Othersofthefamilywentdownintothecityalmostdaily，butheremainedinthatstillgardenwithJoanashiscompanion——theoldSieurdeConte，saturatedwithmemories，pouringoutthatmarvelousandtragictale。Attheendofeachdayhewouldreadtotheotherswhathehadwritten，totheirenjoymentandwonder。
　　HowrapidlyheworkedmaybejudgedfromaletterwhichhewrotetoHallinFebruary，inwhichhesaid：
　　Iamwritingacompanionpieceto’ThePrinceandthePauper’，whichishalfdone&willmake200，000words。
　　Thatistosay，hehadwrittenonehundredthousandwordsinaperiodofperhapssixweeks，marvelousworkwhenoneremembersthatafterallhewaswritinghistory，someofwhichhemustdiglaboriouslyfromaforeignsource。Hehadalways，moreorless，keptuphisstudyoftheFrench，begunsolongagoontheriveranditstoodhimingoodsteadnow。
　　Still，itwasnevereasyforhim，andthemultitudeofnotesalongthemarginofhisFrenchauthoritiesbearsevidenceofhisfaithfulnessandthemagnitudeofhistoil。Nopreviousworkhadeverrequiredsomuchofhim，suchthoroughknowledge；nonehadeversocompletelycommandedhisinterest。Hewouldhavebeenwillingtoremainshutawayfromvisitors，tohavebeenreleasedaltogetherfromsocialobligations；andhedidavoidmostofthem。Notall，forhecouldnotalwaysescape，andperhapsdidnotalwaysreallywishto。Florenceanditssuburbswerefullofdelightfulpeople——someofthemhisoldfriends。Therewereluncheons，dinners，teas，dances，concerts，operasalwaysinprogresssomewhere，andnotalloftheseweretoberesistedevenbyanabsorbedauthorwhowasnolongerhimself，butsadoldSieurdeConte，followingagainthebanneroftheMaidofOrleans，marshalinghertwilightarmiesacrosshisilluminedpage。
　　CLXXXIV
　　NEWHOPEINTHEMACHINE
　　Ifallhumaneventshadnotbeenorderedinthefirstactoftheprimalatom，andsobecomeinevitable，itwouldseemapitynowthathemustabandonhisworkhalf—way，andmakeanotherhard，distractingtriptoAmerica。
　　Butitwasnecessaryforhimtogo。EvenHallwasnolongeroptimistic。
　　Hislettersprovidedonlythebarestshredsofhope。Timeswerehardandtherewaseveryreasontobelievetheywouldbeworse。TheWorld’sFairyearpromisedtobewhatitspeedilybecame——oneofthehardestfinancialperiodsthiscountryhaseverseen。Chicagocouldhardlyhaveselectedamoreprofitlesstimeforhergreatexposition。ClemenswroteurgingHalltoselloutall，oraportion，ofthebusiness——todoanything，indeed，thatwouldavoidthenecessityoffurtherliabilityandincreaseddread。
　　EverypaymentthatcouldbesparedfromthesalesofhismanuscriptwasleftinHall’shands，andsuchmoneysasstillcametoMrs。ClemensfromherElmirainterestswereflungintothegeneralfund。Thelatterwerenolongerlarge，forLangdon&Co。weresufferingheavilyinthegeneraldepression，barelyhopingtoweatherthefinancialstorm。
　　ItisinterestingtonotethatageandmisfortuneandillnesshadatemperinginfluenceonMarkTwain’snature。Insteadofbecomingharshandsevereandbitter，hehadbecomemoregentle，morekindly。HewroteoftentoHall，alwaysconsiderately，eventenderly。Once，whensomethinginHall’slettersuggestedthathehadperhapsbeensevere，hewrote：
　　Mrs。Clemensisdeeplydistressed，forshethinksIhavebeenblamingyouorfindingfaultwithyouaboutsomething。Butmostassuredlythatcannotbe。ItellherthatalthoughIampronetowritehastyandregrettablethingstootherpeopleIamnotabitlikelytowritesuchthingstoyou。Ican’tbelieveIhavedoneanythingsoungrateful。IfIhave，pilecoalsoffireuponmyheadforIdeserveit。Youhavedonemagnificentlywiththebusiness，&
　　wemustraisethemoneysomehowtoenableyoutoreaparewardforallthatlabor。
　　HewasfondofHall。Herealizedhowhonestandresoluteandindustrioushehadbeen。Inanotherletterhewrotehimthatitwaswonderfulhehadbeenableto"keeptheshipafloatinthestormthathasseenfleetsandfleetsgodown"；andheadded："Mrs。ClemenssaysImusttellyounottosendusanymoneyforamonthortwo，sothatyoumaybeaffordedwhatlittlereliefisinourpower。"
　　Thetype—settersituationseemedtopromisesomething。Infact，themachineoncemorehadbecometheprincipalhopeoffinancialsalvation。
　　Thenewcompanyseemedreallytobegettingaheadinspiteofthemoneystringency，andwassaidtohavefiftymachineswellunderway：AboutthemiddleofMarchClemenspackeduptwoofhisshortermanuscriptswhichhehadwrittenatoddtimesandforwardedthemtoHall，inthehopethattheywouldbedisposedofandthemoneywaitinghimonhisarrival；andaweeklater，March22，1893，hesailedfromGenoaontheKaiserWilhelmII，afine，newboat。Oneofthemanuscriptswas’TheCalifornian’sTale’andtheotherwas’Adam’sDiary’。——[Itseemscuriousthatneitherofthesetalesshouldhavefoundwelcomewiththemagazines。"TheCalifornian’sTale"waspublishedintheLiberScriptorum，anAuthors’
　　Clubbook，editedbyArthurStedman。The’Diary’wasdisposedoftotheNiagaraBook，asouvenirofNiagaraFalls，whichcontainedsketchesbyHowells，Clemens，andothers。Harper’sMagazinerepublishedboththesestoriesinlateryears——theDiaryespeciallywithgreatsuccess。]
　　SomejokewaslikelytobeplayedonMarkTwainduringtheseoceanjourneys，andforthisparticularvoyageanoriginalonewasplanned。
　　TheyknewhowhewouldfumeandswearifheshouldbediscoveredwithdutiablegoodsandheldupintheCustomHouse，andtheyplannedforthiseffect。AfewdaysbeforearrivinginNewYorkonepassengerafteranothercametohim，eachwithaboxofexpensivecigars，andsomepleasantspeechexpressingfriendshipandappreciationandahopethattheywouldberememberedinabsence，etc。，untilhehadperhapstenoradozenverychoiceboxesofsmokingmaterial。Hetookthemallwithgratitudeandinnocence。Hehadneverdeclaredanydutiablebaggage，enteringNewYorkalone，anditneveroccurredtohimthathewouldneedtodosonow。Histrunkandbagswerefull；hehadthecigarsmadeintoanicepackage，tobecarriedhandily，andonhisarrivalattheNorthGermanLloyddocksstoodwaitingamonghisthingsfortheformalityofCustomsexamination，hisfriendsassembledfortheexplosion。
　　Theyhadnotcalculatedwell；theCustom—Houseofficialcamealongpresentlywiththeusual"Openyourbaggage，please，"thensuddenlyrecognizingtheownerofithesaid：
　　"Oh，Mr。Clemens，excuseme。Wehaveorderstoextendtoyouthecourtesiesoftheport。Noexaminationofyoureffectsisnecessary。"
　　ItwastheeveningofMonday，April3d，whenhelandedinNewYorkandwenttotheHotelGlenham。Inhisnoteshetellsofhavingatwo—hourtalkwithHowellsonthefollowingnight。Theyhadnotseeneachotherfortwoyears，andtheircorrespondencehadbeenbrokenoff。Itwasahappy，evenifsomewhatsad，reunion，fortheywerenolongeryoung，andwhentheycalledtherolloffriendsthereweremanyvacancies。Theyhadreachedanagewheresomeonetheyloveddiedeveryyear。WritingtoMrs。Crane，Clemensspeaksoftheghostsofmemory；thenhesays：
　　IdreamedIwasborn&grewup&wasapilotontheMississippi&aminer&ajournalistinNevada&apilgrimintheQuakerCity&hadawife&children&wenttoliveinavillaatFlorence——&thisdreamgoeson&on&sometimesseemssorealthatIalmostbelieveitisreal。Iwonderifitis？Butthereisnowaytotell，forifoneappliesteststheywouldbepartofthedream，too，&sowouldsimplyaidthedeceit。IwishIknewwhetheritisadreamorreal。
　　HewasmadehandsomelywelcomeinNewYork。Hisnote—booksays：
　　Wednesday。DinedwithMaryMapesDodge，Howells，RudyardKipling&
　　wife，Clarke，——[WiliiamFayalClarke，noweditorofSt。NicholasMagazine。]——JamieDodge&wife。
　　Thursday，6th。DinedwithAndrewCarnegie，Prof。GoldwinSmith，JohnCameron，Mr。Glenn。CreationofleagueforabsorbingCanadaintoourUnion。CarnegiealsowantstoaddGreatBritain&Ireland。
　　ItwasonthisoccasionthatCarnegiemadehiscelebratedmaximaboutthebasketandtheeggs。ClemenswassuggestingthatCarnegietakeaninterestinthetypesetter，andquotedtheoldadagethatoneshouldnotputallofhiseggsintoonebasket。Carnegieregardedhimthroughhalf—
　　closedlids，aswashiscustom，andanswered：
　　"That’samistake；putallyoureggsintoonebasket——andwatchthatbasket。"
　　HehadnotcometoAmericamerelyforentertainment。HewasattheNewYorkofficeofthetype—settercompany，acquiringtherewhatseemedtobegoodnews，forhewasassuredthathisinterestswerebeingtakencareof，andthatwithinayearatmosthisroyaltyreturnswouldplacehimfarbeyondthefearofwant。HeforwardedthisgoodnewstoItaly，whereitwassorelyneeded，forMrs。Clemensfoundhercouragenoteasytosustaininhisabsence。Thathehadmadehisletterglowingenough，wemaygatherfromheranswer。
　　Itdoesnotseemcrediblethatwearereallyagaintohavemoneytospend。IthinkIwilljumparoundandspendmoneyjustforfun，andgivealittleaway，ifwereallygetsome。Whatshouldwedoandhowshouldwefeelifwehadnobrightprospectsbeforeus，andyethowmanypeoplearesituatedinthatway？
　　HedecidedtomakeanothertriptoChicagotoverify，withhisowneyes，themanufacturingreports，andtoseePaige，whowouldappeartohavebecomemoreelusivethaneverastocontracts，writtenandimplied。HetookHallwithhim，andwroteOriontomeethimattheGreatNorthernHotel。ThiswouldgivehimachancetoseeOrionandwouldgiveOrionachancetoseethegreatFair。HewasinChicagoelevendays，andinbedwithaheavycoldalmostthewholeofthattime。Paigecametoseehimathisrooms，and，asalways，wasrichinprospectsandpromises；fullofprotestationsthat，whatevercame，whenthetideofmillionsrolledin，theywouldshareandsharealike。Thenote—booksays：
　　Paigeshedevenmoretearsthanusual。Whatatalkerheis！Hecouldpersuadeafishtocomeoutandtakeawalkwithhim。WhenheispresentIalwaysbelievehim；Ican’thelpit。
　　ClemensreturnedtoNewYorkassoonashewasabletotravel。Goingdownintheelevatoramansteppedinfromoneofthefloorsswearingviolently。Clemens，leaningovertoHall，withhishandtohismouth，andinawhisperaudibletoeveryone，said：
　　"BishopofChicago。"
　　Theman，withaquickglance，recognizedhisfellow—passengerandsubsided。
　　OnMay13thClemenstooktheKaiserWilhelmII。forGenoa。Hehadaccomplishedlittle，buthewasinbetterspiritsastothemachine。
　　Ifonlythestrainofhispublishingbusinesshadslackenedevenforamoment！Nightanddayitwasalwayswithhim。Hallpresentlywrotethattheconditionofthemoney—marketwas"somethingbeyonddescription。Youcannotgetmoneyonanythingshortofgovernmentbonds。"TheMountMorrisBankwouldnolongerhandletheirpaper。TheClemenshouseholdresortedtoeconomieshithertoundreamedof。Mrs。Clemenswrotetohersisterthatshereallydidnotseesometimeswheretheirnextmoneywouldcomefrom。Shereportedthatherhusbandgotupinthenightandwalkedthefloorinhisdistress。
　　HewroteagaintoHall，urginghimtosellandgetridofthedebtsandresponsibilitiesatwhateversacrifice：
　　Iamterriblytiredofbusiness。Iambynatureanddispositionunfitforit，&Iwanttogetoutofit。IamstandingontheMountMorrisvolcanowithhelpfromthemachinealong，longwayoff——&
　　doubtlessalongwayfurtheroffthantheConnecticutcompanyimagine。
　　Getmeoutofbusiness！
　　Heknewsomethingofthedelaysofcompletingatypesettingmachine，andhehadlittlefaithinanynearrelieffromthatsource。HewroteagaingoHall，urginghimtosellsomeofhistype—setterroyalties。Theyshouldbeworthsomethingnowsincethemanufacturingcompanywasactuallyinoperation；butwiththeterriblestateofthemoney—markettherewasnosaleforanything。Clemensattemptedtowork，butputinmostofhistimefootinguponthemarginofhismanuscripttheamountofhisindebtedness，theexpensesofhishousehold，andthepossibilitiesofhisincome。Itwasweary，hard，nerve—rackingemployment。AboutthemuddleofJunetheyclosedViviani。SusyClemenswenttoParistocultivatehervoice，araresoprano，withaviewtopreparingfortheoperaticstage。ClemenstookMrs。Clemens，withlittleJean，toGermanyforthebaths。Clara，whohadgraduatedfromMrs。Willard’sschoolinBerlin，joinedtheminMunich，andsomewhatlaterSusyalsojoinedthem，forMadameMarchesi，thegreatmasterofvoice—culture，hadtoldherthatshemustacquirephysiquetocarrythatvoiceofhersbeforeshewouldundertaketoteachher。
　　InspiteofhisdisturbedstateofmindClemensmusthavecompletedsomeliteraryworkduringthisperiod，forwefindfirstmention，inalettertoHall，ofhisimmortaldefenseofHarrietShelley，apieceofwritingallthemoremarvelouswhenweconsidertheconditionsofitsperformance。Characteristically，inthesameletter，hesuddenlydevelopsaplanforanewenterprise——thistimeforamagazinewhichArthurStedmanorhisfatherwilledit，andtheWebstercompanywillpublishassoonastheirpresentburdensareunloaded。Butwehearnomoreofthisproject。
　　ButbyAugusthewashalfbesidehimselfwithanxiety。Onthe6thhewroteHall：
　　Hereweneverseeanewspaper，butevenifwedidIcouldnotcomeanywherenearappreciatingorcorrectlyestimatingthetempestyouhavebeenbuffetingyourwaythrough——onlythemanwhoisinitcandothat——butIhavetriednottoburdenyouthoughtlesslyorwantonly……Ihavebeenoverwrought&unsettledinmindbyapprehensions，&thatisathingthatisnothelpablewhenoneisinastrangeland&seeshisresourcesmeltdowntoatwomonths’
　　supply&can’tseeanysuredaylightbeyond。Thebloodymachineoffersbutadoubtfuloutlook——&willstilloffernothingmuchbetterforalongtimetocome；forwhenthe"threeweeks"areup，therewillbethreemonths’tinkeringtofollow，Iguess。Thatisunquestionablythebossmachineoftheworld，butisthetoughestoneonprophetswhenitisinanincompletestatethathaseverseenthelight。
　　Andthreedayslater：
　　GreatScott，butit’salongyear——foryou&me！Ineverknewthealmanactodragso。AtleastnotsinceIwasfinishingthatothermachine。
　　Iwatchforyourlettershungrily——justasIusedtowatchforthetelegramsayingthemachine’sfinished——butwhen"nextweekcertainly"suddenlyswelledinto"threeweekssure"IrecognizedtheoldfamiliartuneIusedtohearsomuch。W————don’tknowwhatsick—heartednessis——butheisinawaytofindout。
　　Andfinally，onthe4th：
　　IamverygladindeedifyouandMr。Langdonareabletoseeanydaylightahead。Tomenoneisvisible。Istronglyadvisethateverypennythatcomesinshallbeappliedtopayingoffdebts。I
　　maybeinerroraboutthis，butitseemstomethatwehavenoothercourseopen。Wecanpayapartofthedebtsowingtooutsiders——
　　nonetoClemenses。Inveryprosperoustimeswemightregardourstock©rightsasassetssufficient，withthemoneyowingtous，tosquareup&quiteven，butIsupposewemaynothopeforsuchluckinthepresentconditionofthings。
　　WhatIammainlyhopingforistosavemybookroyalties。IftheycomeintodangerIhopeyouwillcablemesothatIcancomeover&
　　trytosavethem，foriftheygoIamabeggar。
　　Iwouldsailto—dayifIhadanybodytotakechargeofmyfamily&
　　helpthemthroughthedifficultjourneyscommandedbythedoctors。
　　Afewdayslaterhecouldstanditnolonger，andonAugust291893
　　sailed，thesecondtimethatyear，forNewYork。
　　CLXXXV
　　ANINTRODUCTIONTOH。H。ROGERS
　　ClemenstookaroomatThePlayers——"acheaproom，"hewrote，"at$1。50
　　perday。"ItwasnowtheendofSeptember，thebeginningofalonghalf—
　　year，duringwhichMarkTwain’sfortuneswereatalowerebbthaneverbefore；lower，even，thanduringthoseminingdaysamongthebleakEsmeraldahills。Thenhehadnoonebuthimselfandwasyoung。Now，atfifty—eight，hehadpreciouslivesdependentuponhim，andhewasweigheddownwithavastburdenofdebt。TheliabilitiesofCharlesL。Webster&Co。werefullytwohundredthousanddollars。SomethinglikesixtythousanddollarsofthiswasmoneysuppliedbyMrs。Clemens，butthevastremainingsumwasduetobanks，toprinters，tobinders，andtodealersinvariouspublishingmaterials。Somehowitmustbepaid。Asfortheirassets，theylookedampleenoughonpaper，butinreality，atatimelikethis，theywereproblematical。Infact，theirvaluewasverydoubtfulindeed。WhathewastodoClemensdidnotknow。HecouldnotevensendcheerfulreportstoEurope。Therewasnolongeranythingtopromiseconcerningthetype—setter。Thefiftymachineswhichthecompanyhadstartedtobuildhaddwindledtotenmachines；therewasaprospectthatthetenwoulddwindletoone，andthatoneareconstructionoftheoriginalHartfordproduct，whichhadcostsomuchmoneyandsomanywearyyears。ClemensspentagoodpartofhisdaysatThePlayers，readingortryingtowriteorseekingtodiverthismindinthecompanyofthecongenialsoulsthere，waitingfor—heknewnotwhat。
　　Yetatthisverymomentafactorwascomingintohislife，ahumanelement，amantowhominhisoldageMarkTwainowedmorethantoanyotherofhismyriadoffriends。Onenight，whenhewaswithDr。ClarenceC。RiceattheMurrayHillHotel，Ricesaid：
　　"Clemens，Iwantyoutoknowmyfriend，Mr。H。H。Rogers。Heisanadmirerofyourbooks。"
　　Clemensturnedandwaslookingintothehandsome，clean—cutfeaturesofthegreatfinancier，whosenamewashardlysofamiliarthenasitbecameatalaterperiod，butwhosepowerwasalreadywidelyknownandfeltamonghiskind。
　　"Mr。Clemens，"saidMr。Rogers，"Iwasoneofyourearlyadmirers。
　　IheardyoulecturealongtimeagoontheSandwichIslands。Iwasinterestedinthesubjectinthosedays，andIheardthatMarkTwainwasamanwhohadbeenthere。Ididn’tsupposeI’dhaveanydifficultygettingaseat，butIdid；thehousewasjammed。WhenIcameawayI
　　realizedthatMarkTwainwasagreatman，andIhavereadeverythingofyourssincethatIcouldgetholdof。"
　　Theysatdownatatable，andClemenstoldsomeofhisamusingstories。
　　Rogerswasinaperpetualgaleoflaughter。Whenatlastherosetogotheauthorandthefinancierwereasoldfriends。Mr。Rogersurgedhimtovisithimathishome。HemustintroducehimtoMrs。Rogers，hesaid，whowasalsohiswarmadmirer。ItwasonlyalittlewhileafterthisthatDr。Ricesaidtothemillionaire：
　　"Mr。Rogers，IwishyouwouldlookintoClemens’sfinancesalittle：Iamafraidtheyareagooddealconfused。"
　　ThiswouldbeneartheendofSeptember，1893。OnOctober18ClemenswrotehomeconcerningapossiblecombinationofWebster&Co。withJohnBrisbenWalker，ofthe’Cosmopolitan’，andadded：
　　IhavegotthebestandwisestmanofthewholeStandardOilgroup—amulti—millionaire——agooddealinterestedinlookingintothetype—
　　setter。Hehasbeensearchingintothatthingforthreeweeksandyesterdayhesaidtome：
　　"Ifindthemachinetobeallyourepresentit。Ihavehereexhaustivereportsfrommyownexperts，andIknoweverydetailofitscapacity，itsimmenseconstruction，itscost，itshistory，andallaboutitsinventor’scharacter。IknowthattheNewYorkcompanyandtheChicagocompanyarebothstupid，andthattheyareunbusinesslikepeople，destituteofmoneyandinahopelessboggle。"
　　Thenhetoldmetheschemehehadplannedandsaid：
　　"IfIcanarrangewiththesepeopleonthisbasis——itwilltakeseveralweekstofindout——Iwillseetoitthattheygetthemoneytheyneed。Inthemeantimeyou’stopwalkingthefloor’。"
　　Ofcourse，withthisencouragement，Clemenswasinthecloudsagain。
　　Furthermore，Rogershadsuggestedtohisson—in—law，WilliamEvartsBenjamin，alsoasubscriptionpublisher，thathebuyfromtheWebstercompanyTheLibraryofAmericanLiteratureforfiftythousanddollars，asumwhichprovidedforthemoreinsistentcreditors。Therewashopethattheworstwasover。Clemensdidinrealitygiveupwalkingthefloor，andforthetime，atleast，foundhappierdiversions。HemustnotreturntoEuropeasyet，forthetype—settermatterwasstillfarfromconclusion。Onthe11thofNovemberhewasgorgeouslyentertainedbytheLotosClubinitsnewbuilding。Introducinghim，PresidentFrankLawrencesaid：
　　"Whatnameisthereinliteraturethatcanbelikenedtohis？Perhapssomeofthedistinguishedgentlemenaboutthistablecantellus，butI
　　knowofnone。Himselfhisonlyparallel，itseemstome。Heisallourown——aripeandperfectproductoftheAmericansoil。"
　　CLXXXVI
　　"THEBELLEOFNEWYORK"
　　Thosewerefeverishweeksofwaiting，withdaysofalternatedepressionandexaltationasthependulumswungtoandfrobetweenhopeanddespair。
　　BydaylightClemenstriedtokeephimselfstrenuouslybusy；eveningsandnightsheplungedintosocialactivities——dinners，amusements，suppers，balls，andthelike。Hewasbesiegedwithinvitations，soughtforbythegayestandthegreatest；"Jamie"Dodgeconferreduponhimtheappropriatetitle：of"TheBelleofNewYork。"Inhislettershomehedescribesindetailmanyofthefestivitiesandthewildnesswithwhichhehasflunghimselfintothem，dilatingonhissplendidrenewalofhealth，hisabsoluteimmunityfromfatigue。Heattributesthistohisindifferencetodietandregularitiesofmealsandsleep；butwemayguessthatitwasduetoareactionfromhavingshiftedhisburdentostrongerfinancialshoulders。HenryRogershadtakenhisloaduponhim。
　　"Itrestsme，"Rogerssaid，"toexperimentwiththeaffairsofafriendwhenIamtiredofmyown。Youenjoyyourself。Letmeworkatthepuzzlealittle。"
　　AndClemens，thoughhisconscienceprickedhim，obeyed，aswashishabitatsuchtimes。ToMrs。ClemensinParisnow，attheHote1Brightonhewrote：
　　Heisnotcommonclay，butfine—fine&delicate。Ididhatetoburdenhisgoodheart&overworkedhead，buthetookholdwithavidity&saiditwasnoburdentoworkforhisfriends，butapleasure。WhenIarrivedinSeptember，Lord！howblacktheprospectwas&howdesperate，howincurablydesperate！Webster&Co。hadtohaveasmallsumofmoneyorgounderatonce。IflewtoHartford——
　　tomyfriends——buttheywerenotmoved，notstronglyinterested，&I
　　wasashamedthatIwent。ItwasfromMr。Rogers，astranger，thatI
　　gotthemoneyandwasbyitsaved。Andthen——whilestillastranger——hesethimselfthetaskofsavingmyfinanciallifewithoutputtinguponmeinhisnativedelicacyanysensethatI
　　wastherecipientofacharity，abenevolence。Hegavetimetome——
　　time，whichcouldnotbeboughtbyanymanat$100，000amonth——no，norforthreetimesthemoney。
　　HeaddsthatafriendhasjustofferedtoWebster&Co。abookthatarraignstheStandardOilmagnatesindividualbyindividual。
　　IwantedtosaytheonlymanIcareforintheworld，theonlymanI
　　wouldgivead———nfor，theonlymanwhoislavishinghissweat&
　　bloodtosaveme&minefromstarvationisaStandardOilmagnate。
　　Ifyouknowme，youknowwhetherIwantthebookornot。
　　ButIdidn’tsaythat。IsaidIdidn’twantanybook；Iwantedtogetoutofthispublishingbusiness&outofallbusiness&washereforthatpurpose&wouldaccomplishitifIcould。
　　HetellshowheplayedbilliardswithRogers，tirelesslyasalways，untilthemillionairehadlookedathimhelplesslyandasked：
　　"Don’tyouevergettired？"
　　Andheanswered：
　　"Idon’tknowwhatitistogettired。IwishIdid。"
　　HewroteofgoingwithMr。RogerstotheMadisonSquareGardentoseeanexhibitionofboxinggivenbythethensplendidstarofpugilism，JamesJ。Corbett。Dr。Riceaccompaniedhim，andpaintersRobertReidandEdwardSimmons，fromThePlayers。Theyhadfiveseatsinabox，andStanfordWhitecamealongpresentlyandtookClemensintothechampion’sdressing—room。
　　Corbetthasafinefaceandismodestanddiffident，besidesbeingthemostperfectly&beautifullyconstructedhumananimalintheworld。Isaid：
　　"YouhavewhippedMitchell&maybeyouwillwhipJacksoninJune——
　　butyouarenotdonethen。Youwillhavetotackleme。"
　　Heanswered，sogravelythatonemighteasilyhavethoughthiminearnest：
　　"No，Iamnotgoingtomeetyouinthering。Itisnotfairorrighttorequireit。Youmightchancetoknockmeout，bynomeritofyourown，butbyapurelyaccidentalblow，&thenmyreputationwouldbegone&youwouldhaveadoubleone。Youhavegotfameenough&yououghtnottowanttotakemineawayfromme。"
　　CorbettwasforalongtimeaclerkintheNevadaBank，inSanFrancisco。
　　Therewerelotsoflittleboxing—matchestoentertainthecrowd；
　　thenatlastCorbettappearedinthering&the8，000peoplepresentwentmadwithenthusiasm。Mytwoartistswentmadabouthisform。
　　TheysaidtheyhadneverseenanythingthatcamereasonablynearequalingitsperfectionexceptGreekstatues，&theydidn’tsurpassit。
　　Corbettboxed3roundswiththemiddle—weightAustralianchampion——
　　oh，beautifultosee！——thentheshowwasoverandwestruggledoutthroughaperfectmashofhumanity。WhenwereachedthestreetI
　　foundIhadleftmyarcticsinthebox。Ihadtohavethem，soSimmonssaidhewouldgoback&getthem，&Ididn’tdissuadehim。
　　Iwouldn’tseehowhewasgoingtomakehiswayasingleyardintothatsolidincomingwaveofpeople——yethemustplowthroughitfull50yards。Hewasbackwiththeshoesin3minutes！
　　Howdoyoureckonheaccomplishedthatmiracle？Bysaying：
　　"Way，gentlemen，please——comingtofetchMr。Corbett’sovershoes。"
　　Thewordflewfrommouthtomouth，theRedSeadivided，&Simmonswalkedcomfortablythrough&back，dry—shod。ThisisFire—escapeSimmons，theinveteratetalker，youknow：Exit——incaseofSimmons。
　　IhadanengagementatabeautifuldwellingclosetoThePlayersfor10。30；Iwasthereby10。45。Thirtycultivated&verymusicalladies&gentlemenpresent——allofthemacquaintances&manyofthempersonalfriendsofmine。ThatwonderfulHungarianbandwastheretheycharge$500foranevening。Conversationandbanduntilmidnight；thenabiteofsupper；thenthecompanywascompactlygroupedbeforeme&ItoldthemaboutDr。B。E。Martin&theetchings，&followeditwiththeScotch—Irishchristening。My，buttheMartinisadarlingstory！Next，theheadtenorfromtheOperasanghalfadozengreatsongsthatsetthecompanywild，yes，madwithdelight，thatnoblyhandsomeyoungDamroschaccompanyingonthepiano。
　　Justalittlepause，thenthebandburstoutintoanexplosionofweirdandtremendousdance—music，aHungariancelebrity&hiswifetookthefloor；Ifollowed——Icouldn’thelpit；theothersdriftedin，onebyone，&itwasOnteoraoveragain。
　　Byhalfpast4。Ihaddancedallthosepeopledown——&yetwasnottired；merelybreathless。Iwasinbedat5&asleepintenminutes。Upat9&presentlyatworkonthislettertoyou。I
　　thinkIwroteuntil2orhalfpast。ThenIwalkedleisurelyouttoMr。Rogers’sitiscalled3miles，butisshortofit，arrivingat3。30，buthewasout——toreturnat5。30——soIdidn’tstay，butdroppedoverandchattedwithHowellsuntilfive。
　　——[TwoMarkTwainanecdotesarerememberedofthatwinteratThePlayers：
　　JustbeforeChristmasamembernamedScottsaidoneday：
　　"Mr。Clemens，youhaveanextraovercoathanginginthecoatroom。I’vegottoattendmyuncle’sfuneralandit’srainingveryhard。I’dliketowearit。"
　　Thecoatwasanoldone，inthepocketsofwhichClemenskeptamelancholyassortmentofpipes，soiledhandkerchiefs，neckties，letters，andwhatnot。
　　"Scott，"hesaid，"ifyouwon’tloseanythingoutofthepocketsofthatcoatyoumaywearit。"
　　AnhourortwolaterClemensfoundanoticeinhismail—boxthatapackageforhimwasintheoffice。Hecalledforitandfoundaneatbundle，whichsomehowhadaChristmaslook。Hecarriedituptothereading—roomwithashowy，air。
　　"Now，boys，"hesaid，"youmaymakeallthefunofChristmasyoulike，butit’sprettynice，afterall，toberemembered。"
　　Theygatheredaroundandheundidthepackage。Itwasfilledwiththepipes，soiledhandkerchiefs，andotherarticlesfromtheoldovercoat。
　　Scotthadtakenspecialprecautionsagainstlosingthem。
　　MarkTwainregardedthemamomentinsilence，thenhedrawled：
　　"Well——d———nScott。Ihopehisuncle’sfuneralwillbeafailure！"
　　ThesecondanecdoteconcernsThePlayeregg—cups。Theyeasilyholdtwoeggs，butnotthree。Onemorninganewwaitercametotakethebreakfastorder。Clemenssaid：
　　"Boy，putthreesofteggsinthatcupforme。"
　　Byandbythewaiterreturned，bringingthebreakfast。Clemenslookedattheeggportionandasked：
　　"Boy，whatwasmyorder？"
　　"Threesofteggsbrokeninthecup，Mr。Clemens。"
　　"Andyou’vefilledthatorder，haveyou？"
　　"Yes，Mr。Clemens。"
　　"Boy，youaretriflingwiththetruth；I’vebeentryingallwintertogetthreeeggsintothatcup。"]
　　InoneletterhetellsofadinnerwithhisoldComstockfriend，JohnMackay——adinnerwithoutanyfrills，justsoupandrawoystersandcornedbeefandcabbage，suchastheyhadreveledinsometimes，inprosperousmoments，thirtyyearsbefore。
　　"TheguestswereoldgrayPacificcoasters，"hesaid，"whomIknewwhentheywereyoungandnotgray。Thetalkwasofthedayswhenwewentgipsying—alongtimeago——thirtyyears。"
　　Indeed，itwasatalkofthedead。Mainlythat。Andofhowtheylooked&theharum—scarumthingstheydid&said。Fortherewerenocaresinthatlife，noaches&pains，¬timeenoughintheday&three—
　　fourthsofthenighttoworkoffone’ssurplusvigor&energy。Ofthemidnighthighway—robberyjokeplayeduponmewithrevolversatmyheadonthewindswept&desolateGoldHillDividenowitnesswasleftbutme，thevictim。Thoseoldfoolslastnightlaughedtilltheycriedovertheparticularsofthatoldforgottencrime。
　　InstillanotherletterhetoldofaverywonderfulentertainmentatRobertReid’sstudio。Therewerepresent，hesays：
　　Coquelin；
　　RichardHardingDavis；
　　Harrison，thegreatoutdoorpainter；
　　Wm。H。Chase，theartist；
　　Bettini，inventorofthenewphonograph；
　　NikolaTesla，theworld—wideillustriouselectrician；seearticleabouthiminJan。orFeb。Century。
　　JohnDrew，actor；
　　JamesBarnes，amarvelousmimic；my，youshouldseehim！
　　Smedley，theartist；
　　Zorn，""
　　Zogbaum，""
　　Reinhart，""
　　Metcalf，""
　　Ancona，headtenorattheOpera；
　　Oh，&agreatlotofothers。Everybodytherehaddonesomething&
　　wasinhiswayfamous。
　　SomebodywelcomedCoquelininanicelittleFrenchspeech，JohnDrewdidthelikeformeinEnglish，&thenthefunbegan。CoquelindidsomeexcellentFrenchmonologues——oneofthemanungrammaticalEnglishmantellingacolorlesshistorietteinFrench。Itnearlykilledthefifteenortwentypeoplewhounderstoodit。
　　Itoldayarn，Anconasanghalfadozensongs，Barnesdidhisdarlingimitations，HandingDavissangthehangingofDannyDeever，whichwasofcoursegood，buthefolloweditwiththatmastfascinatingforwhatreasonIdon’tknowofallKipling’spoems，"OntheRoadtoMandalay，"sangittenderly，&itsearchedmedeeper&charmedmemorethantheDeever。
　　YoungGerritSmithplayedsomeravishingdance—music，&wealldancedaboutanhour。Therecouldn’tbeapleasanternightthanthatonewas。Someofthosepeoplecomplainedoffatigue，butI
　　don’tseemtoknowwhatthesenseoffatigueis。
　　Inhisreprievehewaslikesomewildthingthathadregainedliberty。
　　HereferstoSusy’srecentillnessandtoMrs。Clemens’sownpoorstateofhealth。
　　Dear，dearSusy！MystrengthreproachesmewhenIthinkofherandyou。
　　Itisanunspeakablepitythatyoushouldbewithoutanyonetogoaboutwiththegirls，&ittroublesme，&grievesme，&makesmecurse&swear；butyousee，dearheart，I’vegottostickrightwhereIamtillIfindoutwhetherwearerichorwhetherthepoorestpersonweareacquaintedwithinanybody’skitchenisbetteroffthanweare……Istandontheland—endofaspringboard，withthefamilyclusteredontheotherend；ifItakemyfoot————
　　Herealizedhishopestoherasavesseltryingtomakeport；oncehewrote：
　　Theshipisinsightnow……
　　WhentheanchorisdownthenIshallsay：
　　"Farewell——alongfarewell——tobusiness！Iwillnevertouchitagain！"
　　Iwillliveinliterature，Iwillwallowinit，revelinit；Iwillswiminink！’JoanofArc’——butallthisispremature；theanchorisnotdownyet。
　　Sometimeshesentherimpulsivecablescalculatingtosustainhope。Mrs。
　　Clemens，writingtohersisterinJanuary，said：
　　Mr。ClemensnowfortendayshasbeenhourlyexpectingtosendmewordthatPaigehadsignedthenewcontract，butasyetnodespatchcomes……Onthe5thofthismonthIreceivedacable，"Expectgoodnewsintendays。"Onthe15thIreceiveacable，"Lookoutforgoodnews。"Onthe19thacable，"Nearingsuccess。"
　　Itappealedtohersenseofhumoreveninthesedarkdays。Sheadded：
　　Theymakemelaugh，fortheyaresolikemybeloved"Colonel。"
　　Mr。RogershadagreedthathewouldbringPaigetorationalterms，andwithClemensmadeatriptoChicago。Allagreednowthatthemachinepromisedacertainfortuneassoonasacontractacceptabletoeverybodycouldbeconcluded——Paigeandhislawyerbeingthelasttodallyanddickerastoterms。FinallyatelegramcamefromChicagosayingthatPaigehadagreedtoterms。OnthatdayClemenswroteinhisnote—book：
　　Thisisagreatdateinmyhistory。Yesterdaywewerepauperswithbut3months’rationsofcashleftand$160，000indebt，mywife&I，butthistelegrammakesuswealthy。
　　ButitwasnotuntilafortnightlaterthatPaigedidactuallysign。
　　Thiswasonthe1stofFebruary，’94，andClemensthatnightcabledtoParis，sothatMrs。Clemenswouldhaveitonherbreakfast—platethemorningoftheiranniversary：
　　"Weddingnews。Ourshipissafeinport。IsailthemomentRogerscanspareme。"
　　Sothispaintedbubble，thisthingofemptiness，hadbecomeassubstanceagain——thegrandhope。Hewasasconcernedwithitasifithadbeenanactualgold—minewithoreandbullionpiledinheaps——thatshadow，thatfarce，thatnightmare。Onelongstogobackthroughtheyearsandfacehimtothelightandarousehimtothevastshamofitall。
　　CLXXXVII
　　SOMELITERARYMATTERS
　　Clemensmighthavelecturedthatwinterwithprofit，andMajorPonddidhisbesttopersuadehim；butRogersagreedthathispresenceinNewYorkwaslikelytobetooimportanttowarrantanyscheduleofabsence。HewentoncetoBostontolectureforcharity，thoughhispleasureintheexperiencewasasufficientreward。OntheeveningbeforethelectureMrs。JamesT。FieldshadhimtoherhousetodinewithDr。Holmes，thennotfarfromtheendofhislong，beautifullife。——[Hediedthatsameyear，October，1894。]
　　ClemenswrotetoParisoftheireveningtogether：
　　Dr。OliverWendellHolmesnevergoesoutheisinhis84thyear，buthecameoutthistime——saidhewantedto"haveatime"oncemorewithme。
　　Mrs。FieldssaidAldrichbeggedtocome，&wentawaycryingbecauseshewouldn’tlethim。SheallowedonlyherfamilySarahOrneJewett&
　　sistertobepresent，becausemuchcompanywouldovertaxDr。Holmes。
　　Well，hewasjustdelightful！Hedidasbrilliantandbeautifultalking&listeningasheeverdidinhislife，Iguess。FieldsandJewettsaidhehadn’tbeeninsuchsplendidformforyears。Hehadorderedhiscarriagefor9。Thecoachmansentinforhimat9，buthesaid，"Oh，nonsense！——leaveglories&grandeurslikethese？Tellhimtogoaway&
　　comeinanhour！"
　　At10hewascalledforagain，&Mrs。Fields，gettinguneasy，rose，buthewouldn’tgo——&sowerattledaheadthesameasever。TwicemoreMrs。
　　Fieldsrose，buthewouldn’tgo——&hedidn’tgotillhalfpast10——anunwarrantabledissipationforhiminthesedays。Hewasprodigiouslycomplimentaryaboutsomeofmybooks，&ishavingPudd’nheadreadtohim。
　　Itoldhimyou&IusedtheAutocratasacourtingbook&markeditallthrough，&thatyoukeepitinthesacredgreenboxwiththeloveletters，&itpleasedhim。
　　OneotheraddressClemensdeliveredthatwinter，atFairHaven，ontheopeningoftheMillicentLibrary，apresenttothetownfromMrs。Rogers。
　　Mrs。RogershadsuggestedtoherhusbandthatperhapsMr。Clemenswouldbewillingtosayafewwordsthere。Mr。Rogershadreplied，"Oh，Clemensisintrouble。Idon’tliketoaskhim，"butadayortwolatertoldhimofMrs。Rogers’swish，adding：
　　"Don’tfeelatallthatyouneedtodoit。Iknowjusthowyouarefeeling，howworriedyouare。"
　　Clemensanswered，"Mr。Rogers，doyouthinkthereisanythingIcoulddoforyouthatIwouldn’tdo？"
　　Itwasonthisoccasionthathetoldforthefirsttimethe"stolenwatermelon"story，sooftenreprintedsince；howoncehehadstolenawatermelon，andwhenhefoundittobeagreenone，hadreturnedittothefarmer，withalectureonhonesty，andreceivedaripeoneinitsplace。
　　InspiteofhiscaresanddiversionsClemens’sliteraryactivitiesofthistimewereconsiderable。HewroteanarticlefortheYouth’sCompanion——"HowtoTellaStory"——andanotherfortheNorthAmericanReviewonFenimoreCooper’s"LiteraryOffenses。"MarkTwainhadnotmuchrespectforCooperasaliteraryartist。Cooper’sstiltedartificialitiesandslipshodEnglishexasperatedhimandmadeithardforhimtoseethatinspiteofthesethingstheauthoroftheDeerslayerwasamightystory—teller。ClemenshadalsopromisedsomestoriestoWalker，oftheCosmopolitan，andgavehimoneforhisChristmasnumber，"TravelingwithaReformer，"whichhadgrownoutofsomeincidentsofthatlong—agojourneywithOsgoodtoChicago，supplementedbyothersthathadhappenedonthemorerecentvisittothatcitywithHall。ThisstoryhadalreadyappearedwhenClemensandRogershadmadetheirChicagotrip。
　　RogershadwrittenforpassesoverthePennsylvaniaroad，andthepresident，replying，said：
　　"No，Iwon’tgiveMarkTwainapassoverourroad。I’vebeenreadinghis’TravelingwithaReformer，’inwhichheabusesourroad。Iwouldn’tlethimrideoveritagainifIcouldhelpit。TheonlywayI’llagreetolethimgooveritatallisinmyprivatecar。Ihavestockeditwitheverythinghecanpossiblywant，andhavegivenordersthatifthereisanythingelsehewantsthetrainistobestoppeduntiltheycangetit。"
　　"Pudd’nheadWilson"wasappearingintheCenturyduringthisperiod，and"TomSawyerAbroad"intheSt。Nicholas。TheCenturyhadissuedatinycalendarofthePudd’nheadmaxims，andthesequaintbitsofphilosophy，theverygemsofMarkTwainmentalriches，wereineverybody’smouth。
　　Withallthisgoingon，andwithhisappearanceatvarioussocialevents，hewasratheramorespectacularfigurethatwinterthaneverbefore。
　　>Fromthenote—book：
　　TheHauntedLooking—glass。Theguestatmidnightadimlightburningwakesup&seesappear&disappearthefacesthathavelookedintotheglassduring3centuries。
　　Loveseemstheswiftestbutistheslowestofallgrowths。Nomanandwomanreallyknowwhatperfectloveisuntiltheyhavebeenmarriedaquarterofacentury。
　　Itismoretroubletomakeamaximthanitistodoright。
　　OfallGod’screatures，thereisonlyonethatcannotbemadetheslaveofthelash——thatoneisthecat。
　　Truthisstrangerthanfiction——tosomepeople，butIammeasurablyfamiliarwithit。
　　CLXXXVIII
　　FAILURE
　　ItwasthefirstweekinMarchbeforeitwasthoughttobesafeforClemenstoreturntoFrance，evenforabriefvisittohisfamily。Hehurriedacrossandremainedwiththemwhatseemedaninfinitesimaltime，abarethreeweeks，andwasbackagaininNewYorkbythemiddleofApril。TheWebstercompanydifficultieshadnowreachedanacutestage。
　　Mr。Rogershadkeptaclosewatchonitsfinancialaffairs，hopingtobeabletopullitthroughortocloseitwithoutfailure，payingallthecreditorsinfull；butontheafternoonofthe16thofApril，1894，HallarrivedatClemens’sroomatThePlayersinapanic。TheMountMorrisBankhadelectedanewpresidentandboardofdirectors，andhadstraightwayservednoticeonhimthathemustpayhisnotes——twonotesoffivethousanddollarseachinafewdayswhendue。Mr。Rogerswasimmediatelynotified，ofcourse，andsaidhewouldsleeponitandadvisethemnextday。Hedidnotbelievethatthebankwouldreallypushthemtothewall。Thenextdaywasspentinseeingwhatcouldbedone，andbyeveningitwasclearthatunlessaconsiderablesumofmoneywasraisedavoluntaryassignmentwasthepropercourse。Theendofthelongstrugglehadcome。Clemenshesitatedlessonhisownthanonhiswife’saccount。
　　Heknewthattoherthewordfailurewouldbeassociatedwithdisgrace。
　　Shehadpinchedherselfwithahundredeconomiestokeepthebusinessafloat，andwaswillingtogooneconomizingtoavertthisfinaldisaster。Mr。Rogerssaid：
　　"Mr。Clemens，assureherfrommethatthereisnotevenatingeofdisgraceinmakingthisassignment。Bydoingityouwillrelieveyourselfofafearfulloadofdread，andintimewillbeabletopayeverythingandstandclearbeforetheworld。Ifyoudon’tdoityouwillprobablyneverbefreefromdebt，anditwillkillyouandMrs。Clemensboth。Ifthereisanydisgraceitwouldbeinnottakingthecoursethatwillgiveyouandheryourfreedomandyourcreditorsabetterchancefortheirclaims。Mostofthemwillbegladenoughtohelpyou。"
　　Itwasontheafternoonofthenextday，April18，1894，thatthefirmofCharlesL。Webster&Co。executedassignmentpapersandcloseditsdoors。Ameetingofthecreditorswascalled，atwhichH。H。Rogerswaspresent，representingClemens。Forthemostpartthecreditorswereliberalandwillingtoagreetoanyequitablearrangement。Buttherewereafewwhoweregrumpyandfussy。TheydeclaredthatMarkTwainshouldturnoverhiscopyrights，hisHartfordhome，andwhateverotheroddsandendscouldbediscovered。Mr。Rogers，discussingthematterin1908，said：
　　"Theywerebentondevouringeverypoundoffleshinsightandpickingthebonesafterward，asClemensandhiswifewereperfectlywillingtheyshoulddo。Iwasgettingalittlewarmallthetimeatthehighhandedwayinwhichthesefewmenwereconductingthething，andpresentlyIgotonmyfeetandsaid，’Gentlemen，youarenotgoingtohavethisthingallyourway。IhavesomethingtosayaboutMr。Clemens’saffairs。Mrs。
　　Clemensisthechiefcreditorofthisfirm。Outofherownpersonalfortuneshehaslentitmorethansixtythousanddollars。Shewillbeapreferredcreditor，andthosecopyrightswillbeassignedtoheruntilherclaimispaidinfull。AsforthehomeinHartford，itishersalready。’
　　"Therewasagooddealofcomplaint，butIrefusedtobudge。IinsistedthatMrs。Clemenshadthefirstclaimsonthecopyrights，though，totellthetruth，thesedidnotpromisemuchthen，forinthathardyearthesaleofbookswassmallenough。BesidesMrs。Clemens’sclaimthedebtsamountedtoonehundredthousanddollars，andofcoursetheremustbeadefinitebasisofsettlement，soitwasagreedthatClemensshouldpayfiftycentsonthedollar，whentheassetswerefinallyrealizedupon，andreceiveaquittance。Clemenshimselfdeclaredthatsoonerorlaterhewouldpaytheotherfiftycents，dollarfordollar，thoughIbelievetherewasnoonebesideshimselfandhiswifeandmewhobelievedhewouldeverbeabletodoit。Clemenshimselfgotdiscouragedsometimes，andwasaboutreadytogiveitup，forhewasgettingoninyears——nearlysixty——andhewasinpoorhealth。Oncewhenwefoundthedebt，aftertheWebstersalvage，wasgoingtobeatleastseventythousanddollars，hesaid，’Ineednotdreamofpayingit。Inevercouldmanageit。’Buthestucktoit。Hewasatmyhouseagooddealatfirst。Wegavehimaroomthereandhecameandwentashechose。Theworrytolduponhim。
　　Hebecamefrailduringthoseweeks，almostethereal，yetitwasstrangehowbrillianthewas，howcheerful。"
　　Thebusinessthathadbegunsopromisinglyandprosperouslyadecadebeforehaddwindledtoitsend。Thelastbookithadinhandwas’TomSawyerAbroad’，justreadyforissue。ItcuriouslyhappenedthatonthedayofthefailurecopiesofitwerefiledinWashingtonforcopyright。
　　FrankBlisscameoverfromHartford，andClemensarrangedwithhimforthepublicationof’Pudd’nheadWilson’，therebyrenewingtheoldrelationshipwiththeAmericanPublishingCompanyafterabreakofadozenyears。
　　Naturally，thefailureofMarkTwain’spublishingfirmmadeapublicstir，anditshowedhowmanyandsincerewerehisfriends，howreadytheywerewithsympathyandhelpofamorematerialkind。Thosewhounderstoodbest，congratulatedhimonbeingoutoftheentanglement。
　　PoultneyBigelow，DouglasTaylor，AndrewCarnegie，CharlesDudleyWarner，andothersextendedfinancialhelp，BigelowandTayloreachinclosinghimacheckofonethousanddollarsforimmediatenecessities。Hewastouchedbythesethings，butthecheckswerereturned。Manyofhiscreditorssenthimpersonallettersassuringhimthathewastoforgethisobligationtothemcompletelyuntilsuchtimeastherememberingwouldcosthimnouneasiness。
　　Clemens，infact，feltrelieved，nowthattheworsthadcome，andwrotebrightlettershome。Inonehesaid：
　　Mr。Rogersisperfectlysatisfiedthatourcoursewasright，absolutelyrightandwise——cheerup，thebestisyettocome。
　　Andagain：
　　Now&thenagoodanddearJoeTwichellorSusyWarnercondoleswithme&says，"Cheerup—don’tbedownhearted，"andsomeotherfriendsays，"I’mgladandsurprisedtoseehowcheerfulyouare&howbravelyyoustandit，"&noneofthemsuspectwhataburdenhasbeenliftedfromme&howblitheIaminside。ExceptwhenIthinkofyou，dearheart——thenIamnotblithe；forIseemtoseeyougrievingandashamed，&dreadingtolookpeopleintheface。Forinthethickofthefightthereischeer，butyouarefaraway&cannothearthedrumnorseethewheelingsquadrons。Youonlyseemtoseerout，retreat，&dishonoredcolorsdragginginthedirt——whereasnoneofthesethingsexist。Thereistemporarydefeat，butnodishonor——&wewillmarchagain。CharleyWarnersaidto—day，"Sho，Livyisn’tworrying。Solongasshe’sgotyouandthechildrenshedoesn’tcarewhathappens。Sheknowsitisn’theraffair。"Whichdidn’tconvinceme。
　　OliviaClemenswrotebravelyandencouraginglytohim，andmorecheerfullythanshefelt，forinalettertohersistershesaid：
　　ThehideousnewsofWebster&Co。’sfailurereachedmebycableonThursday，andFridaymorningGalignani’sMessengerhadasquibaboutit。OfcourseIknewitwaslikelytocome，butIhadgreathopethatitwouldbeinsomewayaverted。Mr。RogerswassosuretherewasnowayoutbutfailurethatIsupposeitwastrue。ButIhaveaperfecthorrorandheart—sicknessoverit。Icannotgetawayfromthefeelingthatbusinessfailuremeansdisgrace。Isupposeitalwayswillmeanthattome。Wehaveputagreatdealofmoneyintotheconcern，andperhapstherewouldhavebeennothingbuttokeepputtingitinandlosingit。Wecertainlynowhavenotmuchtolose。Wemighthavemortgagedthehouse；thatwastheonlythingI
　　couldthinkoftodo。Mr。Clemensfeltthattherewouldneverbeanyend，andperhapshewasright。Atanyrate，Iknowthathewasconvincedthatitwastheonlything，becausewhenhewentbackhepromisedmethatifitwaspossibletosavethethinghewoulddosoifonlyonaccountofmysentimentinthematter。
　　Sue，ifyouweretoseemeyouwouldseethatIhavegrownoldveryfastduringthislastyear。Ihavewrinkled。
　　MostofthetimeIwanttoliedownandcry。Everythingseemstomesoimpossible。Idonotmakethingsgoverywell，andIfeelthatmylifeisanabsoluteandirretrievablefailure。PerhapsIamthankless，butIsooftenfeelthatIshouldliketogiveitupanddie。However，IpresumethatifIcouldhavetheopportunityI
　　shouldatoncedesiretolive。
　　ClemensnowhurriedbacktoParis，arrivingaboutthemiddleofMay，hissecondtripintwomonths。ScarcelyhadhegotthefamilysettledatLaBourboule—les—Bains，aquietwatering—placeinthesouthernpartofFrance，whenacablefromMr。Rogers，statingthatthetypesetterwasperfected，madehimdecidetohurrybacktoAmericatoassistinsecuringthenewfortune。Hedidnotgo，however。RogerswrotethatthemachinehadbeeninstalledintheTimes—Heraldoffice，Chicago，foralongandthoroughtrial。Therewouldbeplentyoftime，andClemensconcludedtorestwithhisfamilyatLaBourboule—les—Bains。LaterinthesummertheywenttoEtretat，wherehesettleddowntowork。
　　CLXXXIX
　　ANEVENTFULYEARENDS
　　ThatsummerJuly，’94。the’NorthAmericanReview’published"InDefenseofHarrietShelley，"ararepieceofliterarycriticismandprobablythemosthumanandconvincingpleaevermadeforthatinjured，ill—fatedwoman。AnadmirerofShelley’sworks，ClemenscouldnotresisttakingupthedefenseofShelley’sabandonedwife。Ithadbecomethefashiontorefertoherslightingly，andtosuggestthatshehadnotbeenwithoutblameforShelley’sbehavior。AShelleybiographybyProfessorDowden，Clemenshadfoundparticularlyirritating。Inthemidstofhistangleofthepreviousyearhehadpausedtogiveitattention。ThereweretimeswhenMarkTwainwrotewithoutmuchsequence，digressingthiswayandthat，ashisfancyledhim，charminglyandentertaininglyenough，withnolarge，logicalidea。Hepursuednosuchmethodinthisinstance。
　　ThepaperonHarrietShelleyisabriefasdirectandcompactandcumulativeascouldhavebeenpreparedbyatrainedlegalmindofthehighestorder，andithastheaddedadvantageofbeingtheutteranceofahumansoulvoicinganindignationinspiredbyhumansufferingandhumanwrong。Bynomeansdoesitlackhumor，searchingandbitingsarcasm。
　　ThecharacterizationofProfessorDowden’sLifeofShelleyasa"literarycake—walk"isatouchwhichonlyMarkTwaincouldhavelaidon。Indeed，the"DefenseofHarrietShelly，"withthoseearlychaptersofJoanatFlorence，maybecountedasthebeginningforMarkTwainofagenuineliteraryrenaissance。Itwastoprovearemarkableperiodlessvoluminousthanthefirst，butevenmorechoice，containing，asitwould，besidesJoanandtheShelleyarticle，therestofthatremarkableseriescollectednowasLiteraryEssays；theHadleyburgstory；"WasitHeavenorHell？"；thosemasterlyarticlesonournationalpolicies；closingatlastwiththoseexquisitememories，inhisfinaldays。
　　Thesummerof1894foundMarkTwainintheproperframeofmindforliterarywork。Hewasnolongerinastateofdread。AtEtretat，awatering—placeontheFrenchcoast，hereturnedeagerlytothelong—
　　neglectedtaleofJoan——"abookwhichwritesitself，"hewroteMr。
　　Rogers"——atalewhichtellsitself；Imerelyhavetoholdthepen。"
　　Etretat，originallyafishing—village，waslesspretentiousthanto—day，andthefamilyhadtakenasmallfurnishedcottagealittlewaybackfromthecoast——acharmingplace，andacheapone——asbecametheirmeans。
　　ClemensworkedsteadilyatEtretatformorethanamonth，finishingthesecondpartofhisstory，thenwentovertoRouentovisitthehallowedprecinctswhereJoandraggedoutthosewearymonthsthatbroughthertothestake。SusyClemenswastakenillatRouen，andtheylingeredinthatancientcity，wanderingaboutitsvenerablesteets，whichhavebeenchangedbutslowlybythecenturies，andarestillfullofmemories。
　　TheyreturnedtoParisatlength——totheBrighton；theirquartersofthepreviouswinter——butpresentlyengagedforthewinterthestudiohomeoftheartistPomroyat169ruedel’Universite，beyondtheSeine。MarkTwainwroteofitonce：
　　Itwasalovelyhouse；large，rambling，quaint，charminglyfurnishedanddecorated，builtuponnoparticularplan，delightfullyuncertainandfullofsurprises。Youwerealwaysgettinglostinit，andfindingnooksandcornerswhichyoudidnotknowwerethereandwhosepresenceyouhadnotsuspectedbefore。ItwasbuiltbyarichFrenchartist，andhehadalsofurnisheditanddecoratedithimself。Thestudiowascozinessitself。Withusitservedasadrawing—room，sitting—room，living—room，dancing—room——weuseditforeverything。Wecouldn’tgetenoughofit。Itisoddthatitshouldhavebeensocozy，foritwas40feetlong，40feethigh，and30feetwide，withavastfireplaceon，eachside，inthemiddle，andamusicians’galleryatoneend。
　　Mrs。ClemenshadhopedtoreturntoAmerica，totheirHartfordhome。
　　Thatwasherheart’sdesire——togobackoncemoretotheiroldlifeandfireside，toforgetallthisperiodofexileandwandering。Herletterswerefullofherhome—longing；herthreeyearsofabsenceseemedlikeaneternity。
　　Initsway，thePomroyhousewasthebestsubstituteforhometheyhadfound。Itsbelongingswereofthekindsheloved。Susyhadbetterhealth，andherhusbandwashappyinhiswork。Theyhadmuchdelightfulanddistinguishedcompany。Herletterstelloftheseattractivethings，andoftheireconomiestomaketheirincomereach。
　　Itwasneartheendoftheyearthattheothergreatinterest——themachine——camefinallytoaconclusion。Reportsfromthetesthadbeenhopefulduringthesummer。EarlyinOctoberClemens，receivingacopyoftheTimes—Herald，partlysetbythemachine，wrote："TheHeraldhasjustarrived，andthatcolumnishealingforsoreeyes。ItaffectsmelikeColumbussightingland。"Andagainonthe28th：
　　Itseemstomethatthingscouldn’twellbegoingbetteratChicagothantheyare。There’snoothermachinethatcansettypeeighthourswithonlyseventeenminutes’stoppagethroughcussedness。Theothersdorathermorestoppingthanworking。Byandbyourmachineswillbeperfect；thentheywon’tstopatall。
　　Butthatwasabouttheendofthegoodnews。Thestoppagesbecameworseandworse。Thetypebegantobreak——themachinehaditsoldtrouble：itwastoodelicatelyadjusted——toocomplicated。
　　"Greatguns，whatisthematterwithit？"wroteClemensinNovemberwhenhereceivedadetailedaccountofitsmisconduct。
　　Mr。Rogersandhisson—in—law，Mr。Broughton，wentouttoChicagotoinvestigate。TheywenttotheTimes—Heraldofficetowatchthetype—
　　setterinaction。Mr。Rogersoncetoldofthisvisittothewriterofthesechapters。Hesaid：
　　"Certainlyitwasamarvelousinvention。ItwasthenearestapproachtoahumanbeinginthewonderfulthingsitcoulddoofanymachineIhaveeverknown。Butthatwasjustthetrouble；itwastoomuchofahumanbeingandnotenoughofamachine。Ithadallthecomplicationsofthehumanmechanism，alltheliabilityofgettingoutofrepair，anditcouldnotbereplacedwiththeeaseandimmediatenessofthehumanbeing。Itwastoocostly；toodifficultofconstruction；toohardtosetup。I
　　tookoutmywatchandtimeditsworkandcounteditsmistakes。Wewatcheditalongtime，foritwasmostinteresting，mostfascinating，butitwasnotpractical——thattomewasclear。"
　　Ithadfailedtostandthetest。TheTimes—Heraldwouldhavenomoreofit。Mr。Rogershimselfcouldseetheuselessnessoftheendeavor。HeinstructedMr。BroughtontocloseupthematterasbesthecouldandhimselfundertookthehardertaskofbreakingthenewstoMarkTwain。
　　Hislettersseemnottohavebeenpreserved，buttherepliestothemtellthestory。
　　169ruedel’Universite，PARIS，December22，1894。
　　DEARMR。ROGERS，——Iseemedtobeentirelyexpectingyourletter，andalsopreparedandresigned；butLord，itshowshowlittleweknowourselvesandhoweasilywecandeceiveourselves。Ithitmelikeathunder—clap。Itknockedeveryragofsenseoutofmyhead，andI
　　wentflyinghereandthereandyonder，notknowingwhatIwasdoing，andonlyoneclearlydefinedthoughtstandingupvisibleandsubstantialoutofthecrazystorm—drift——thatmydreamoftenyearswasindesperateperilandoutofthe60，000or70，000projectsforitsrescuethatcameflockingthroughmyskullnotonewouldholdstilllongenoughformetoexamineitandsizeitup。Haveyoueverbeenlikethat？Notsomuch，Ireckon。
　　Therewasanotherclearlydefinedidea——Imustbethereandseeitdie。Thatis，ifitmustdie；andmaybeifIweretherewemighthatchupsomenext—to—impossiblewaytomakeittakeupitsbedandtakeawalk。
　　So，attheendoffourhoursIstarted，stillwhirling，andwalkedovertotherueScribe——4p。m。——andaskedaquestionortwoandwastoldIshouldberunningabigriskifItookthe9p。m。trainforLondonandSouthampton；"bettercomerightalongat6。52perHavrespecialandstepaboardtheNewYorkalleasyandcomfortable。"
　　Very！andIabouttwomilesfromhomeandnopackingdone。
　　Thenitoccurredtomethatnoneofthesesalvationnotionsthatwerewhirlwindingthroughmyheadcouldbeexaminedormadeavailableunlessatleastamonth’stimecouldbesecured。SoI
　　cabledyou，andsaidtomyselfthatIwouldtaketheFrenchsteamerto—morrowwhichwillbeSunday。
　　BybedtimeMrs。Clemenshadreasonedmeintoafairlyrationalandcontentedstateofmind；butofcourseitdidn’tlastlong。SoI
　　wentonthinking——mixingitwithasmokeinthedressing—roomonceanhour——untildawnthismorning。Result——asaneresolution；nomatterwhatyouranswertomycablemightbeIwouldholdstillandnotsailuntilIshouldgetananswertothispresentletterwhichI
　　amnowwritingoracableanswerfromyousaying"Come"or"Remain。"
　　Ihaveslept6hours，mypondhasclarified，andIfindthesedimentofmy70，000projectstobeofthischaracter：
　　Hefollowswithadetailedplanforreconstructingthemachine，usingbrasstype，etc。，andconcludes：
　　Don’tsayI’mwild。ForreallyI’msaneagainthismorning。
　　IamgoingrightalongwithJoannow，andwaituntroubledtillI
　　hearfromyou。IfyouthinkIcanbeoftheleastusecableme"Come。"IcanwriteJoanonboardshipandlosenotime。AlsoI
　　coulddiscussmyplanwiththepublisherforadeluxeJoan，timebeinganobject，forsomeofthepicturescouldbemadeoverhere，cheaplyandquickly，thatwouldcostmuchmoretimeandmoneyinAmerica。
　　Thesecondletterfollowedfivedayslater：
　　169ruedel’Universite，PARIS，December27，1894。
　　DEARMR。ROGERS，——Notwithstandingyourheartis"oldandhard"youmakeabodychokeup。Iknowyou"meaneverywordyousay"andIdotakeit"inthesamespiritinwhichyoutenderit。"Ishallkeepyourregardwhilewetwolive——thatIknow；forIshallalwaysrememberwhatyouhavedoneforme，andthatwillinsuremeagainsteverdoinganythingthatcouldforfeititorimpairit。
　　ItissixdaysorsevendaysagothatIlivedthroughthatdespairingday，andthenthroughanightwithoutsleep；thensettleddownnextdayintomyrightmindorthereaboutsandwroteyou。I
　　putintherestofthatdaytill7P。m。plentycomfortablyenoughwritingalongchapterofmybook；thenwenttoamaskedballblackedupasUncleRemus，takingClaraalong，andwehadagoodtime。Ihavelostnodaysince，andsufferednodiscomforttospeakof，butdrovemytroublesoutofmymindandhadgoodsuccessinkeepingthemout——throughwatchfulness。Ihavedoneagoodweek’sworkandputthebookagoodwayaheadintheGreatTrial[ofJoan]，whichisthedifficultpart：thepartwhichrequiresthemostthoughtandcarefulness。IcannotseetheendoftheTrialyet，butIamontheroad。Iamcreepingsurelytowardit。
　　"Whynotleavethemalltome？"Mybusinessbrothers？Itakeyoubythehand！Ijumpatthechance！
　　IoughttobeashamedandIamtryingmybesttobeashamed——andyetIdojumpatthechanceinspiteofit。Idon’twanttowriteIrvingandIdon’twanttowriteStoker。Itdoesn’tseemasifI
　　could。ButIcansuggestsomethingforyoutowritethem；andthenifyouseethatIamunwiseyoucanwritethemsomethingquitedifferent。Nowthisismyidea：
　　1。ToreturnStoker’s$100tohimandkeephisstock。
　　2。AndtellIrvingthatwhenluckturnswithmeIwillmakegoodtohimwhatthesalvagefromthedeadCo。failstopayhimofhis$500。
　　[P。S。MadamsaysNo，Imustfacethemusic。SoIinclosemyeffort——tobeusedifyouapprove，butnototherwise。]
　　WeshalltrytofindatenantforourHartfordhouse；notaneasymatter，foritcostsheavilytolivein。Wecanneverliveinitagain；thoughitwouldbreakthefamily’sheartsiftheycouldbelieveit。
　　NothingdauntsMrs。Clemensormakestheworldlookblacktoher——
　　whichisthereasonIhaven’tdrownedmyself。
　　IgottheXmasjournalswhichyousentandIthankyouforthatXmasremembrance。
　　WeallsendourdeepestandwarmestgreetingstoyouandallofyoursandaHappyNewYear！
　　S。L。CLEMENS。
　　——[BrainStokerandSirHenryIrvinghadeachtakenasmallinterestinthemachine。TheinclosureforStokerranasfollows：]
　　MYDEARSTOKER，——Iamnotdatingthis，becauseitisnottobemailedatpresent。
　　Whenitreachesyouitwillmeanthatthereisahitchinmymachineenterprise——a，hitchsoseriousastomakeittaketoitselftheaspectofadissolveddream。Thisletter，then，willcontainchequeforthe$100whichyouhavepaid。AndwillyoutellIrvingforme——
　　Ican’tgetupcourageenoughtotalkaboutthismisfortunemyself，excepttoyou，whombygoodluckIhaven’tdamagedyet——thatwhenthewreckagepresentlyfloatsashorehewillgetagooddealofhis$500back；andadabatatimeIwillmakeuptohimtherest。
　　I’mnotfeelingasfineasIwaswhenIsawyouthereinyourhome。
　　PleaseremembermekindlytoMrs。Stoker。IgaveupthatLondonlecture—projectentirely。Hadto——there’sneverbeenachancesincetofindthetime。
　　Sincerelyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。
　　Aweeklaterheaddedwhatwasabouthisfinalwordonthesubject：
　　YoursofDecember21hasarrived，containingthecirculartostockholders，andIguesstheCo。willreallyquit——theredoesn’tseemtobeanyotherwisecourse。
　　There’sonethingwhichmakesitdifficultformetosoberlyrealizethatmyten—yeardreamisactuallydissolved；andthatisthatitreversesmyhoroscope。Theproverbsays，"Bornlucky，alwayslucky。
　　ItwasusualforoneortwoofourladsperannumtogetdrownedintheMississippiorinBearCreek，butIwaspulledoutinadrownedcondition9timesbeforeIlearnedtoswim，andwasconsideredtobeacatindisguise。WhenthePennsylvaniablewupandthetelegraphreportedmybrotherasfatallyinjuredwith60
　　othersbutmadenomentionofme，myunclesaidtomymother"itmeansthatSamwassomewhereelse，afterbeingonthatboatayearandahalf——hewasbornlucky。"Yes，Iwassomewhereelse。IamsosuperstitiousthatIhavealwaysbeenafraidtohavebusinessdealingswithcertainrelativesandfriendsofminebecausetheywereunluckypeople。AllmylifeIhavestumbleduponluckychancesoflargesize，andwhenevertheywerewasteditwasbecauseofmyownstupidityandcarelessness。AndsoIhavefeltentirelycertainthatthemachinewouldturnuptrumpseventually。Itdisappointedmelotsoftimes，butIcouldn’tshakeofftheconfidenceofalifetimeinmyluck。
　　Well，whateverIgetoutofthewreckagewillbeduetogoodluck—
　　thegoodluckofgettingyouintothescheme——for，butforthattherewouldn’tbeanywreckage；itwouldbetotalloss。
　　Iwishyouhadbeeninatthebeginning。Thenweshouldhavehadthegoodlucktosteppromptlyashore。
　　Soitwasthattheothergreatinterestdiedandwasputawayforever。
　　Clemensscarcelyevermentioneditagain，eventomembersofhisfamily。
　　Itwasadeadissue；itwasonlyapitythatithadeverseemedaliveone。AcombinationknownastheRegiusCompanytookoverPaige’sinterest，butaccomplishednothing。Eventually——ironyoffate——theMergenthalerCompany，solongscornedandderided，fortwentythousanddollarsboughtouttherightsandassetsandpresentedthatmarvelousworkofgenius，themechanicalwonderoftheage，totheSibleyCollegeofEngineering，whereitisshownasthecostliestpieceofmachinery，foritssize，everconstructed。MarkTwainoncereceivedaletterfromanauthorwhohadwrittenabookcalculatedtoassistinventorsandpatentees，askingforhisindorsement。Hereplied：
　　DEARSIR，——Ihave，asyousay，beeninterestedinpatentsandpatentees。Ifyourbookstellhowtoexterminateinventorssendmenineeditions。Sendthembyexpress。
　　Verytrulyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。
　　Thecollapseofthe"greathope"meanttotheClemenshouseholdthattheirstrugglewithdebtwastocontinue，thattheireconomiesweretobecomemorerigid。Inaletteronherweddinganniversary，Februarya1895，Mrs。Clemenswrotetohersister：
　　AsIwasstartingdownthestairsformybreakfastthismorningMr。
　　Clemenscalledmebackandtookoutafive—francpieceandgaveittome，saying："Itisoursilver—weddingday，andsoIgiveyouapresent。"
　　Itwasasymboloftheirreducedcircumstances——ofthechangethattwenty—fiveyearshadbrought。
　　Literarymatters，however，prospered。Thenewbookprogressedamazingly。
　　Theworsthadhappened；otheranddistractinginterestsweredead。Hewasdeepinthethirdpart—thestoryofJoan’strialandcondemnation，andheforgotmostotherthingsinhisdeterminationtomakethatoneareality。
　　AsatViviani，Clemensreadhischapterstothefamilycircle。Thestorywasdrawingneartheendnow；tragedywasclosinginonthefrailmartyr；
　　thefarceofhertrialwaswringingtheirhearts。Susywouldsay，"Wait，waittillIgetahandkerchief，"andonenightwhenthelastpageshadbeenwrittenandread，andJoanhadmadethesupremeexpiationfordevotiontoapaltryking，Susywroteinherdiary，"To—nightJoanofArcwasburnedatthestake，"meaningthatthebookwasfinished。
　　Susyherselfhadliterarytasteandmighthavewrittenhaditnotbeenthatshedesiredtosing。Therearefragmentsofherwritingthatshowthetrueliterarytouch。Herfather，inanunpublishedarticlewhichheoncewroteofher，quotedaparagraph，doubtlessintendedsomedaytotakeitsplaceattheendofastory：
　　Andnowatlastwhentheylieatresttheymustgohence。Itisalwaysso。Completion；perfection，satisfactionattained——ahumanlifehasfulfilleditsearthlydestiny。Poorhumanlife！Itmaynotpauseandrest，foritmusthastenontootherrealmsandgreaterconsummations。
　　Shewasadeepreader，andshehadthatwonderfulgiftofbrilliant，flowing，scintillatingspeech。Fromherfathershehadinheritedararefacultyoforalexpression，bornofasuperiordepthofmind，swiftnessandclearnessofcomprehension，combinedwithrapid，brilliant，andforcefulphrasing。Herfatherwroteofhergift：
　　Sometimesinthosedaysofswiftdevelopmentherspeechwasrocket—
　　likeforvividnessandforthesenseitcarriedofvisibility。I
　　seemtoseeitstreamintotheskyandburstfullinashowerofcoloredfire。