mark twain, a biography, 1866-1875-第23部分

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　　　　　make　the　breath　of　life　a　luxury　as　well　as　a　necessity；　enjoyable
　　　　　as　well　as　useful。　　To　go　quit　smoking；　when　there　ain't　any
　　　　　sufficient　excuse　for　it！why；　my　old　boy；　when　they　used　to　tell
　　　　　me　I　would　shorten　my　life　ten　years　by　smoking；　they　little　knew
　　　　　the　devotee　they　were　wasting　their　puerile　words　upon；　they　little
　　　　　knew　how　trivial　and　valueless　I　would　regard　a　decade　that　had　no
　　　　　smoking　in　it！　　But　I　won't　persuade　you；　TwichellI　won't　until　I
　　　　　see　you　againbut　then　we'll　smoke　for　a　week　together；　and　then
　　　　　shut　off　again。




LXXX

LITERARY　PROJECTS

The　success　of　the　Innocents　naturally　made　a　thrifty　publisher　like
Bliss　anxious　for　a　second　experiment。　　He　had　begun　early　in　the　year　to
talk　about　another　book；　but　nothing　had　come　of　it　beyond　a　project　or
two；　more　or　less　hazy　and　unpursued。　　Clemens　at　one　time　developed　a
plan　for　a　Noah's　Ark　book；　which　was　to　detail　the　cruise　of　the　Ark　in
diaries　kept　by　various　members　of　it…Shem；　Ham；　and　the　others。　　He
really　wrote　some　of　it　at　the　time；　and　it　was　an　idea　he　never　entirely
lost　track　of。　　All　along　among　his　manuscripts　appear　fragments　from
those　ancient　voyagers。　　One　of　the　earlier　entries　will　show　the　style
and　purpose　of　the　undertaking。　　It　is　from　Shem's　record：

　　　　　Friday：　Papa's　birthday。　　He　is　600　years　old。　　We　celebrated　it　in
　　　　　a　big；　black　tent。　　Principal　men　of　the　tribe　present。　　Afterward
　　　　　they　were　shown　over　the　ark；　which　was　looking　desolate　and　empty
　　　　　and　dreary　on　account　of　a　misunderstanding　with　the　workmen　about
　　　　　wages。　　Methuselah　was　as　free　with　his　criticisms　as　usual；　and　as
　　　　　voluble　and　familiar；　which　I　and　my　brothers　do　not　like；　for　we
　　　　　are　past　our　one　hundredth　year　and　married。　　He　still　calls　me
　　　　　Shemmy；　just　as　he　did　when　I　was　a　child　of　sixty。　　I　am　still　but
　　　　　a　youth；　it　is　true；　but　youth　has　its　feelings；　and　I　do　not　like
　　　　　this　。　　。　　。　　。

　　　　　Saturday：　Keeping　the　Sabbath。

　　　　　Sunday：　Papa　has　yielded　the　advance　and　everybody　is　hard　at　work。
　　　　　The　shipyard　is　so　crowded　that　the　men　hinder　each　other；　everybody
　　　　　hurrying　or　being　hurried；　the　rush　and　confusion　and　shouting　and
　　　　　wrangling　are　astonishing　to　our　family；　who　have　always　been　used
　　　　　to　a　quiet；　country　life。

It　was　from　this　germ　that　in　a　later　day　grew　the　diaries　of　Adam　and
Eve；　though　nothing　very　satisfactory　ever　came　of　this　preliminary
attempt。　　The　author　had　faith　in　it；　however。　　To　Bliss　he　wrote：

　　　　　I　mean　to　take　plenty　of　time　and　pains　with　the　Noah's　Ark　book；
　　　　　maybe　it　will　be　several　years　before　it　is　all　written；　but　it　will
　　　　　be　a　perfect　lightning　striker　when　it　is　done。

　　　　　You　can　have　the　first　say　（that　is　plain　enough）　on　that　or　any
　　　　　other　book　I　may　prepare　for　the　press；　as　long　as　you　deal　in　a
　　　　　fair；　open；　and　honorable　way　with　me。　　I　do　not　think　you　will　ever
　　　　　find　me　doing　otherwise　with　you。　　I　can　get　a　book　ready　for　you
　　　　　any　time　you　want　it；　but　you　can't　want　one　before　this　time　next
　　　　　year；　so　I　have　plenty　of　time。

Bliss　was　only　temporarily　appeased。　　He　realized　that　to　get　a　book
ready　by　the　time　he　wanted　it…a　book　of　sufficient　size　and　importance
to　maintain　the　pace　set　by　the　Innocents　meant　rather　more　immediate
action　than　his　author　seemed　to　contemplate。　　Futhermore；　he　knew　that
other　publishers　were　besieging　the　author　of　the　Innocents；　a
disquieting　thought。　　In　early　July；　when　Mr。　Langdon's　condition　had
temporarily　improved；　Bliss　had　come　to　Elmira　and　proposed　a　book　which
should　relate　the　author's　travels　and　experiences　in　the　Far　West。　　It
was　an　inviting　subject；　and　Clemens；　by　this　time　more　attracted　by　the
idea　of　authorship　and　its　rewards；　readily　enough　agreed　to　undertake
the　volume。　　He　had　been　offered　half　profits；　and　suggested　that　the　new
contract　be　arranged　upon　these　terms。　Bliss；　figuring　on　a　sale　of
100；000　copies；　proposed　seven　and　one…half　per　cent。　royalty　as　an
equivalent；　and　the　contract　was　so　arranged。　　In　after…years；　when　the
cost　of　manufacture　and　paper　had　become　greatly　reduced；　Clemens；　with
but　a　confused　notion　of　business　details；　believed　he　had　been　misled　by
Bliss　in　this　contract；　and　was　bitter　and　resentful　accordingly。　　The
figures　remain；　however；　to　show　that　Bliss　dealt　fairly。　　Seven　and　one…
half　per　cent。　　of　a　subscription　book　did　represent　half　profits　up　to
100；000　copies　when　the　contract　was　drawn；　but　it　required　ten　years　to
sell　that　quantity；　and　in　that　time　conditions　had　changed。　　Bliss　could
hardly　foresee　that　these　things　would　be　so；　and　as　he　was　dead　when　the
book　touched　the　100；000　mark　he　could　not　explain　or　readjust　matters；
whatever　might　have　been　his　inclination。

Clemens　was　pleased　enough　with　the　contract　when　it　was　made。　　To　Orion
he　wrote　July　15　（1870）：

　　　　　Per　contract　I　must　have　another　six…hundred…page　book　ready　for　my
　　　　　publisher　January　1st；　and　I　only　began　it　to…day。　　The　subject　of
　　　　　it　is　a　secret；　because　I　may　possibly　change　it。　　But　as　it　stands
　　　　　I　propose　to　do　up　Nevada　and　California；　beginning　with　the　trip
　　　　　across　the　country　in　the　stage。　　Have　you　a　memorandum　of　the　route
　　　　　we　took；　or　the　names　of　any　of　the　stations　we　stopped　at？　　Do　you
　　　　　remember　any　of　the　scenes；　names；　incidents；　or　adventures　of　the
　　　　　coach　trip？for　I　remember　next　to　nothing　about　the　matter。　　Jot
　　　　　down　a　foolscap　page　of　items　for　me。　　I　wish　I　could　have　two　days'
　　　　　talk　with　you。

　　　　　I　suppose　I　am　to　get　the　biggest　copyright　this　time　ever　paid　on　a
　　　　　subscription　book　in　this　country。

The　work　so　promptly　begun　made　little　progress。　　Hard　days　of　illness
and　sorrow　followed；　and　it　was　not　until　September　that　it　was　really
under　way。　　His　natural　enthusiasm　over　any　new　undertaking　possessed
him。　　On　the　4th　he　wrote　Bliss：

During　the　past　week　I　have　written　the　first　four　chapters　of　the　book；
and　I　tell　you　'The　Innocents　Abroad'　will　have　to　get　up　early　to　beat
it。　　It　will　be　a　book　that　will　jump　straight　into　continental　celebrity
the　first　month　it　is　issued。

He　prophesied　a　sale　of　90；000　copies　during　the　first　twelve　months　and
declared；　〃I　see　the　capabilities　of　the　subject。〃

But　further　disasters；　even　then　impending；　made　continued　effort
impossible；　the　prospect　of　the　new　book　for　a　time　became　gloomy；　the
idea　of　it　less　inspiring。　　Other　plans　presented　themselves；　and　at　one
time　he　thought　of　letting　the　Galaxy　publishers　get　out　a　volume　of　his
sketches。　　In　October　he　wrote　Bliss　that　he　was　〃driveling　along
tolerably　fair　on　the　book；　getting　off　from　twelve　to　twenty　pages　of
manuscript　a　day。〃　　Bliss　naturally　discouraged　the　Galaxy　idea；　and
realizing　that　the　new　book　might　be　long　delayed；　agreed　to　get　out　a
volume　of　miscellany　sufficiently　large　and　important　for　subscription
sales。　　He　was　doubtful　of　the　wisdom　of　this　plan；　and　when　Clemens
suddenly　proposed　a　brand…new　scheme　his　publisher　very　readily　agreed　to
hold　back　the　publication　of　Sketches　indefinitely。

The　new　book　was　to　be　adventures　in　the　diamond　mines　of　South　Africa；
then　newly　opened　and　of　wide　public　interest。　　Clemens　did　not　propose
to　visit　the　mines　himself；　but　to　let　another　man　do　the　traveling；　make
the　notes；　and　write　or　tell　him　the　story；　after　which　Clemens　would
enlarge　and　elaborate　it　in　his　own　fashion。　　His　adaptation　of　the
letters　of　Professor　Ford；　a　year　earlier；　had　convinced　him　that　his
plan　would　work　out　successfully　on　a　larger　scale；　he　fixed　upon　his　old
friend；　J。　H。　Riley；　of　Washington　＇Riley…Newspaper　Correspondent。〃
See　Sketches。＇　　（earlier　of　San　Francisco）；　as　the　proper　person　to　do
the　traveling。　　At　the　end　of　November　he　wrote　Bliss：

　　　　　I　have　put　my　greedy　hands　upon　the　best　man　in　America　for　my
　　　　　purpose；　and　shall　start　him　to　the　diamond　field　in　South　Africa
　　　　　within　a　fortnight　at　my　expense　。　　。　　。　　that　the　book　will　have　a
　　　　　perfectly　beautiful　sale。

He　suggested　that　Bliss　advance　Riley's　expense　money；　the　amount　to　be
deducted　from　the　first　royalty　returns；　also　he　proposed　an　increased
royalty；　probably　in　view　of　the　startling　splendor　of　the　new　idea。
Bliss　was　duly　impressed；　and　the　agreement　was　finally　made　on　a　basis
of　eight　and　one…half　per　cent。；　with　an　advance　of　royalty　sufficient　to
see　Riley　to　South　Africa　and　return。

Clemens　had　not　yet　heard　from　Riley　definitely　when　he　wrote　his　glowing
letter　to　Bliss。　　He　took　it　for　granted　that　Riley；　always　an
adventurous　sort；　would　go。　　When　Riley　wrote　him　that　he　felt　morally
bound　to　the　Alta；　of　which　he　was　then　Washington　correspondent；　also　in
certain　other　directions　till　the　end　of　the　session；　Clemens　wrote　him
at　great　length；　detailing　his　scheme　in　full　and　urging　him　to　write
instantly　to　the　Alta　and　others；　asking　a　release　on　the　ground　of　being
offered　a　rare　opportunity　to　improve　his　fortunes。

You　know　right　well　that　I　would　not　have　you　depart　a　hair　from　any
obligation　for　any　money。　　The；　boundless　confidence　that　I　have　in　you
is　born　of　a　conviction　of　your　integrity　in　small　as　well　as　in　great
things。　　I　know　plenty　of　men　whose　integrity　I　would　trust　to　here；　but
not　off　yonder　in　Africa。

His　proposal；　in　brief；　to　Riley　was　that　the　latter　should　make　the　trip
to　Africa　without　expense　to　himself；　collect　memoranda；　and　such　diamond
mines　as　might　be　found　lying　about　handy。　　Upon　his　return　he　was　to
take　up　temporary　residence　in　the　Clemens　household　until　the　book　was
finished；　after　which　large　benefits　were　to　accrue　to　everybody
concerned。　　In　the　end　Riley　obtained　a　release　from　his　obligations　and
was　off　for　the　diamond　mines　and　fortune。

Poor　fellow！　　He　was　faithful　in　his　mission；　and　it　is　said　that　he
really　located　a　mining　claim　that　would　have　made　him　and　his
independent　for　all　time　to　come；　but　returning　home　with　his　precious
memoranda　and　the　news　of　good　fortune；　he　accidentally　wounded　himself
with　a　fork　while　eating；　blood…poisoning　set