor¡¡¡£Henderson¡¡has¡¡since¡¡then¡¡published¡¡a¡¡volume¡¡on¡¡Mark
Twain¡­an¡¡interesting¡¡commentary¡¡on¡¡his¡¡writings¡­mainly¡¡from¡¡the
sociological¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view¡££§¡¡also¡¡President¡¡Patton£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Princeton
Theological¡¡Seminary£»¡¡a¡¡well¡­known¡¡cartoonist£»¡¡Richards£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡very
attractive¡¡young¡¡peopleschool¡­girls¡¡in¡¡particular£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡all¡¡through
his¡¡life¡¡had¡¡appealed¡¡to¡¡Mark¡¡Twain¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡later¡¡life¡¡they¡¡made
a¡¡stronger¡¡appeal¡¡than¡¡ever¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡years¡¡had¡¡robbed¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡little
flock£»¡¡and¡¡always¡¡he¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡replace¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡he¡¡said£º

¡¨During¡¡those¡¡years¡¡after¡¡my¡¡wife's¡¡death¡¡I¡¡was¡¡washing¡¡about¡¡on¡¡a
forlorn¡¡sea¡¡of¡¡banquets¡¡and¡¡speech¡­making¡¡in¡¡high¡¡and¡¡holy¡¡causes£»¡¡and
these¡¡things¡¡furnished¡¡me¡¡intellectual¡¡cheer£»¡¡and¡¡entertainment£»¡¡but¡¡they
got¡¡at¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡for¡¡an¡¡evening¡¡only£»¡¡then¡¡left¡¡it¡¡dry¡¡and¡¡dusty¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had
reached¡¡the¡¡grandfather¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡life¡¡without¡¡grandchildren£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡began
to¡¡adopt¡¡some¡£¡¨

He¡¡adopted¡¡several¡¡on¡¡that¡¡journey¡¡to¡¡England¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡return¡¡voyage£»
and¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡on¡¡adopting¡¡others¡¡during¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡These
companionships¡¡became¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡happiest¡¡aspects¡¡of¡¡his¡¡final¡¡days£»¡¡as
we¡¡shall¡¡see¡¡by¡¡and¡¡by¡£

There¡¡were¡¡entertainments¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ship£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡given¡¡for¡¡the¡¡benefit
of¡¡the¡¡Seamen's¡¡Orphanage¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡his¡¡adopted¡¡granddaughters¡¨Charley¡¨
he¡¡called¡¡herplayed¡¡a¡¡violin¡¡solo¡¡and¡¡Clemens¡¡made¡¡a¡¡speech¡£¡¡¡¡Later¡¡his
autographs¡¡were¡¡sold¡¡at¡¡auction¡£¡¡¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Patton¡¡was¡¡auctioneer£»¡¡and¡¡one
autographed¡¡postal¡¡card¡¡brought¡¡twenty¡­five¡¡dollars£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡perhaps¡¡the
record¡¡price¡¡for¡¡a¡¡single¡¡Mark¡¡Twain¡¡signature¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡wore¡¡his¡¡white¡¡suit
on¡¡this¡¡occasion£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡his¡¡speech¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡He
told¡¡first¡¡of¡¡the¡¡many¡¡defects¡¡in¡¡his¡¡behavior£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡members¡¡of¡¡his
household¡¡had¡¡always¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡kee
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£ ÔÞһϠÌí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü