mark twain, a biography, 1900-1907-第42部分

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seventy…one　years　and　I　am　entitled　to　thanks。　　Congress　knows　it
perfectly　well；　and　I　have　long　felt　hurt　that　this　quite　proper　and
earned　expression　of　gratitude　has　been　merely　felt　by　the　House　and
never　publicly　uttered。　　Send　me　an　order　on　the　Sergeant…at…Arms　quick。　
When　shall　I　come？　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　With　love　and　a　benediction；　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MARK　TWAIN。


We　went　over　to　the　Capitol　now　to　deliver　to　〃Uncle　Joe〃　this
characteristic　letter。　　We　had　picked　up　Clemens's　nephew；　Samuel　E。　
Moffett；　at　the　Library；　and　he　came　along　and　led　the　way　to　the
Speaker's　room。　　Arriving　there；　Clemens　laid　off　his　dark　overcoat　and
stood　there；　all　in　white；　certainly　a　startling　figure　among　those
clerks；　newspaper　men；　and　incidental　politicians。　　He　had　been　noticed
as　he　entered　the　Capitol；　and　a　number　of　reporters　had　followed　close
behind。　　Within　less　than　a　minute　word　was　being　passed　through　the
corridors　that　Mark　Twain　was　at　the　Capitol　in　his　white　suit。　　The
privileged　ones　began　to　gather；　and　a　crowd　assembled　in　the　hall
outside。

Speaker　Cannon　was　not　present　at　the　moment；　but　a　little　later　he
〃billowed〃　inwhich　seems　to　be　the　word　to　express　ithe　came　with
such　a　rush　and　tide　of　life。　　After　greetings；　Clemens　produced　the
letter　and　read　it　to　him　solemnly；　as　if　he　were　presenting　a　petition。　
Uncle　Joe　listened　quite　seriously；　his　head　bowed　a　little；　as　if　it
were　really　a　petition；　as　in　fact　it　was。　　He　smiled；　but　he　said；　quite
seriously：

〃That　is　a　request　that　ought　to　be　granted；　but　the　time　has　gone　by
when　I　am　permitted　any　such　liberties。　　Tom　Reed；　when　he　was　Speaker；
inaugurated　a　strict　precedent　excluding　all　outsiders　from　the　use　of
the　floor　of　the　House。〃

〃I　got　in　the　other　time；〃　Clemens　insisted。

〃Yes；〃　said　Uncle　Joe；　〃but　that　ain't　now。　　Sunset　Cox　could　let　you　in；
but　I　can't。　　They'd　hang　me。〃　　He　reflected　a　moment；　and　added：　〃I'll
tell　you　what　I'll　do：　I've　got　a　private　room　down…stairs　that　I　never
use。　　It's　all　fitted　up　with　table　and　desk；　stationery；　chinaware；　and
cutlery；　you　could　keep　house　there；　if　you　wanted　to。　　I'll　let　you　have
it　as　long　as　you　want　to　stay　here；　and　I'll　give　you　my　private
servant；　Neal；　who's　been　here　all　his　life　and　knows　every　official；
every　Senator　and　Representative；　and　they　all　know　him。　　He'll　bring　you
whatever　you　want；　and　you　can　send　in　messages　by　him。　　You　can　have　the
members　brought　down　singly　or　in　bunches；　and　convert　them　as　much　as
you　please。　　I'd　give　you　a　key　to　the　room；　only　I　haven't　got　one
myself。　　I　never　can　get　in　when　I　want　to；　but　Neal　can　get　in；　and
he'll　unlock　it　for　you。　　You　can　have　the　room；　and　you　can　have　Neal。　
Now；　will　that　do　you？〃

Clemens　said　it　would。　　It　was；　in　fact；　an　offer　without　precedent。　
Probably　never　in　the　history　of　the　country　had　a　Speaker　given　up　his
private　room　to　lobbyists。　　We　went　in　to　see　the　House　open；　and　then
went　down　with　Neal　and　took　possession　of　the　room。　　The　reporters　had
promptly　seized　upon　the　letter；　and　they　now　got　hold　of　its　author；　led
him　to　their　own　quarters；　and；　gathering　around　him；　fired　questions　at
him；　and　kept　their　note…books　busy。　　He　made　a　great　figure；　all　in
white　there　among　them；　and　they　didn't　fail　to　realize　the　value　of　it
as　〃copy。〃　　He　talked　about　copyright；　and　about　his　white　clothes；　and
about　a　silk　hat　which　Howells　wore。

Back　in　the　Speaker's　room；　at　last；　he　began　laying　out　the　campaign；
which　would　begin　next　day。　　By　and　by　he　said：

〃Look　here！　　I　believe　I've　got　to　speak　over　there　in　that　committee…
room　to…day　or　to…morrow。　　I　ought　to　know　just　when　it　is。〃

I　had　not　heard　of　this　before；　and　offered　to　go　over　and　see　about　it；
which　I　did　at　once。　　I　hurried　back　faster　than　I　had　gone。

〃Mr。　Clemens；　you　are　to　speak　in　half　an　hour；　and　the　room　is　crowded
full；　people　waiting　to　hear　you。〃

〃The　devil！〃　he　said。　　〃Well；　all　right；　I'll　just　lie　down　here　a　few
minutes　and　then　we'll　go　over。　　Take　paper　and　pencil　and　make　a　few
headings。〃

There　was　a　couch　in　the　room。　　He　lay　down　while　I　sat　at　the　table　with
a　pencil；　making　headings　now　and　then；　as　he　suggested；　and　presently　he
rose　and；　shoving　the　notes　into　his　pocket；　was　ready。　　It　was　half　past
three　when　we　entered　the　committee…room；　which　was　packed　with　people
and　rather　dimly　lighted；　for　it　was　gloomy　outside。　　Herbert　Putnam；　the
librarian；　led　us　to　seats　among　the　literary　group；　and　Clemens；
removing　his　overcoat；　stood　in　that　dim　room　clad　as　in　white　armor。　
There　was　a　perceptible　stir。　　Howells；　startled　for　a　moment；　whispered：

〃What　in　the　world　did　he　wear　that　white　suit　for？〃　though　in　his　heart
he　admired　it　as　much　as　the　others。

I　don't　remember　who　was　speaking　when　we　came　in；　but　he　was　saying
nothing　important。　　Whoever　it　was；　he　was　followed　by　Dr。　Edward　Everett
Hale；　whose　age　always　commanded　respect；　and　whose　words　always　invited
interest。　　Then　it　was　Mark　Twain's　turn。　　He　did　not　stand　by　his　chair；
as　the　others　had　done；　but　walked　over　to　the　Speaker's　table；　and；
turning；　faced　his　audience。　　I　have　never　seen　a　more　impressive　sight
than　that　snow…white　figure　in　that　dim…lit；　crowded　room。　　He　never
touched　his　notes；　he　didn't　even　remember　them。　　He　began　in　that　even；
quiet；　deliberate　voice　of　his　the　most　even；　the　most　quiet；　the　most
deliberate　voice　in　the　worldand；　without　a　break　or　a　hesitation　for　a
word；　he　delivered　a　copyright　argument；　full　of　humor　and　serious
reasoning；　such　a　speech　as　no　one　in　that　room；　I　suppose；　had　ever
heard。　　Certainly　it　was　a　fine　and　dramatic　bit　of　impromptu　pleading。
The　weary　committee；　which　had　been　tortured　all　day　with　dull；
statistical　arguments　made　by　the　mechanical　device　fiends；　and　dreary
platitudes　unloaded　by　men　whose　chief　ambition　was　to　shine　as　copyright
champions；　suddenly　realized　that　they　were　being　rewarded　for　the　long
waiting。　　They　began　to　brighten　and　freshen；　and　uplift　and　smile；　like
flowers　that　have　been　wilted　by　a　drought　when　comes　the　refreshing
shower　that　means　renewed　life　and　vigor。　　Every　listener　was　as　if
standing　on　tiptoe。　　When　the　last　sentence　was　spoken　the　applause　came
like　an　explosion。　＇Howells　in　his　book　My　Mark　Twain　speaks　of
Clemens's　white　clothing　as　〃an　inspiration　which　few　men　would　have　had
the　courage　to　act　upon。〃　　He　adds：　　〃The　first　time　I　saw　him　wear　it
was　at　the　authors'　hearing　before　the　Congressional　Committee　on
Copyright　in　Washington。　　Nothing　could　have　been　more　dramatic　than　the
gesture　with　which　he　flung　off　his　long；　loose　overcoat　and　stood　forth
in　white　from　his　feet　to　the　crown　of　his　silvery　head。　　It　was　a
magnificent　coup；　and　he　dearly　loved　a　coup；　but　the　magnificent　speech
which　he　made；　tearing　to　shreds　the　venerable　farrago　of　nonsense　about
nonproperty　in　ideas　which　had　formed　the　basis　of　all　copyright
legislation；　made　you　forget　even　his　spectacularity。〃＇

There　came　a　universal　rush　of　men　and　women　to　get　near　enough　for　a
word　and　to　shake　his　hand。　　But　he　was　anxious　to　get　away。　　We　drove　to
the　Willard　and　talked　and　smoked；　and　got　ready　for　dinner。　　He　was
elated；　and　said　the　occasion　required　full…dress。　　We　started　down　at
last；　fronted　and　frocked　like　penguins。

I　did　not　realize　then　the　fullness　of　his　love　for　theatrical　effect。
I　supposed　he　would　want　to　go　down　with　as　little　ostentation　as
possible；　so　took　him　by　the　elevator　which　enters　the　dining…room
without　passing　through　the　long　corridor　known　as　〃Peacock　Alley；〃
because　of　its　being　a　favorite　place　for　handsomely　dressed　fashionables
of　the　national　capital。　　When　we　reached　the　entrance　of　the　dining…room
he　said：

〃Isn't　there　another　entrance　to　this　place？〃

I　said　there　was；　but　that　it　was　very　conspicuous。　　We　should　have　to　go
down　the　long　corridor。

〃Oh；　well；〃　he　said；　〃　I　don't　mind　that。　　Let's　go　back　and　try　it
over。〃

So　we　went　back　up　the　elevator；　walked　to　the　other　end　of　the　hotel；
and　came　down　to　the　F　Street　entrance。　　There　is　a　fine；　stately　flight
of　stepsa　really　royal　stairleading　from　this　entrance　down　into
〃Peacock　Alley。〃　　To　slowly　descend　that　flight　is　an　impressive　thing　to
do。　　It　is　like　descending　the　steps　of　a　throne…room；　or　to　some　royal
landing…place　where　Cleopatra's　barge　might　lie。　　I　confess　that　I　was
somewhat　nervous　at　the　awfulness　of　the　occasion；　but　I　reflected　that　I
was　powerfully　protected；　so　side　by　side；　both　in　full…dress；　white
ties；　white…silk　waistcoats；　and　all；　we　came　down　that　regal　flight。

Of　course　he　was　seized　upon　at　once　by　a　lot　of　feminine　admirers；　and
the　passage　along　the　corridor　was　a　perpetual　gantlet。　　I　realize　now
that　this　gave　the　dramatic　finish　to　his　day；　and　furnished　him　with
proper　appetite　for　his　dinner。　　I　did　not　again　make　the　mistake　of
taking　him　around　to　the　more　secluded　elevator。　　I　aided　and　abetted　him
every　evening　in　making　that　spectacular　descent　of　the　royal　stairway；
and　in　running　that　fair　and　frivolous　gantlet　the　length　of　〃Peacock
Alley。〃　　The　dinner　was　a　continuous　reception。　　No　sooner　was　he　seated
than　this　Congressman　and　that　Senator　came　over　to　shake　hands　with　Mark
Twain。　　Governor　Francis　of　Missouri　also　came。　　Eventually　Howells
drifted　in；　and　Clemens　reviewed　the　day；　its　humors　and　successes。　　Back
in　the　rooms　at　last　he　summed　up　the　progress　thus　farsmoked；　laughed
over　〃Uncle　Joe's〃　surrender　to　the　〃copyright　bandits；〃　and　turned　in
for　the　night。

We　were　at　the　Capitol　headquarters　in　Speaker　Cannon's　private　room
about　eleven　o'clock　next　morning。　　Clemens　was　not　in　the　best　humor
because　I　had　allowed　him　to　oversleep。　　He　was　inclined　to　be
discouraged　at　the　prospect；　and　did　not　believe　many　of　the　members
would　come　down　to　see　him。　　He　expressed　a　wish　for　some　person　of
influence　and　wide　acquaintance；　and　walked　up　and　down；　smoking
gloomily。　　I　slipped　out　and　found　the　Speaker's　colored　body…guard；
Neal；　and　suggested　that　Mr。　Clemens　was　ready　now　to　receive　the
members。