Outside，whentheserviceswereended，thevenerablejuvenilewriter，J。T。Trowbridge，cameuptoClemenswithextendedhand。Clemenssaid：
"Trowbridge，areyoustillalive？Youmustbeathousandyearsold。
Why，IlistenedtoyourstorieswhileIwasbeingrockedinthecradle。"
Trowbridgesaid：
"Mark，there’ssomemistake。Myearliestinfantsmilewaswakenedwithoneofyourjokes。"
Theystoodsidebysideagainstafenceintheblazingsunandwerephotographed——aninterestingpicture。
WereturnedtoBostonthatevening。Clemensdidnotwishtohurryinthesummerheat，andweremainedanotherdayquietlysight—seeing，anddrivingaroundandaroundCommonwealthAvenueinavictoriainthecooloftheevening。Once，rememberingAldrich，hesaid：
"IwasjustplanningTomSawyerwhenhewasbeginningthe’StoryofaBadBoy’。WhenIheardthathewaswritingthatIthoughtofgivingupmine，butAldrichinsistedthatitwouldbeafoolishthingtodo。HethoughtmyMissouriboycouldnotbyanychanceconflictwithhisboyofNewEngland，andofcoursehewasright。"
Hespokeofhowgreatliterarymindsusuallycamealongincompany。Hesaid：
"Nowandthen，onthestreamoftime，smallgobsofthatthingwhichwecallgeniusdriftdown，andafewoftheselodgeatsomeparticularpoint，andotherscollectaboutthemandmakeasortofintellectualisland——atowhead，astheysayontheriver——suchanaccumulationofintellectwecallagroup，orschool，andnameit。
"ThirtyyearsagotherewastheCambridgegroup。Nowthere’sbeenstillanother，whichincludedAldrichandHowellsandStedmanandCable。Itwillsoonbegone。Isupposetheywillhavetonameitbyandby。"
Hepointedouthouseshereandthereofpeoplehehadknownandvisitedinotherdays。Thedriverwasveryanxioustogofarther，tootherandmoredistinguishedsights。Clemensmildlybutfirmlyrefusedanyvariationoftheprogram，andsowekeptondrivingaroundandaroundtheshadedloopofBeaconStreetuntilduskfellandthelightsbegantotwinkleamongthetrees。
CCLXXI
DEATHOF"SAM"MOFFETT
Clemens’nextabsencefromReddingcameonAugust1，1908，whenthesuddenandshockingnewswasreceivedofthedrowningofhisnephew，SamuelE。Moffett，inthesurfoftheJerseyshore。Moffettwashisnearestmalerelative，andamanoffineintellectandtalents。Hewassuperiorinthosequalitieswhichmenlove——hewaslarge—mindedandlarge—hearted，andofnobleideals。Withmuchofthesamesenseofhumorwhichhadmadehisuncle’sfame，hehadwhatwasreallyanabnormalfacultyofacquiringandretainingencyclopedicdata。OnceasachildhehadvisitedHartfordwhenClemenswaslaboringoverhishistorygame。
Theboywasmuchinterested，andaskedpermissiontohelp。Hisunclewillinglyconsented，andreferredhimtothelibraryforhisfacts。Buthedidnotneedtoconsultthebooks；healreadyhadEnglishhistorystoredaway，andknewwheretofindeverydetailofit。AtthetimeofhisdeathMoffettheldanimportanteditorialpositiononCollier’sWeekly。
Clemenswasfondandproudofhisnephew。Returningfromthefuneral，hewasmuchdepressed，andadayortwolaterbecamereallyill。Hewasinbedforafewdays，resting，hesaid，aftertheintenseheatofthejourney。Thenhewasaboutagainandproposedbilliardsasadiversion。
Wewereallaloneoneverystill，warmAugustafternoonplaying，whenhesuddenlysaid：
"Ifeelalittledizzy；Iwillsitdownamoment。"
Ibroughthimaglassofwaterandheseemedtorecover，butwhenheroseandstartedtoplayIthoughthehadadazedlook。Hesaid：
"Ihavelostmymemory。Idon’tknowwhichismyball。Idon’tknowwhatgameweareplaying。"
Butimmediatelythisconditionpassed，andwethoughtlittleofit，consideringitmerelyaphaseofbiliousnessduetohisrecentjourney。
Ihavebeentoldsince，byeminentpractitioners，thatitwasthefirstindicationofamoreseriousmalady。
Hebecameapparentlyquitehimselfagainandshowedhisusualvigor—lightofstepandmovement，abletoskipupanddownstairsasheretofore。InalettertoMrs。Crane，August12th，hespokeofrecenthappenings：
DEARAUNTSUE，——Itwasamostmoving，amostheartbreakingsight，thespectacleofthatstunned&crushed&inconsolablefamily。I
camebackhereinbadshape，&hadabiliouscollapse，butIamallrightagain，thoughthedoctorfromNewYorkhasgivenperemptoryordersthatIamnottostirfromherebeforefrost。OfortunateSamMoffett！fortunateLivyClemens！doublyfortunateSusy！Thoseswordsgothrough&throughmyheart，butthereisneveramomentthatIamnotglad，forthesakeofthedead，thattheyhaveescaped。
HowLivywouldlovethisplace！Howherverysoulwouldsteepitselfthankfullyinthispeace，thistranquillity，thisdeepstillness，thisdreamyexpanseofwoodsyhill&valley！Youmustcome，AuntSue，&staywithusarealgoodvisit。SinceJune26wehavehad21guests，&theyhavealllikeditandsaidtheywouldcomeagain。
ToHowells，onthesameday，hewrote：
Won’tyou&Mrs。Howells&Mildredcome&giveusasmanydaysasyoucanspare&examineJohn’striumph？ItisthemostsatisfactoryhouseIamacquaintedwith，&themostsatisfactorilysituated……Ihavedismissedmystenographer，&haveentereduponaholidaywhoseotherendisthecemetery。
CCLXXII
STORMFIELDADVENTURES
Clemenshadfullydecided，bythistime，tolivetheyearroundintheretirementatStormfield，andthehouseat21FifthAvenuewasbeingdismantled。Hehadalso，ashesaid，givenuphisdictationsforthetime，atleast，aftercontinuingthem，withmoreorlessregularity，foraperiodoftwoandahalfyears，duringwhichhehadpiledupabouthalfamillionwordsofcommentandreminiscence。Hisgeneralideahadbeentoaddportionsofthismattertohisearlierbooksasthecopyrightsexpired，togivethemnewlifeandinterest，andhefeltthathehadplentynowforanysuchpurpose。
Hegavehistimemainlytohisguests，hisbilliards，andhisreading，thoughofcoursehecouldnotkeepfromwritingonthissubjectandthatasthefancymovedhim，andadrawerinoneofhisdressersbegantoaccumulatefreshthoughusuallyfragmentarymanuscripts……Hereadthedailypaper，buthenolongertookthekeen，restlessinterestinpublicaffairs。NewYorkpoliticsdidnotconcernhimanymore，andnationalpoliticsnotmuch。WhentheEveningPostwrotehimconcerningtheadvisabilityofrenominatingGovernorHugheshereplied：
Ifyouhadaskedmetwomonthsagomyanswerwouldhavebeenprompt&loud&strong：yes，IwantGovernorHughesrenominated。Butitistoolate，&mymouthisclosed。Ihavebecomeacitizen&taxpayerofConnecticut，&couldnotnow，withoutimpertinence，meddleinmatterswhicharenoneofmybusiness。Icouldnotdoitwithimpertinencewithouttrespassingonthemonopolyofanother。
HowellsspeaksofMarkTwain’s"absolutecontent"withhisnewhome，andthesearetheproperwords’toexpressit。Hewaslikeastorm—beatenshipthathaddriftedatlastintoasereneSouthSeahaven。
Thedaysbeganandendedintranquillity。Therewerenospecialmorningregulations：Onecouldhavehisbreakfastatanytimeandatalmostanyplace。Hecouldhaveitinbedifheliked，orintheloggiaorlivingroom，orbilliard—room。Hemightevenhaveitinthediningroom，orontheterrace，justoutside。Guests——therewereusuallyguests——
mightsuittheirconvenienceinthismatter——alsoastotheforenoons。
Theafternoonbroughtgames——thatis，billiards，providedtheguestknewbilliards，otherwisehearts。Thosetwogameswerehissafety—valves，andwhiletherewerenoprintedrequirementsrelatingtothemtheunwrittencodeofStormfieldprovidedthatguests，ofwhateverageorpreviousfaith，shouldengageinoneorbothofthesediversions。
Clemens，whousuallyspenthisforenooninbedwithhisreadingandhisletters，cametothegreentableofskillandchanceeagerfortheonset；
ifthefateswerekindly，heapprovedofthemopenly。Ifnot——well，thefateswereoldenoughtoknowbetter，and，asheretofore，hadtotaketheconsequences。Sometimes，whentheweatherwasfineandtherewerenogamesthiswaslikelytobeonSundayafternoons，thereweredrivesamongthehillsandalongtheSaugatuckthroughtheBeddingGlen。
Thecatwasalways"purringonthehearth"atStormfield——severalcats——
forMarkTwain’sfondnessforthisclean，intelligentdomesticanimalremained，totheend，oneofhishappiestcharacteristics。TherewerenevertoomanycatsatStormfield，andthe"hearth"includedtheentirehouse，eventhebilliard—table。When，aswaslikelytohappenatanytimeduringthegame，thekittensSinbad，orDanbury，orBilliardswoulddecidetohopupandplaywiththeballs，orsitinthepocketsandgrabatthemastheywentby，thegamesimplyaddedthiselementofchance，andtheuninvitedplayerwasnotdisturbed。ThecatsreallyownedStormfield；anyonecouldtellthatfromtheirdeportment。MarkTwainheldthetitledeeds；butitwasDanburyandSinbadandtheothersthatpossessedthepremises。Theyoccupiedanyportionofthehouseoritsfurnishingsatwill，andtheyneverfailedtoattractattention。MarkTwainmightbepreoccupiedandindifferenttothecomingsandgoingsofothermembersofthehousehold；butnomatterwhathewasdoing，letDanburyappearintheoffingandhewasobservedandgreetedwithduedeference，andcomplimentedandmadecomfortable。ClemenswouldarisefromthetableandcarrycertainchoicefoodoutontheterracetoTammany，andbesatisfiedwithalmostnoacknowledgmentbywayofappreciation。OnecouldnotimagineanyhomeofMarkTwainwherethecatswerenotsupreme。Intheevening，asat21FifthAvenue，therewasmusic——thestatelymeasuresoftheorchestrelle——whileMarkTwainsmokedandmingledunusualspeculationwithlong，longbackwarddreams。
ItwasthreemonthsfromthedayofarrivalinReddingthatsomeguestscametoStormfieldwithoutinvitation——twoburglars，whowerecarryingoffsomebundlesofsilverwhentheywerediscovered。Claude，thebutler，firedapistolafterthemtohastentheirdeparture，andClemens，wakenedbytheshots，thoughtthefamilywasopeningchampagneandwenttosleepagain。
Itwasfarinthenight；butneighborH。A。LounsburyandDeputy—SheriffBankswerenotified，andbymorningthethieveswerecaptured，thoughonlyafteraprettydesperateencounter，duringwhichtheofficerreceivedabullet—wound。LounsburyandaStormfieldguesthadtrackedtheminthedarkwithalanterntoBethel，adistanceofsomesevenmiles。Thethieves，alsotheirpursuers，hadboardedthetrainthere。
SheriffBankswaswaitingattheWestReddingstationwhenthetraincamedown，andtherethecapturewasmade。Itwasaremarkablypromptandshrewdpieceofwork。ClemensgavecreditforitssuccesschieflytoLounsbury，whosetalentsinmanyfieldsalwaysimpressedhim。ThethievesweretakentotheReddingTownHallforapreliminaryhealing。
Subsequentlytheyreceivedseveresentences。
Clemenstackedthisnoticeonhisfrontdoor：
NOTICE
TOTHENEXTBURGLAR
Thereisnothingbutplatedwareinthishousenowandhenceforth。
Youwillfinditinthatbrassthinginthedining—roomoverinthecornerbythebasketofkittens。
Ifyouwantthebasketputthekittensinthebrassthing。Donotmakeanoise——itdisturbsthefamily。
Youwillfindrubbersinthefronthallbythatthingwhichhastheumbrellasinit，chiffonnier，Ithinktheycallit，orpergola，orsomethinglikethat。
Pleaseclosethedoorwhenyougoaway！
Verytrulyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。
CCLXXIII
STORMFIELDPHILOSOPHIES
NowcamethetranquildaysoftheConnecticutautumn。ThechangeofthelandscapecolorswasaconstantdelighttoMarkTwain。Therewereseverallargewindowsinhisroom，andhecalledthemhispicture—
gallery。Thewindow—panesweresmall，andeachformedaseparatepictureofitsownthatwaschangingalmosthourly。Theredtonesthatbegantorunthroughthefoliage；theredberrybushes；thefadinggrass，andthelittletouchesofsparklingfrostthatcameeverynowandthenatearlymorning；thebackgroundofdistantbluehillsandchangingskies—thesethingsgavehisgalleryamultitudeofvariationthatnoart—museumscouldfurnish。Heloveditall，andhelovedtowalkoutinit，pacingupanddowntheterrace，orthelongpaththatledtothepergolaatthefootofanaturalgarden。Ifafriendcame，hewaswillingtowalkmuchfarther；andweoftendescendedthehillinonedirectionoranother，thoughusuallygoingtowardthe"gorge，"aromanticspotwhereaclearbrookfounditswaythroughadeepandratherdangerous—lookingchasm。
Oncehewaspersuadedtodescendintothisfairy—likeplace，foritwaswellworthexploring；buthisfootingwasnolongersureandhedidnotgofar。
Helikedbettertositonthegrass—grown，rockyarchaboveandlookdownintoit，andlethistalkfollowhismood。Helikedtocontemplatethegeologyofhissurroundings，therecordoftheagelessperiodsofconstructionrequiredtobuildtheworld。Themarvelsofsciencealwaysappealedtohim。Hereveledinthethoughtofthealmostlimitlessstretchesoftime，themillionsuponmillionsofyearsthathadbeenrequiredforthisstratumandthat——helikedtoamazehimselfwiththesoundingfigures。IrememberhimexpressingawishtoseetheGrandCanonofArizona，where，onperpendicularwallssixthousandfeethigh，thelongstoryofgeologicalcreationiswritten。IhadstoppedthereduringmyWesterntripofthepreviousyear，andItoldhimsomethingofitswonders。Iurgedhimtoseethemforhimself，offeringtogowithhim。Hesaid：
"Ishouldenjoythat；buttherailroadjourneyissofarandIshouldhavenopeace。Thepaperswouldgetholdofit，andIwouldhavetomakespeechesandbeinterviewed，andIneverwanttodoanyofthosethingsagain。"
Isuggestedthattherailroadswouldprobablybegladtoplaceaprivatecarathisservice，sothathemighttravelincomfort；butheshookhishead。
"Thatwouldonlymakememoreconspicuous。"
"Howaboutadisguise？"
"Yes，"hesaid，"Imightputonaredwigandfalsewhiskersandchangemyname，butIcouldn’tdisguisemydrawlingspeechandthey’dfindmeout。"
Itwasamusing，butitwasrathersad，too。Hisfamehaddeprivedhimofvaluedprivileges。
Hetalkedofmanythingsduringtheselittleexcursions。Oncehetoldhowhehadsuccessivelyadvisedhisnephew，Moffett，inthematterofobtainingadesirableposition。Moffetthadwantedtobecomeareporter。
Clemensdevisedacharacteristicscheme。Hesaid：
"Iwillgetyouaplaceonanynewspaperyoumayselectifyoupromisefaithfullytofollowoutmyinstructions。"
Theapplicantagreed，eagerlyenough。Clemenssaid：
"Gotothenewspaperofyourchoice。Saythatyouareidleandwantwork，thatyouarepiningforwork——longingforit，andthatyouasknowages，andwillsupportyourself。Allthatyouaskiswork。Thatyouwilldoanything，sweep，filltheinkstands，mucilage—bottles，runerrands，andbegenerallyuseful。Youmustneveraskforwages。Youmustwaituntiltheofferofwagescomestoyou。Youmustworkjustasfaithfullyandjustaseagerlyasifyouwerebeingpaidforit。Thenseewhathappens。"
Theschemehadworkedperfectly。YoungMoffetthadfollowedhisinstructionstotheletter。Byandbyheattractedattention。Hewasemployedinavarietyofwaysthatearnedhimthegratitudeandtheconfidenceoftheoffice。Inobediencetofurtherinstructions，hebegantomakeshort，brief，unadornednoticesofsmallnewsmattersthatcameunderhiseyeandlaidthemonthecityeditor’sdesk。Nopaywasasked；
nonewasexpected。Occasionallyoneoftheitemswasused。Then，ofcourse，ithappened，asitmustsoonerorlateratabusytime，thathewasgivenasmallnewsassignment。Therewasnotroubleabouthisprogressafterthat。Hehadwontheconfidenceofthemanagementandshownthathewasnotafraidtowork。
Theplanhadbeenvariouslytriedsince，Clemenssaid，andhecouldnotrememberanycaseinwhichithadfailed。Theideamayhavegrownoutofhisownpilotapprenticeshipontheriver，whencubpilotsnotonlyreceivednosalary，butpaidfortheprivilegeoflearning。
Clemensdiscussedpublicmatterslessoftenthanformerly，buttheywerenotaltogetheroutofhismind。Hethoughtourrepublicwasinafairwaytobecomeamonarchy——thatthesignswerealreadyevident。HereferredtotheletterwhichhehadwrittensolongagoinBoston，withitsamusingfancyoftheArchbishopofDublinandhisGraceofPonkapog，anddeclaredthat，afterall，itcontainedsomethingofprophecy。——[Seechap。xcvii；alsoAppendixM。]——Hewouldnotlivetoseetheactualmonarchy，hesaid，butitwascoming。
"I’mnotexpectingitinmytimenorinmychildren’stime，thoughitmaybesoonerthanwethink。Therearetwospecialreasonsforitandonecondition。Thefirstreasonis，thatitisinthenatureofmantowantadefinitesomethingtolove，honor，reverentlylookuptoandobey；aGodandKing，forexample。Thesecondreasonis，thatwhilelittlerepublicshavelastedlong，protectedbytheirpovertyandinsignificance，greatoneshavenot。Andtheconditionis，vastpowerandwealth，whichbreedcommercialandpoliticalcorruptions，andincitepublicfavoritestodangerousambitions。"
HerepeatedwhatIhadheardhimsaybefore，thatinonesensewealreadyhadamonarchy；thatistosay，arulingpublicandpoliticalaristocracywhichcouldcreateaPresidentialsuccession。Hedidnotsaythesethingsbitterlynow，butreflectivelyandratherindifferently。
Hewasinclinedtospeakunhopefullyoftheinternationalplansforuniversalpeace，whichwerebeingagitatedratherpersistently。
"Thegospelofpeace，"hesaid，"isalwaysmakingadealofnoise，alwaysrejoicinginitsprogressbutalwaysneglectingtofurnishstatistics。
Therearenopeacefulnationsnow。AllChristendomisasoldier—camp。
ThepoorhavebeentaxedinsomenationstothestarvationpointtosupportthegiantarmamentswhichChristiangovernmentshavebuiltup，eachtoprotectitselffromtherestoftheChristianbrotherhood，andincidentallytosnatchanyscrapofrealestateleftexposedbyaweakerowner。KingLeopoldII。ofBelgium，themostintenselyChristianmonarch，exceptAlexanderVI。，thathasescapedhellthusfar，hasstolenanentirekingdominAfrica，andinfourteenyearsofChristianendeavortherehasreducedthepopulationfromthirtymillionstofifteenbymurderandmutilationandoverwork，confiscatingthelaborofthehelplessnatives，andgivingthemnothinginreturnbutsalvationandahomeinheaven，furnishedatthelastmomentbytheChristianpriest。
"WithinthelastgenerationeachChristianpowerhasturnedthebulkofitsattentiontofindingoutnewerandstillnewerandmoreandmoreeffectivewaysofkillingChristians，and，incidentally，apagannowandthen；andthesurestwaytogetrichquicklyinChrist’searthlykingdomistoinventakindofgunthatcankillmoreChristiansatoneshotthananyotherexistingkind。AlltheChristiannationsareatit。Themoreadvancedtheyare，thebiggerandmoredestructiveenginesofwartheycreate。"
Once，speakingofbattlesgreatandsmall，andhowimportantevenasmallbattlemustseemtoasoldierwhohadfoughtinnoother，hesaid：
"Tohimitisamightyachievement，anachievementwithabigA，whentoawax—wornveteranitwouldbeamereincident。Forinstance，tothesoldierofonebattle，SanJuanHillwasanAchievementwithanAasbigasthePyramidsofCheops；whereas，ifNapoleonhadfoughtit，hewouldhavesetitdownonhiscuffatthetimetokeepfromforgettingithadhappened。Butthatisallnaturalandhumanenough。Wearealllikethat。"
Thecuriositiesandabsurditiesofreligioussuperstitionsneverfailedtofurnishhimwiththemesmoreorlessamusing。IrememberoneSunday，whenhewalkeddowntohaveluncheonatmyhouse，hesatundertheshadeandfelltotalkingofHerod’sslaughteroftheinnocents，whichhesaidcouldnothavehappened。
"Tacitusmakesnomentionofit，"hesaid，"andhewouldhardlyhaveoverlookedasweepingorderlikethat，issuedbyapettyrulerlikeHerod。JustconsideralittlekingofacorneroftheRomanEmpireorderingtheslaughterofthefirst—bornofalotofRomansubjects。
Why，theEmperorwouldhavereachedoutthatlongarmofhisanddismissedHerod。ThattraditionisprobablyaboutasauthenticasthoseconnectedwithanumberofoldbridgesinEuropewhicharesaidtohavebeenbuiltbySatan。TheinhabitantsusedtogotoSatantobuildbridgesforthem，promisinghimthesoulofthefirstonethatcrossedthebridge；then，whenSatanhadthebridgedone，theywouldsendoveraroosterorajackass——acheapjackass；thatwasforSatan，andofcoursetheycouldfoolhimthatwayeverytime。Satanmusthavebeenprettysimple，evenaccordingtotheNewTestament，orhewouldn’thaveledChristuponahighmountainandofferedhimtheworldifhewouldfalldownandworshiphim。Thatwasamanifestlyabsurdproposition，becauseChrist，astheSonofGod，alreadyownedtheworld；and，besides，whatSatanshowedhimwasonlyafewrockyacresofPalestine。ItisjustasifsomeoneshouldtrytobuyRockefeller，theownerofalltheStandardOilCompany，withagallonofkerosene。"
Heoftenspokeoftheunseenforcesofcreation，theimmutablelawsthatholdtheplanetinexactcourseandbringtheyearsandtheseasonsalwaysexactlyonscheduletime。"TheGreatLaw"wasaphraseoftenonhislips。Theexquisitefoliage，thecloudshapes，thevarietiesofcoloreverywhere：thesewereforhimoutwardmanifestationsoftheGreatLaw，whoseprincipleIunderstoodtobeunity——exactrelationsthroughoutallnature；andinthisIfailedtofindanysuggestionofpessimism，butonlyofjustice。Oncehewroteonacardforpreservation：
Fromeverlastingtoeverlasting，thisisthelaw：thesumofwrong&
miseryshallalwayskeepexactstepwiththesumofhumanblessedness。
No"civilization，"no"advance，"hasevermodifiedtheseproportionsbyeventheshadowofashade，norevercan，whileourraceendures。
CCLXIV
CITIZENANDFARMER
TheprocessionofguestsatStormfieldcontinuedprettysteadily。
Clemenskeptabookinwhichvisitorssetdowntheirnamesandthedatesofarrivalanddeparture，andwhentheyfailedtoattendtothesemattershediligentlydidithimselfaftertheyweregone。
MembersoftheHarperCompanycameupwiththeirwives；"angel—fish"swaminandoutoftheaquarium；Bermudafriendscametoseethenewhome；
RobertCollier，thepublisher，andhiswife——"Mrs。Sally，"asClemenslikedtocallher——paidtheirvisits；LordNorthcliffe，whowasvisitingAmerica，camewithColonelHarvey，andwassoimpressedwiththearchitectureofStormfieldthatheadopteditsplansforacountry—placehewasabouttobuildinNewfoundland。HelenKeller，withMr。andMrs。
Macy，cameupforaweek—endvisit。Mrs。CranecameoverfromElmira；
and，behold！onedaycamethelong—agosweetheartofhischildhood，littleLauraHawkins——LauraFrazernow，widowedandintheseventies，withagranddaughteralreadyayoungladyquitegrownup。
ThatMarkTwainwasnotwearyingofthenewconditionswemaygatherfromaletterwrittentoMrs。RogersinOctober：
I’vegrownyounginthesemonthsofdissipationhere。AndIhaveleftoffdrinking——itisn’tnecessarynow。Society&theologyaresufficientforme。
ToHelenAllen，aBermuda"Angel—Fish，"hewrote：
Wehavegoodtimeshereinthissoundlesssolitudeonthehilltop。
ThemomentIsawthehouseIwasgladIbuiltit，&nowIamgladder&gladderallthetime。Iwasnotdreamingoflivinghereexceptinthesummer—time——thatwasbeforeIsawthisregion&thehouse，yousee——butthatisallchangednow；Ishallstayherewinter&summerboth¬gobacktoNewYorkatall。Mychild，it’sastranquil&
contentingasBermuda。Youwillbeverywelcomehere，dear。
HeinterestedhimselfintheaffairsandinthepeopleofRedding。Notlongafterhisarrivalhehadgatheredinalltheinhabitantsofthecountry—side，neighborsofeveryquality，forcloseracquaintance，andthrewopentothemforinspectioneverypartofthenewhouse。HeappointedMrs。Lounsbury，whoseacquaintancewasverywide；asortofcommitteeonreception，andstoodattheentrancewithhertowelcomeeachvisitorinperson。
Itwasasortofgaladay，andtheroomsandthegroundswerefilledwiththevisitors。Inthedining—roomthereweregenerousrefreshments。
Again，notlongafterward，heissuedaspecialinvitationtoallofthose—architects，builders，andworkmenwhohadtakenanypart，howevergreatorsmall，inthebuildingofhishome。Mr。andMrs。LittletonwerevisitingStormfieldatthistime，andbothClemensandLittletonspoketotheseassembledguestsfromtheterrace，andmadethemfeelthattheireffortshadbeenworthwhile。
Presentlytheideadevelopedtoestablishsomethingthatwouldbeofbenefittohisneighbors，especiallytothosewhodidnothaveaccesstomuchreading—matter。Hehadbeenforyearsfloodedwithbooksbyauthorsandpublishers，andtherewasaheavysurplusathishomeinthecity。
Whenthesebegantoarrivehehadalargenumberofvolumessetasideasthenucleusofapubliclibrary。Anunusedchapelnotfaraway——itcouldbeseenfromoneofhiswindows——wasobtainedforthepurpose；officerswereelected；alibrarianwasappointed，andsotheMarkTwainLibraryofReddingwasdulyestablished。Clemenshimselfwaselecteditsfirstpresident，withtheresidentphysician，Dr。ErnestH。Smith，vice—
president，andanotherresident，WilliamE。Grumman，librarian。Ontheafternoonofitsopeningthepresidentmadeabriefaddress。Hesaid：
Iamheretospeakafewinstructivewordstomyfellow—farmers。
Isupposeyouareallfarmers：Iamgoingtoputinacropnextyear，whenIhavebeenherelongenoughandknowhow。Icouldn’tmakeaturnipstayonatreenowafterIhadgrownit。Iliketotalk。ItwouldtakemorethantheReddingairtomakemekeepstill，andIliketoinstructpeople。It’snobletobegood，andit’snoblertoteachotherstobegood，andlesstrouble。Iamgladtohelpthislibrary。Wegetourmoralsfrombooks。Ididn’tgetminefrombooks，butIknowthatmoralsdocomefrombooks——
theoreticallyatleast。Mr。BeardorMr。Adamswillgivesomeland，andbyandbywearegoingtohaveabuildingofourown。
ThisstatementwasnewstobothMr。BeardandMr。Adamsandaninspirationofthemoment；butMr。TheodoreAdams，whoownedamostdesirablesite，didinfactpromptlyresolvetodonateitforlibrarypurposes。Clemenscontinued：
Iamgoingtohelpbuildthatlibrarywithcontributionsfrommyvisitors。Everymaleguestwhocomestomyhousewillhavetocontributeadollarorgoawaywithouthisbaggage。——
[AcharacteristicnoticetoguestsrequiringthemtocontributeadollartotheLibraryBuildingFundwaslaterplacedonthebilliard—roommantelatStormfieldwithgoodresults。]——Ifthoseburglarsthatbrokeintomyhouserecentlyhaddonethattheywouldhavebeenhappiernow，orifthey’dhavebrokenintothislibrarytheywouldhavereadafewbooksandledabetterlife。Nowtheyareinjail，andiftheykeepontheywillgotoCongress。Whenapersonstartsdownhillyoucannevertellwherehe’sgoingtostop。
Iamsorryforthoseburglars。Theygotnothingthattheywantedandscaredawaymostofmyservants。Nowweareputtinginaburglar—alarminsteadofadog。Someadvisedthedog，butitcostsevenmoretoentertainadogthanaburglar。Iamhavingthegroundelectrified，sothatforamilearoundanyonewhoputshisfootacrossthelinesetsoffanalarmthatwillbeheardinEurope。NowIwillintroducetherealpresidenttoyou，amanwhomyouknowalready——Dr。Smith。
Soanewandimportantbenefitwasconferreduponthecommunity，andtherewasafeelingthatRedding，besideshavingaliterarycolony，wastobeliteraryinfact。
ItmighthavebeenmentionedearlierthatReddingalreadyhadliteraryassociationswhenMarkTwainarrived。AsfarbackasRevolutionarydaysJoelBarlow，apoetofdistinction，andonceMinistertoFrance，hadbeenaresidentofRedding，andtherewerestillBarlowdescendantsinthetownship。
WilliamEdgarGrumman，thelibrarian，hadwrittenthestoryofRedding’sshareintheRevolutionaryWar——nosmallshare，forGen。IsraelPutnam’sarmyhadbeenquarteredthereduringatleastonelong，tryingwinter。
CharlesBurrTodd，ofoneoftheoldestReddingfamilies，himself——stillaresident，wasalsotheauthorofaReddinghistory。
OfliteraryfolknotnativetoRedding，DoraReedGoodaleandhersisterElaine，thewifeofDr。CharlesA。Eastman，had，longbeenresidentsofReddingCenter；JeanetteL。GilderandIdaM。TarbellhadsummerhomesonReddingRidge；DanBeard，asalreadymentioned，ownedaplacenearthebanksoftheSaugatuck，whileKateV。St。Maur，alsotwoofNathanielHawthorne’sgranddaughtershadrecentlylocatedadjoiningtheStormfieldlands。BywhichitwillbeseenthatReddingwasinnowayunsuitableasahomeforMarkTwain。
CCLXV
AMANTELANDABABYELEPHANT
MarkTwainwasthereceiveroftwonotablepresentsthatyear。Thefirstofthese，amantelfromHawaii，presentedtohimbytheHawaiianPromotionCommittee，wassetinplaceinthebilliard—roomonthemorningofhisseventy—thirdbirthday。Thiscommitteehadwritten，proposingtobuildforhisnewhomeeitheramantelorachair，ashemightprefer，thesametobecarvedfromthenativewoods。Clemensdecidedonabilliard—roommantel，andJohnHowellsforwardedthepropermeasurements。
So，induetime，themantelarrived，abeautifulpieceofworkandinfinecondition，withtheHawaiianword，"Aloha，"oneofthesweetestformsofgreetinginanytongue，carvedasitscentralornament。
TothedonorsofthegiftClemenswrote：
Thebeautifulmantelwasputinitsplaceanhourago，&itsfriendly"Aloha"wasthefirstutteredgreetingreceivedonmy73dbirthday。Itisrichincolor，richinquality，&richindecoration；thereforeitexactlyharmonizedwiththetasteforsuchthingswhichwasborninme&whichIhaveseldombeenabletoindulgetomycontent。Itwillbeagreatpleasuretome，dailyrenewed，tohaveundermyeyethislovelyreminderoftheloveliestfleetofislandsthatliesanchoredinanyocean，&Ibegtothankthecommitteeforprovidingmethatpleasure。
ToF。N。Otremba，whohadcarvedthemantel，hesentthisword：
Iamgratefultoyouforthevaluedcomplimenttomeinthelaborofheartandhandandbrainwhichyouhaveputuponit。Itisworthyofthechoicestplaceinthehouseandithasit。
ItwasthesecondbeautifulmantelinStormfield——theHartfordlibrarymantel，removedwhenthathousewassold，havingbeeninstalledintheStormfieldliving—room。
Altogethertheseventy—thirdbirthdaywasapleasantone。Clemens，inthemorning，drovedowntoseethelibrarylotwhichMr。TheodoreAdamshadpresented，andtherestofthedaytherewerefine，closebilliardgames，duringwhichhewasinthegentlestandhappiestmoods。Herecalledthegamesoftwoyearsbefore，andaswestoppedplayingIsaid：
"Ihopeayearfromnowweshallbehere，stillplayingthegreatgame。"
Andheanswered，asthen：
"Yes，itisagreatgame——thebestgameonearth。"Andheheldouthishandandthankedmeforcoming，asheneverfailedtodowhenweparted，thoughitalwayshurtmealittle，forthedebtwassolargelymine。
MarkTwain’ssecondpresentcameatChristmas—time。Abouttendaysearlier，alettercamefromRobertJ。Collier，sayingthathehadboughtababyelephantwhichheintendedtopresenttoMarkTwainasaChristmasgift。Headdedthatitwouldbesentassoonashecouldgetacarforit，andtheloanofakeeperfromBarnum&Bailey’sheadquartersatBridgeport。
ThenewscreatedadisturbanceinStormfield。Onecouldnotrefuse，discourteouslyandabruptly，acostlypresentlikethat；butitseemedadisastertoacceptit。Anelephantwouldrequirearoomyandwarmplace，alsoavarietyofattentionwhichStormfieldwasnotpreparedtosupply。
Thetelephonewassetgoingandcertaintimidexcuseswereofferedbythesecretary。TherewasnogoodplacetoputanelephantinStormfield，butMr。Colliersaid，quiteconfidently：
"Oh，puthiminthegarage。"
"Butthere’snoheatinthegarage。"
"Well，puthimintheloggia，then。That’sclosedin，isn’tit，forthewinter？Plentyofsunlight——justtheplaceforayoungelephant。"
"Butweplaycardsintheloggia。Weuseitforasortofsun—parlor。"
"Butthatwouldn’tmatter。He’sakindly，playfullittlething。He’llbejustlikeakitten。I’llsendthemanuptolookovertheplaceandtellyoujusthowtotakecareofhim，andI’llsendupseveralbalesofhayinadvance。Itisn’talargeelephant，youknow：justalittleone——
aregularplaything。"
Therewasnothingfurthertobedone；onlytowaitanddreaduntiltheChristmaspresent’sarrival。
AfewdaysbeforeChristmastenbalesofhayarrivedandseveralbushelsofcarrots。ThisstoreofprovenderarousednoenthusiasmatStormfield。
Itwouldseemtherewasnoescapenow。
OnChristmasmorningMr。Lounsburytelephonedupthattherewasamanatthestationwhosaidhewasanelephant—trainerfromBarnum&Bailey’s，sentbyMr。Colliertolookattheelephant’squartersandgethimsettledwhenheshouldarrive。Ordersweregiventobringthemanover。
Thedayofdoomwasathand。
ButLounsbury’sdetectiveinstinctcameoncemoreintoplay。Hehadseenagoodmanyelephant—trainersatBridgeport，andhethoughtthisonehadadoubtfullook。
"Whereistheelephant？"heasked，astheydrovealong。
"Hewillarriveatnoon。"
"Whereareyougoingtoputhim？"
"Intheloggia。"
"Howbigishe？"
"Aboutthesizeofacow。"
"HowlonghaveyoubeenwithBarnumandBailey？"
"Sixyears。"
"Thenyoumustknowsomefriendsofmine"namingtwothathadnoexistenceuntilthatmoment。
"Ohyes，indeed。Iknowthemwell。"
Lounsburydidn’tsayanymorejustthen，buthehadafeelingthatperhapsthedreadatStormfieldhadgrownunnecessarilylarge。Somethingtoldhimthatthismanseemedrathermorelikeabutler，oravalet，thananelephant—trainer。TheydrovetoStormfield，andthetrainerlookedovertheplace。Itwoulddoperfectly，hesaid。Hegaveafewinstructionsastothecareofthisnewhouseholdfeature，andwasdrivenbacktothestationtobringit。
Lounsburycamebackbyandby，bringingtheelephantbutnotthetrainer。
Itdidn’tneedatrainer。Itwasabeautifulspecimen，withsoft，smoothcoatandhandsometrappings，perfectlyquiet，well—behavedandsmall——
suitedtotheloggia，asCollierhadsaid——foritwasonlytwofeetlongandbeautifullymadeofclothandcotton——oneoftheforesttoyelephantseverseenanywhere。
Itwasagoodjoke，suchasMarkTwainloved——acarefullyprepared，harmlessbitoffoolery。HewroteRobertCollier，threateninghimwithallsortsofrevenge，declaringthattheelephantwasdevastatingStormfield。
"Tosendanelephantinatrance，underpretensethatitwasdeadorstuffed！"hesaid。"Theanimalcametolife，asyouknewitwould，andbegantoobserveChristmas，andwenowhavenofurnitureleftandnoservantsandnovisitors，nofriends，nophotographs，noburglars——
nothingbuttheelephant。Bekind，bemerciful，begenerous；takehimawayandsenduswhatisleftoftheearthquake。"
Collierwrotethathethoughtitunkindofhimtolookagift—elephantinthetrunk。Andwithsuchchaffingandgaietytheyearcametoanend。
CCLXXVI
SHAKESPEARE—BACONTALK
WhenthebadweathercametherewasnotmuchcompanyatStormfield，andIwentupregularlyeachafternoon，foritwaslonelyonthatbleakhill，andafterhisforenoonofreadingorwritinghecraveddiversion。Myownhomewasalittlemorethanahalfmileaway，andIenjoyedthewalk，whatevertheweather。Iusuallymanagedtoarriveaboutthreeo’clock。
Hewouldwatchfromhishighwindowsuntilhesawmeraisethehilltop，andhewouldbeatthedoorwhenIarrived，sothattheremightbenodelayingettingatthegames。Or，ifithappenedthathewishedtoshowmesomethinginhisroom，Iwouldhearhisrichvoicesoundingdownthestair。Once，whenIarrived，Iheardhimcalling，andgoingupIfoundhimhighlypleasedwiththearrangementoftwopicturesonachair，placedsothattheglassesofthemreflectedthesunlightontheceiling。
Hesaid：
"Theyseemtocatchthereflectionoftheskyandthewintercolors。
Sometimesthehuesarewonderfullyiridescent。"
Hepointedtoabunchofwildredberriesonthemantelwiththesunonthem。
"Howbeautifullytheylightup！"hesaid；"someoftheminthesunlight，somestillintheshadow。"
Hewalkedtothewindowandstoodlookingoutonthesomberfields。
"Thelightsandcolorsarealwayschangingthere，"hesaid。"Inevertireofit。"
Toseehimthensofulloftheinterestanddelightofthemoment，onemighteasilybelievehehadneverknowntragedyandshipwreck。MorethananyoneIeverknew，helivedinthepresent。Mostofusareeitherdreamingofthepastoranticipatingthefuture——foreverbeatingthedirgeofyesterdayorthetattooofto—morrow。MarkTwain’sstepwastimedtothemarchofthemoment。Thereweredayswhenherecalledthepastandgrievedoverit，andwhenhespeculatedconcerningthefuture；
buthisgreaterinterestwasalwaysofthenow，andoftheparticularlocalitywherehefoundit。Thethingwhichcaughthisfancy，howeverslightorhoweverimportant，possessedhimfullyforthetime，evenifneverafterward。
HewasespeciallyinterestedthatwinterintheShakespeare—Baconproblem。Hehadlongbeenunabletobelievethattheactor—managerfromStratfordhadwrittenthosegreatplays，andnowabookjustpublished，’TheShakespeareProblemRestated’，byGeorgeGreenwood，andanotheroneinpress，’SomeCharacteristicSignaturesofFrancisBacon’，byWilliamStoneBooth，hadaddedthelasttouchofconvictionthatFrancisBacon，andBacononly，hadwrittentheShakespearedramas。Iwasardentlyopposedtothisidea。Theromanceoftheboy，WillShakespeare，whohadcomeuptoLondonandbegan，byholdinghorsesoutsideofthetheater，andendedbywinningtheproudestplaceintheworldofletters，wassomethingIdidnotwishtoletperish。Iproducedallthestocktestimony——BenJonson’ssonnet，theinternalevidenceoftheplaysthemselves，theactorswhohadpublishedthem——butherefusedtoacceptanyofit。HedeclaredthattherewasnotasingleprooftoshowthatShakespearehadwrittenoneofthem。
"Isthereanyevidencethathedidn’t？"Iasked。
"There’sevidencethathecouldn’t，"hesaid。"Itrequiredamanwiththefullestlegalequipmenttohavewrittenthem。WhenyouhavereadGreenwood’sbookyouwillseehowuntenableisanyargumentforShakespeare’sauthorship。"
Iwaswillingtoconcedesomething，andofferedacompromise。
"Perhaps，"Isaid，"ShakespearewastheBelasooofthatday——themanagerialgenius，unabletowriteplayshimself，butwiththesupremegiftofmakingeffectivedramafromtheplaysofothers。InthatcaseitisnotunlikelythattheplayswouldbeknownasShakespeare’s。EveninthisdayJohnLutherLong’s"MadamButterfly"issometimescalledBelasco’splay；thoughitisdoubtfulifBelascoeverwrotealineofit。"
Heconsideredthisview，butnotveryfavorably。TheBoothbookwasatthistimeasecret，andhehadnottoldmeanythingconcerningit；buthehaditinhismindwhenhesaid，withanairofthegreatestconviction：
"IknowthatShakespearedidnotwritethoseplays，andIhavereasontobelievehedidnottouchthetextinanyway。"
"Howcanyoubesopositive？"Iasked。
Hereplied：
"Ihaveprivateknowledgefromasourcethatcannotbequestioned。"
Inowsuspectedthathewasjoking，andaskedifhehadbeenconsultingaspiritualmedium；buthewasclearlyinearnest。
"Itisthegreatdiscoveryoftheage，"hesaid，quiteseriously。"Theworldwillsoonringwithit。IwishIcouldtellyouaboutit，butI
havepassedmyword。Youwillnothavelongtowait。"
IwasgoingtosailfortheMediterraneaninFebruary，andIaskedifitwouldbelikelythatIwouldknowthisgreatsecretbeforeIsailed。Hethoughtnot；buthesaidthatmorethanlikelythestartlingnewswouldbegiventotheworldwhileIwasonthewater，anditmightcometomeontheshipbywireless。IconfessIwasamazedandintenselycuriousbythistime。Iconjecturedthediscoveryofsomedocument——someBaconorShakespeareprivatepaperwhichdispelledallthemysteryoftheauthorship。IhintedthathemightwritemealetterwhichIcouldopenontheship；buthewasfirminhisrefusal。Hehadpassedhisword，herepeated，andthenewsmightnotbegivenoutassoonasthat；butheassuredmemorethanoncethatwhereverImightbe，inwhateverremotelocality，itwouldcomebycable，andtheworldwouldquakewithit。
Iwastemptedtogiveupmytrip，tobewithhimatStormfieldatthetimeoftheupheaval。
NaturallytheShakespearethemewasuppermostduringtheremainingdaysthatweweretogether。Hehadengagedanotherstenographer，andwasnowdictating，forenoons，hisownviewsonthesubject——viewscoordinatedwiththoseofMr。Greenwood，whomheliberallyquoted，butembellishedanddecoratedinhisowngaymanner。Thesewerechaptersforhisautobiography，hesaid，andIthinkhehadthennointentionofmakingabookofthem。Icouldnotquiteseewhyheshouldtakeallthisargumentarytroubleifhehad，ashesaid，positiveevidencethatBacon，andnotShakespeare，hadwrittentheplays。Ithoughtthewholematterverycurious。
TheShakespeareinteresthaddivergingby—paths。Oneevening，whenwewerealoneatdinner，hesaid：
"Thereisonlyoneotherillustriousmaninhistoryaboutwhomthereissolittleknown，"andheadded，"JesusChrist。"
HereviewedthestatementsoftheGospelsconcerningChrist，thoughhedeclaredthemtobemainlytraditionalandofnovalue。Iagreedthattheycontainedconfusingstatements，andinflictedmoreorlesswithjusticeandreason；butIsaidIthoughttherewastruthinthem，too。
"Whydoyouthinkso？"heasked。
"Becausetheycontainmattersthatareself—evident——thingseternallyandessentiallyjust。"
"ThenyoumakeyourownBible？"
"Yes，fromthosematerialscombinedwithhumanreason。"
"Thenitdoesnotmatterwherethetruth，asyoucallit，comesfrom？"
Iadmittedthatthesourcedidnotmatter；thattruthfromShakespeare，Epictetus，orAristotlewasquiteasvaluableasfromtheScriptures。Wewereoncommongroundnow。HementionedMarcusAurelius，theStoics，andtheirblamelesslives。I，stillpursuingthethoughtofJesus，asked：
"DoyounotthinkitstrangethatinthatdaywhenChristcame，admittingthattherewasaChrist，suchacharactercouldhavecomeatall——inthetimeofthePhariseesandtheSadducees，whenallwasceremonyandunbelief？"
"Iremember，"hesaid，"theSadduceesdidn’tbelieveinhell。Hebroughtthemone。"
"Northeresurrection。Hebroughtthemthat，also。"
HedidnotadmitthattherehadbeenaChristwiththecharacterandmissionrelatedbytheGospels。
"Itisallamyth，"hesaid。"TherehavebeenSavioursineveryageoftheworld。Itisalljustafairytale，liketheideaofSantaClaus。"
"But，"Iargued，"eventhespiritofChristmasisrealwhenitisgenuine。SupposethatweadmittherewasnophysicalSaviour——thatitisonlyanidea——aspiritualembodimentwhichhumanityhasmadeforitselfandiswillingtoimproveuponasitsownspiritualityimproves，wouldn’tthatmakeitworthy？"
"Butthenthefairystoryoftheatonementdissolves，andwithitcrumblestheveryfoundationsofanyestablishedchurch。YoucancreateyourownTestament，yourownScripture，andyourownChrist，butyou’vegottogiveupyouratonement。"
"Asrelatedtothecrucifixion，yes，andgoodriddancetoit；butthedeathoftheoldorderandthegrowthofspiritualitycomestoasortofatonement，doesn’tit？"
Hesaid：
"AconclusionlikethathasaboutasmuchtodowiththeGospelsandChristianityasShakespearehadtodowithBacon’splays。Youarepreachingadoctrinethatwouldhavesentamantothestakeafewcenturiesago。IhavepreachedthatinmyownGospel。"
Irememberedthen，andrealizedthat，bymyownclumsyladder，Ihadmerelymountedfromdogma，andsuperstitiontohisplatformoftrainingtheidealstoahighercontentmentofsoul。
CCLXXVII
"ISSHAKESPEAREDEAD？"
Isetoutonmylongjourneywithmuchreluctance。However，aseriesofguestswithvariousdiversionshadbeenplanned，anditseemedagoodtimetogo。Clemensgavemelettersofintroduction，andbademeGodspeed。ItwouldbeneartheendofAprilbeforeIshouldseehimagain。
Nowandthenontheship，andinthecourseofmytravels，IrememberedthegreatnewsIwastohearconcerningShakespeare。InCairo，atShepheard’s，IlookedeagerlythroughEnglishnewspapers，expectinganymomenttocomeupongreathead—lines；butIwasalwaysdisappointed。
EvenonthereturnvoyagetherewasnooneIcouldfindwhohadheardanyparticularShakespearenews。
ArrivinginNewYork，IfoundthatClemenshimselfhadpublishedhisShakespearedictationsinalittlevolumeofhisown，entitled，’IsShakespeareDead？’Thetitlecertainlysuggestedspiritisticmatters，andIgotavolumeatHarpers’，andreaditgoinguponthetrain，hopingtofindsomewhereinitasolutionofthegreatmystery。ButitwasonlymatterIhadalreadyknown；thesecretwasstillunrevealed。
AtReddingIlostnotmuchtimeingettinguptoStormfield。Therehadbeenchangesinmyabsence。ClaraClemenshadreturnedfromhertravels，andJean，whosehealthseemedimproved，wascominghometobeherfather’ssecretary。Hewasgreatlypleasedwiththesethings，anddeclaredhewasgoingtohaveahomeoncemorewithhischildrenabouthim。
Hewasquitealonethatday，andwewalkedupanddownthegreatliving—
roomforanhour，perhaps，whilehediscussedhisnewplans。Foronething，hehadincorporatedhispen—name，MarkTwain，inorderthattheprotectionofhiscopyrightsandtheconductofhisliterarybusinessingeneralshouldnotrequirehispersonalattention。Heseemedtofindareliefinthis，ashealwaysdidindismissinganykindofresponsibility。WhenwewentinforbilliardsIspokeofhisbook，whichIhadreadonthewayup，andofthegreatShakespeariansecretwhichwastoastonishtheworld。Thenhetoldmethatthematterhadbeendelayed，butthathewasnolongerrequiredtosuppressit；thattherevelationwasintheformofabook——abookwhichrevealedconclusivelytoanyonewhowouldtakethetroubletofollowthedirectionsthattheacrosticnameofFrancisBaconinagreatvarietyofformsranthroughmany——
probablythroughalloftheso—calledShakespeareplays。Hesaiditwasfarandawaybeyondanythingofthekindeverpublished；thatIgnatiusDonnellyandothershadmerelyglimpsedthetruth，butthattheauthorofthisbook，WilliamStoneBooth，haddemonstrated，beyondanydoubtorquestion，thattheBaconsignatureswerethere。Thebookwouldbeissuedinafewdays，hesaid。Hehadseenasetofproofsofit，andwhileithadnotbeenpublishedinthebestwaytoclearlydemonstrateitsgreatrevelation，itmustsettlethematterwitheveryreasoningmind。Heconfessedthathisfacultieshadbeenmoreorlessdefeatedin，attemptingtofollowtheciphers，andhecomplainedbitterlythattheevidencehadnotbeensetforthsothathewhomerelyskimsabookmightgraspit。
Hehadfailedontheacrosticsatfirst；butmorerecentlyhehadunderstoodtherule，andhadbeenabletoworkoutseveralBaconsignatures。HecomplimentedmebysayingthathefeltsurethatwhenthebookcameIwouldhavenotroublewithit。
Withoutgoingfurtherwiththismatter，Imaysayherethatthebookarrivedpresently，andbetweenuswedidworkoutaconsiderablenumberoftheclaimedacrosticsbyfollowingtheruleslaiddown。Itwascertainlyaninterestingifnotwhollyconvincingoccupation，anditwouldbeadifficulttaskforanyonetoprovethattheciphersarenotthere。Justwhythispretentiousvolumecreatedsolittleagitationitwouldbehardtosay。Certainlyitdidnotcauseanygreatupheavalintheliteraryworld，andthenameofWilliamShakespearestillcontinuestobeprintedonthetitle—pageofthosemarvelousdramassolongassociatedwithhisname。
MarkTwain’sownbookonthesubject——’IsShakespeareDead？’——foundawideacceptance，andprobablyconvincedasmanyreaders。Itcontainednonewarguments；butitgaveaconvincingtouchtotheoldones，anditwascertainlyreadable。——[MarkTwainhadthefullestconvictionastotheBaconauthorshipoftheShakespeareplays。Oneevening，withMr。EdwardLoomis，weattendedafineperformanceof"RomeoandJuliet"givenbySothernandMarlowe。Atthecloseofonesplendidscenehesaid，quiteearnestly，"ThatisaboutthebestplaythatLordBaconeverwrote。"]
AmongthevisitorswhohadcometoStormfieldwasHowells。ClemenshadcalledameetingoftheHumanRaceClub，butonlyHowellswasabletoattend。Wewilllethimtellofhisvisit：
Wegotonverywellwithouttheabsentees，afterfindingtheminthewrong，asusual，andthevisitwaslikethoseIusedtohavewithhimsomanyyearsbeforeinHartford，buttherewasnottheoldfermentofsubjects。Manythingshadbeendiscussedandputawayforgood，butwehadouroldfondnessfornatureandforeachother，whoweresodifferentlypartsofit。Heshowedhisabsolutecontentwithhishouse，andthatwasthegreaterpleasureformebecauseitwasmysonwhodesignedit。Thearchitecthadbeensofortunateastobeabletoplanitwhereanaturalavenueofsavins，theclose—
knit，slender，cypress—likecedarsofNewEngland，ledawayfromtherearofthevillatothelittlelevelofapergola，meantsomedaytobewreathedandroofedwithvines。ButintheearlyspringdaysallthelandscapewasinthebeautifulnakednessoftheNorthernwinter。Itopenedinthesurpassinglovelinessofwoodedandmeadoweduplands，underskiesthatwerethefirstdaysblue，andthelastgrayoverarainyandthenasnowyfloor。Wewalkedupanddown，upanddown，betweenthevillaterraceandthepergola，andtalkedwiththemelancholyamusement，thesadtoleranceofageforthesortofmenandthingsthatusedtoexciteusorenrageus；nowwewerefarpastturbulenceoranger。Oncewetookawalktogetheracrosstheyellowpasturestoachasmalcreekonhisgrounds，wheretheicestillknittheclayeybankstogetherlikecrystalmosses；
andthestreamfardownclashedthroughandoverthestonesandtheshardsofice。Clemenspointedoutthesceneryhehadboughttogivehimselfelbowroom，andshowedmethelothewasgoingtohavemebuildon。ThenextdaywecameagainwiththegeologisthehadaskeduptoStormfieldtoanalyzeitsrocks。Trulyhelovedtheplace……
MyvisitatStormfieldcametoanendwithtenderreluctingonhispartandonmine。EverymorningbeforeIdressedIheardhimsoundingmynamethroughthehouseforthefunofitandIknowforthefondness，andifIlookedoutofmydoortherehewasinhislongnightgownswayingupanddownthecorridor，andwagginghisgreatwhiteheadlikeaboythatleaveshisbedandcomesoutinthehopeoffrolicwithsomeone。Thelastmorningasoftsugar—snowhadfallenandwasfalling，andIdrovethroughitdowntothestationinthecarriagewhichhadbeengivenhimbyhiswife’sfatherwhentheywerefirstmarried，andhadbeenkeptallthoseinterveningyearsinhonorableretirementforthisfinaluse。——[Thiscarriage——afinelybuiltcoup——hadbeenpresentedtoMrs。CranewhentheHartfordhousewasclosed。WhenStormfieldwasbuiltshereturnedittoitsoriginalowner。]——Itsspringshadnotgrownyieldingwithtime，ithadratherthestiffnessandseverityofage；
butforhimitmusthaveswunglowlikethesweetchariotofthenegro"spiritual"whichIheardhimsingwithsuchfervorwhenthosewonderfulhymnsoftheslavesbegantomaketheirwaynorthward。
Howells’svisitresultedinanewinspiration。Clemensstartedtowritehimonenightwhenhecouldnotsleep，andhadbeenreadingthevolumeoflettersofJamesRussellLowell。Then，nextmorning，hewasseizedwiththenotionofwritingaseriesofletterstosuchfriendsasHowells，Twichell，andRogers——lettersnottobemailed，buttobelaidawayforsomefuturepublic。Hewrotetwooftheseimmediately——toHowellsandtoTwichell。TheHowellsletterorletters，foritwasreallydoubleisbothpatheticandamusing。Thefirstpartran：
3inthemorning，April17，1909。
Mypenhasgonedryandtheinkisoutofreach。Howells，didyouwritemeday—before—day—beforeyesterdayordidIdreamit？Inmymind’seyeImostvividlyseeyourhand—writeonasquareblueenvelopeinthemail—pile。Ihavehuntedthehouseover，butthereisnosuchletter。Wasitanillusion？
IamreadingLowell’sletters&smoking。Iwokeanhourago&amreadingtokeepfromwastingthetime。Onpage305，Vol。I，Ihavejustmarginedanote：
"Youngfriend！Ilikethat！Yououghttoseehimnow。"
Itseemedstartlinglystrangetohearapersoncallyouyoung。Itwasabrickoutofabluesky，&knockedmegroggyforamoment。Ahme，thepathosofitisthatwewereyoungthen。Andhe——why，sowashe，buthedidn’tknowit。Hedidn’tevenknowit9yearslater，whenwesawhimapproachingandyouwarnedme，saying：
"Don’tsayanythingaboutage——hehasjustturned50&thinksheisold，&broodsoverit。"
Well，Claradidsing！Andyouwroteheradearletter。
Timetogotosleep。
Yoursever，MARK
Thesecondletter，begunat10A。M。，outlinestheplanbywhichheistowriteonthesubjectuppermostinhismindwithoutrestraint，knowingthattheletterisnottobemailed……Theschemefurnishesadefinitetargetforeachletter，&youcanchoosethetargetthat’sgoingtobethemostsympatheticforwhatyouarehungering&thirstingtosayatthatparticularmoment。
Andyoucantalkwithaquiteunallowablefrankness&freedombecauseyouarenotgoingtosendtheletter。Whenyouareonfirewiththeologyyou’llnotwriteittoRogers，whowouldn’tbeaninspiration；you’llwriteittoTwichell，becauseitwillmakehimwritheandsquirm&breakthefurniture。Whenyouareonfirewithagoodthingthat’sindecentyouwon’twasteitonTwichell；you’llsaveitforHowells，whowillloveit。Ashewillneverseeityoucanmakeitreallyindecenterthanhecouldstand；&sonoharmisdone，yetavastadvantageisgained。
Theletterwasnotfinished，andtheschemeperishedthere。TheTwichellletterconcernedmissionaries，andaddednothingtowhathehadalreadysaidonthesubject。
HewrotenolettertoMr。Rogers——perhapsneverwrotetohimagain。
CCLXXVIII
THEDEATHOFHENRYROGERS
Clemens，alittlebeforemyreturn，hadbeenonatriptoNorfolk，Virginia，toattendtheopeningceremoniesoftheVirginiaRailway。Hehadmadeaspeechonthatoccasion，inwhichhehadpaidapublictributetoHenryRogers，andtoldsomethingofhispersonalobligationtothefinancier。
HebeganbytellingwhatMr。RogershaddoneforHelenKeller，whomhecalled"themostmarvelouspersonofhersexthathasexistedonthisearthsinceJoanofArc。"Thenhesaid：
ThatisnotallMr。Rogershasdone，butyouneverseethatsideofhischaracterbecauseitisneverprotruding；buthelendsahelpinghanddailyoutofthatgenerousheartofhis。Youneverhearofit。
Heissupposedtobeamoonwhichhasonesidedarkandtheotherbright。Buttheotherside，thoughyoudon’tseeit，isnotdark；
itisbright，anditsrayspenetrate，andothersdoseeitwhoarenotGod。
IwouldtakethisopportunitytotellsomethingthatIhaveneverbeenallowedtotellbyMr。Rogers，eitherbymymouthorinprint，andifIdon’tlookathimIcantellitnow。
In1894，whenthepublishingcompanyofCharlesL。Webster，ofwhichIwasfinancialagent，failed，itleftmeheavilyindebt。Ifyouwillrememberwhatcommercewasatthattimeyouwillrecallthatyoucouldnotsellanything，andcouldnotbuyanything，andIwasonmyback；mybookswerenotworthanythingatall，andIcouldnotgiveawaymycopyrights。Mr。Rogershadlong—enoughvisionaheadtosay，"Yourbookshavesupportedyoubefore，andafterthepanicisovertheywillsupportyouagain，"andthatwasacorrectproposition。Hesavedmycopyrights，andsavedmefromfinancialruin。Heitwaswhoarrangedwithmycreditorstoallowmetoroamthefaceoftheearthandpersecutethenationsthereofwithlectures，promisingattheendoffouryearsIwouldpaydollarfordollar。Thatarrangementwasmade，otherwiseIwouldnowbelivingout—of—doorsunderanumbrella，andaborrowedoneatthat。
Youseehiswhitemustacheandhishairtryingtogetwhiteheisalwaystryingtolooklikeme——Idon’tblamehimforthat。Theseareonlyemblematicofhischaracter，andthatisall。Isay，withoutexception，hairandall，heisthewhitestmanIhaveeverknown。
ThishadbeenearlyinApril。SomethingmorethanamonthlaterClemenswasmakingabusinesstriptoNewYorktoseeMr。Rogers。Iwastelephonedearlytogoupandlookoversomematterswithhimbeforehestarted。IdonotrememberwhyIwasnottogoalongthatday，forI
usuallymadesuchtripswithhim。IthinkitwasplannedthatMissClemens，whowasinthecity，wastomeethimattheGrandCentralStation。Atallevents，shedidmeethimthere，withthenewsthatduringthenightMr。Rogershadsuddenlydied。ThiswasMay20，1909。
Thenewshadalreadycometothehouse，andIhadlostnotimeinpreparationstofollowbythenexttrain。IjoinedhimattheGrosvenorHotel，onFifthAvenueandTenthStreet。Hewasupsetanddeeplytroubledbythelossofhisstanchadviserandfriend。Hehadahelplesslook，andhesaidhisfriendsweredyingawayfromhimandleavinghimadrift。
"AndhowIhatetodoanything，"headded，"thatrequirestheleastmodicumofintelligence！"
WeremainedattheGrosvenorforMr。Rogers’sfuneral。Clemensservedasoneofthepall—bearers，buthedidnotfeelequaltothetriptoFairhaven。Hewantedtobeveryquiet，hesaid。Hecouldnotundertaketotravelthatdistanceamongthosewhomheknewsowell，andwithwhomhemustofnecessityjoininconversation；soweremainedinthehotelapartment，readingandsayingverylittleuntilbedtime。OnceheaskedmetowritealettertoJean："Say，’Yourfathersayseverylittlewhile，"HowgladIamthatJeanisathomeagain！"’forthatistrueandIthinkofitallthetime。"
Butbyandby，afteralongperiodofsilence，hesaid：
"Mr。Rogersisunderthegroundnow。"
AndsopassedoutofearthlyaffairsthemanwhohadcontributedsolargelytothecomfortofMarkTwain’soldage。Hewasamanoffinesensibilitiesandgenerousimpulses；withalakeensenseofhumor。
OneChristmas，whenhepresentedMarkTwainwithawatchandamatch—
case，hewrote：
MYDEARCLEMENS，——Formanyyearsyourfriendshavebeencomplainingofyouruseoftobacco，bothastoquantityandquality。Complaintsarenowcominginofyouruseoftime。Mostofyourfriendsthinkthatyouareusingyoursupplysomewhatlavishly，butthechiefcomplaintisinregardtothequality。
Ihavebeenappealedtointhemeantime，andhaveconcludedthatitisimpossibletogettherightkindoftimefromablacking—box。
Therefore，Itakethelibertyofsendingyouherewithamachinethatwillfurnishonlythebest。PleaseuseitwiththekindwishesofYourstruly，H。H。ROGERS。
P。S。——Complainthasalsobeenmadeinregardtothefurrowsyoumakeinyourtrousersinscratchingmatches。Youwillfindafurrowonthebottomofthearticleinclosed。Pleaseuseit。Complimentsoftheseasontothefamily。
Hewasamantoobusytowritemanyletters，butwhenhedidwritetoClemensatleasttheywerealwaysplayfulandunhurried。Onereadingthemwouldnotfinditeasytobelievethatthewriterwasamanonwhoseshoulderslaytheburdensofstupendousfinance—burdenssoheavythatatlasthewascrushedbeneaththeirweight。
CCLXXIX
ANEXTENSIONOFCOPYRIGHT
OneofthepleasantthingsthatcametoMarkTwainthatyearwasthepassageofacopyrightbill，whichaddedtotheroyaltyperiodanextensionoffourteenyears。ChampClarkhadbeenlargelyinstrumentalinthesuccessofthismeasure，andhadbeenfightingforitsteadilysinceMarkTwain’svisittoWashingtonin1906。Followingthatvisit，Clarkwrote：……It[theoriginalbill]wouldneverpassbecausethebillhadliteratureandmusicallmixedtogether。BeingaMissourianofcourseitwouldgivemegreatpleasuretobeofservicetoyou。
WhatIwanttosayisthis：youhavepreparedasimplebillrelatingonlytothecopyrightofbooks；sendittomeandIwilltrytohaveitpassed。
Clemensrepliedthathemighthavesomethingmoretosayonthecopyrightquestionbyandby——thathehadinhandadialogue——[Similartothe"OpenLettertotheRegisterofCopyrights，"NorthAmericanReview，January，1905。]——whichwouldinstructCongress，butthishedidnotcomplete。
Meantimeasimplebillwasproposedandearlyin1909itbecamealaw。
InJuneClarkwrote：
DR。SAMUELL。CLEMENS，Stormfield，Redding，Conn。
MYDEARDOCTOR，——Iamgraduallybecomingmyselfagain，afteraperiodofexhaustionthatalmostapproximatedprostration。AfteralonglecturetourlastsummerIwentimmediatelyintoahardcampaign；assoonastheelectionwasover，andIhadrecoveredmydisposition，Icamehereandwentintothosetariffhearings，whichbeganshortlyafterbreakfasteachday，andsometimeslasteduntilmidnight。Listeningpatientlyandmeekly，withal，tothelyingoftariffbaronsformanydaysandnightswasfollowedbytheworkofthelongsession；thatwasfollowedbyahotcampaigntotakeUncleJoe’srulesawayfromhim；ontheheelsofthat"CampaignthatFailed"camethetarifffightintheHouse。IamnowgettingtimetobreatheregularlyandIamwritingtoaskyouifthecopyrightlawisacceptabletoyou。IfitisnotacceptabletoyouIwanttoaskyoutowriteandtellmehowitshouldbechangedandIwillgivemybestendeavorstothework。Ibelievethatyourideasandwishesinthematterconstitutethebestguidewehaveastowhatshouldbedoneinthecase。
Yourfriend，CHAMPCLARK。
TothisClemensreplied：
STORMFIELD，REDDING，CONN，June5，1909。
DEARCHAMPCLARK，——Isthenewcopyrightlawacceptabletome？
Emphaticallyyes！Clark，itistheonlysane&clearlydefined&
just&righteouscopyrightlawthathaseverexistedintheUnitedStates。Whosoeverwillcompareitwithitspredecessorswillhavenotroubleinarrivingatthatdecision。
ThebillwhichwasbeforethecommitteetwoyearsagowhenIwasdowntherewasthemoststupefyingjumbleofconflicting&
apparentlyirreconcilableintereststhatwaseverseen；andweallsaid"thecaseishopeless，absolutelyhopeless——outofthischaosnothingcanbebuilt。"Butwewereinerror；outofthatchaoticmassthisexcellentbillhasbeenconstructed，thewarringinterestshavebeenreconciled，andtheresultisascomelyandsubstantialalegislativeedificeasliftsitsdomesandtowersandprotectivelightning—rodsoutofthestatutebookIthink。WhenIthinkofthatotherbill，whicheventheDeitycouldn’tunderstand，andofthisone，whichevenIcanunderstand，Itakeoffmyhattothemanormenwhodevisedthisone。WasitR。U。Johnson？WasittheAuthors’League？Wasitbothtogether？Idon’tknow，butItakeoffmyhat，anyway。Johnsonhaswrittenavaluablearticleaboutthenewlaw——Iincloseit。
Atlast——atlastandforthefirsttimeincopyrighthistory——weareaheadofEngland！Aheadofherintwoways：bylengthoftimeandbyfairnesstoallinterestsconcerned。Doesthissoundlikeshouting？ThenImustmodifyit：allwepossessedofcopyrightjusticebeforethe4thoflastMarchweowedtoEngland’sinitiative。
Trulyyours，S。L。CLEMENS。
Clemenshadpreparedwhatwasthefinalwordanthesubjectofcopyrightjustbeforethisbillwaspassed——apetitionforalawwhichhebelievedwouldregulatethewholematter。Itwasagenerous，evenifasomewhatUtopian，plan，eminentlycharacteristicofitsauthor。Thenewfourteen—
yearextension，withtheprospectofmore，madethisoranyothercompromiseseeminadvisable。——[ThereadermayconsiderthislastcopyrightdocumentbyMarkTwainunderAppendixN，attheendofthisvolume。]
CCLXXX
AWARNING
ClemenshadpromisedtogotoBaltimoreforthegraduationof"Francesca"
ofhisLondonvisitin1907——andtomakeashortaddresstoherclass。
ItwastheeighthofJunewhenwesetoutonthisjourney，——[Thereadermayrememberthatitwasthe8thofJune，1867，thatMarkTwainsailedfortheHolyLand。Itwasthe8thofJune，1907，thathesailedforEnglandtotakehisOxforddegree。This8thofJune，1909，wasatleastslightlyconnectedwithbothevents，forhewaskeepinganengagementmadewithFrancescainLondon，andmynotesshowthathediscussed，onthewaytothestation，someincidentsofhisHolyLandtripandhisattitudeatthattimetowardChristiantraditions。AsherarelymentionedtheQuakerCitytrip，thecoincidenceseemsrathercurious。
ItismostunlikelythatClemenshimselfinanywayassociatedthetwodates。]——butthedaywasratherbleakandtherewasachillyrain。
ClemenshadanumberoferrandstodoinNewYork，andwedrovefromoneplacetoanother，attendingtothem。Finally，intheafternoon，therainceased，andwhileIwasarrangingsomemattersforhimheconcludedtotakearideonthetopofaFifthAvenuestage。Itwasfineandpleasantwhenhestarted，buttheweatherthickenedagainandwhenhereturnedhecomplainedthathehadfeltalittlechilly。Heseemedinfinecondition，however，nextmorningandwasingoodspiritsallthewaytoBaltimore。ChaunceyDepewwasonthetrainandtheymetinthedining—
car——thelasttime，Ithink，theyeversaweachother。HewastiredwhenwereachedtheBelvedereHotelinBaltimoreanddidnotwishtoseethenewspapermen。Ithappenedthatthereportershadaspecialpurposeincomingjustatthistime，forithadsuddenlydevelopedthatinhisShakespearebook，throughanoversight，duetohasteinpublication，fullcredithadnotbeengiventoMr。Greenwoodforthelongextractsquotedfromhiswork。Thesensationalhead—linesinamorningpaper，"IsMarkTwainaPlagiarist？"hadnaturallypromptedthenewspapermentoseewhathewouldhavetosayonthesubject。Itwasasimplematter，easilyexplained，andClemenshimselfwaslessdisturbedaboutitthananybody。
Hefeltnosenseofguilt，hesaid；andthefactthathehadbeenstealingandcaughtatitwouldgiveMr。Greenwood’sbookfarmoreadvertisingthanifhehadgivenhimthefullcreditwhichhehadintended。Hefoundagooddealofamusementinthesituation，hisonlyworrybeingthatClaraandJeanwouldseethepaperandbetroubled。
Hehadtakenoffhisclothesandwaslyingdown，reading。Afteralittlehegotupandbeganwalkingupanddowntheroom。Presentlyhestoppedand，facingme，placedhishanduponhisbreast。Hesaid：
"IthinkImusthavecaughtalittlecoldyesterdayonthatFifthAvenuestage。Ihaveacuriouspaininmybreast。"
IsuggestedthatheliedownagainandIwouldfillhishot—waterbag。
Thepainpassedawaypresently，andheseemedtobedozing。Isteppedintothenextroomandbusiedmyselfwithsomewriting。ByandbyI
heardhimstirringagainandwentinwherehewas。Hewaswalkingupanddownandbegantalkingofsomerecentethnologicaldiscoveries——
somethingrelatingtoprehistoricman。
"Whatafineboythatprehistoricmanmusthavebeen，"hesaid——"theveryfirstone！Thinkofthegaudystyleofhim，howhemusthavelordeditoverthoseothercreatures，walkingonhishindlegs，wavinghisarms，practisingandgettingreadyforthepulpit。"
Thefancyamusedhim，butpresentlyhepausedinhiswalkandagainputhishandonhisbreast，saying：
"Thatpainhascomeback。It’sacurious，sickening，deadlykindofpain。Ineverhadanythingjustlikeit。"
Itseemedtomethathisfacehadbecomerathergray。Isaid：
"Whereisit，exactly，Mr。Clemens？"
Helaidhishandinthecenterofhisbreastandsaid：
"Itishere，anditisverypeculiarindeed。"