they had come down to us。
Mark Twain lived curiously apart from the actualities of life。 Dwelling
mainly among his philosophies and speculations； he observed vaguely； or
minutely； what went on about him； but in either case the fact took a
place； not in the actual world； but in a world within his consciousness；
or subconsciousness； a place where facts were likely to assume new and
altogether different relations from those they had borne in the physical
occurrence。 It not infrequently happened； therefore； when he recounted
some incident； even the most recent； that history took on fresh and
startling forms。 More than once I have known him to relate an occurrence
of the day before with a reality of circumstance that carried absolute
conviction； when the details themselves were precisely reversed。 If his
attention were called to the discrepancy； his face would take on a blank
look； as of one suddenly aroused from dreamland； to be followed by an
almost childish interest in your revelation and ready acknowledgment of
his mistake。 I do not think such mistakes humiliated him； but they often
surprised and； I think； amused him。
Insubstantial and deceptive as was this inner world of his； to him it
must have been much more real than the world of flitting physical。
shapes about him。 He would fix you keenly with his attention； but you
realized； at last； that he was placing you and seeing you not as a part
of the material landscape； but as an item of his own inner worlda world
in which philosophies and morals stood uprighta very good world indeed；
but certainly a topsy…turvy world when viewed with the eye of mere
literal scrutiny。 And this was； mainly； of course； because the routine
of life did not appeal to him。 Even members of his household did not
always stir his consciousness。
He knew they were there； he could call them by name； he relied upon them；
but his knowledge of them always suggested the knowledge that Mount
Everest might have of the forests and caves and boulders upon its slopes；
useful； perhaps； but hardly necessary to the giant's existence； and in no
important matter a part of its greater life。
CCLXXXIV
A LIBRARY CONCERT
In a letter which Clemens wrote to Miss Wallace at this time； he tells of
a concert given at Stormfield on September 21st for the benefit of the
new Redding Library。 Gabrilowitsch had so far recovered that he was up
and about and able to play。 David Bispham； the great barytone； always
genial and generous； agreed to take part； and Clara Clemens； already
accustomed to public singing； was to join in the program。 The letter to
Miss Wallace supplies the rest of the history。
We had a grand time here yesterday。 Concert in aid of the little
library。
TEAM
Gabrilowitsch； pianist。
David Bispham； vocalist。
Clara Clemens； ditto。
Mark Twain； introduces of team。
Detachments and squads and groups and singles came from everywhere…
Danbury； New Haven； Norwalk； Redding； Redding Ridge； Ridgefield； and
even from New York： some in 60…h。p。 motor…cars； some in buggies and
carriages； and a swarm of farmer…young…folk on foot from miles
around525 altogether。
If we hadn't stopped the sale of tickets a day and a half before the
performance we should have been swamped。 We jammed 160 into the
library （not quite all had seats）； we filled the loggia； the dining…
room； the hall； clear into the billiard…room； the stairs； and the
brick…paved square outside the dining…room door。
The artists were received with a great welcome； and it woke them up；
and I tell you they performed to the Queen's taste！ The program was
an hour and three…quarters long and the encores added a half…hour to
it。 The enthusiasm of the house was hair…lifting。 They all stayed
an hour after the close to shake hands and congratulate。
We had no dollar seats except in the library； but we accumulated
372 for the Building Fund。 We had tea at half past six for a
dozenthe Hawthornes； Jeannette Gilder； and her niece； etc。； and
after 8…o'clock dinner we had a private concert and a ball in the
bare…stripped library until 10； nobody present but the team and Mr。
and Mrs。 Paine and Jean and her dog。 And me。 Bispham did 〃Danny
Deever〃 and the 〃Erlkonig〃 in his majestic； great organ…tones and
artillery； and Gabrilowitsch played the accompaniments as they were
never played before； I do suppose。
There is not much to add to that account。 Clemens； introducing the
performers； was the gay feature of the occasion。 He spoke of the great
reputation of Bispham and Gabrilowitsch； then he said：
〃My daughter is not as famous as these gentlemen； but she is ever so much
better…looking。〃
The music of the evening that followed； with Gabrilowitsch at the piano
and David Bispham to sing； was something not likely ever to be repeated。
Bispham sang the 〃Erlkonig〃 and 〃Killiecrankie〃 and the 〃Grenadiers〃 and
several other songs。 He spoke of having sung Wagner's arrangement of the
〃Grenadiers〃 at the composer's home following his death； and how none of
the family had heard it before。
There followed dancing； and Jean Clemens； fine and handsome； apparently
full of life and health； danced down that great living…room as care…free
as if there was no shadow upon her life。 And the evening was
distinguished in another way； for before it ended Clara Clemens had
promised Ossip Gabrilowitsch to become his wife。
CCLXXXV
A WEDDING AT STORMFIELD
The wedding of Ossip Gabrilowitsch and Clara Clemens was not delayed。
Gabrilowitsch had signed for a concert tour in Europe； and unless the
marriage took place forthwith it must be postponed many months。 It
followed； therefore； fifteen days after the engagement。 They were busy
days。 Clemens； enormously excited and pleased over the prospect of the
first wedding in his family； personally attended to the selection of
those who were to have announcement…cards； employing a stenographer to
make the list。
October 6th was a perfect wedding…day。 It was one of those quiet； lovely
fall days when the whole world seems at peace。 Claude； the butler； with
his usual skill in such matters； had decorated the great living…room with
gay autumn foliage and flowers； brought in mainly from the woods and
fields。 They blended perfectly with the warm tones of the walls and
furnishings； and I do not remember ever having seen a more beautiful
room。 Only relatives and a few of the nearest friends were invited to
the ceremony。 The Twichells came over a day ahead； for Twichell； who had
assisted in the marriage rites between Samuel Clemens and Olivia Langdon；
was to perform that ceremony for their daughter now。 A fellow…student of
the bride and groom when they had been pupils of Leschetizky； in Vienna
Miss Ethel Newcombwas at the piano and played softly the Wedding March
from〃 Taunhauser。〃 Jean Clemens was the only bridesmaid； and she was
stately and classically beautiful； with a proud dignity in her office。
Jervis Langdon； the bride's cousin and childhood playmate； acted as best
man； and Clemens； of course； gave the bride away。 By request he wore his
scarlet Oxford gown over his snowy flannels； and was splendid beyond
words。 I do not write of the appearance of the bride and groom； for
brides and grooms are always handsome and always happy； and certainly
these were no exception。 It was all so soon over； the feasting ended；
and the principals whirling away into the future。 I have a picture in my
mind of them seated together in the automobile； with Richard Watson
Gilder standing on the step for a last good…by； and before them a wide
expanse of autumn foliage and distant hills。 I remember Gilder's voice
saying； when the car was on the turn； and they were waving back to us：
〃Over the hills and far away；
Beyond the utmost purple rim；
Beyond the night； beyond the day；
Through all the world she followed him。〃
The matter of the wedding had been kept from the newspapers until the eve
of the wedding； when the Associated Press had been notified。 A
representative was there； but Clemens had characteristically interviewed
himself on the subject； and it was only necessary to hand the reporter a
typewritten copy。 Replying to the question （put to himself）； 〃Are you
pleased with the marriage？〃 he answered：
Yes； fully as much as any marriage could please me or any other
father。 There are two or three solemn things in life and a happy
marriage is one of them； for the terrors of life are all to come。
I am glad of this marriage； and Mrs。 Clemens would be glad； for she
always had a warm affection for Gabrilowitsch。
There was another wedding at Stormfield on the following afternoonan
imitation wedding。 Little Joy came up with me； and wished she could
stand in just the spot where she had seen the bride stand； and she
expressed a wish that she could get married like that。 Clemens said：
〃Fr