mark twain, a biography, 1866-1875-第24部分

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with　a　fork　while　eating；　blood…poisoning　set　in　（they　called　it　cancer
then）；　and　he　was　only　able　to　get　home　to　die。　　His　memoranda　were　never
used；　his　mining　claim　was　never　identified。　　Certainly；　death　was
closely　associated　with　Mark　Twain's　fortunes　during　those　earlier　days
of　his　married　life。

On　the　whole　the　Buffalo　residence　was　mainly　a　gloomy　one；　its　ventures
were　attended　by　ill…fortune。　　For　some　reason　Mark　Twain's　connection
with　the　Express；　while　it　had　given　the　paper　a　wide　reputation；　had　not
largely　increased　its　subscription。　　Perhaps　his　work　on　it　was　too
varied　and　erratic。　　Nasby；　who　had　popularized　the　Toledo　Blade；　kept
steadily　to　one　line。　　His　farmer　public　knew　always　just　what　to　expect
when　their　weekly　edition　arrived。

Clemens　and　his　wife　dreamed　of　a　new　habitation；　and　new　faces　and
surroundings。　　They　agreed　to　offer　their　home　and　his　interests　in　the
Express　for　sale。　　They　began　to　talk　of　Hartford；　where　Twichell　lived；
and　where　Orion　Clemens　and　his　wife　had　recently　located。

Mark　Twain's　new　fortunes　had　wrought　changes　in　the　affairs　of　his
relatives。　　Already；　before　his　marriage；　he　had　prospected　towns　here
and　there　with　a　view　to　finding　an　Eastern　residence　for　his　mother　and
sister；　and　he　had　kept　Orion's　welfare　always　in　mind。　　When　Pamela　and
her　daughter　came　to　his　wedding　he　told　them　of　a　little　city　by　the
name　of　Fredonia　（New　York）；　not　far　from　Buffalo；　where　he　thought　they
might　find　a　pleasant　home。

〃I　went　in　there　by　night　and　out　by　night；〃　he　said；　〃so　I　saw　none　of
it；　but　I　had　an　intelligent；　attractive　audience。　　Prospect　Fredonia　and
let　me　know　what　it　is　like。　　Try　to　select　a　place　where　a　good　many
funerals　pass。　　Ma　likes　funerals。　　If　you　can　pick　a　good　funeral　corner
she　will　be　happy。〃

It　was　in　her　later　life　that　Jane　Clemens　had　developed　this　particular
passion。　　She　would　consult　the　morning　paper　for　any　notice　of　obsequies
and　attend　those　that　were　easy　of　access。　　Watching　the　processions　go
by　gave　her　a　peculiar　joy。　　Mrs。　Moffett　and　her　daughter　did　go　to
Fredonia　immediately　following　the　wedding。　　They　found　it　residentially
attractive；　and　rented　a　house　before　returning　to　St。　Louis；　a
promptness　that　somewhat　alarmed　the　old　lady；　who　did　not　altogether
fancy　the　idea　of　being　suddenly　set　down　in　a　strange　house；　in　a
strange　land；　even　though　it　would　be　within　hailing　distance　of　Sam　and
his　new　wife。　　Perhaps　the　Fredonia　funerals　were　sufficiently　numerous
and　attractive；　for　she　soon　became　attached　to　the　place；　and　entered
into　the　spirit　of　the　life　there；　joining　its　temperance　crusades；　and
the　like；　with　zest　and　enjoyment。

Onion　remained　in　St。　Louis；　but　when　Bliss　established　a　paper　called
The　Publisher；　and　wanted　an　editor；　he　was　chosen　for　the　place；
originally　offered　to　his　brother；　the　latter；　writing　to　Onion；　said：

If　you　take　the　place　with　an　air　of　perfect　confidence　in　yourself；
never　once　letting　anything　show　in　your　bearing　but　a　quiet；　modest；
entire；　and　perfect　confidence　in　your　ability　to　do　pretty　much　anything
in　the　world；　Bliss　will　think　you　are　the　very　man　he　needs；　but　don't
show　any　shadow　of　timidity　or　unsoldierly　diffidence；　for　that　sort　of
thing　is　fatal　to　advancement。

I　warn　you　thus　because　you　are　naturally　given　to　knocking　your　pot　over
in　this　way；　when　a　little　judicious　conduct　would　make　it　boil。




LXXXI

SOME　FURTHER　LITERARY　MATTERS

Meantime　The　Innocents　Abroad　had　continued　to　prosper。　　Its　author
ranked　mainly　as　a　humorist；　but　of　such　colossal　proportions　that　his
contemporaries　had　seemed　to　dwindle；　the　mighty　note　of　the　〃Frog　of
Calaveras〃　had　dwarfed　a　score　of　smaller　peepers。　　At　the　end　of　a　year
from　its　date　of　publication　the　book　had　sold　up　to　67；000　and　was
continuing　at　the　rate　of　several　thousand　monthly。

〃You　are　running　it　in　staving；　tiptop；　first…class　style；〃　Clemens　wrote
to　Bliss。　　〃On　the　average　ten　people　a　day　come　and　hunt　me　up　to　tell
me　I　am　a　benefactor！　　I　guess　that　is　a　part　of　the　program　we　didn't
expect；　in　the　first　place。〃

Apparently　the　book　appealed　to　readers　of　every　grade。　　One　hundred　and
fifteen　copies　were　in　constant　circulation　at　the　Mercantile　Library；　in
New　York；　while　in　the　most　remote　cabins　of　America　it　was　read　and
quoted。　　Jack　Van　Nostrand；　making　a　long　horseback　tour　of　Colorado；
wrote：

I　stopped　a　week　ago　in　a　ranch　but　a　hundred　miles　from　nowhere。　　The
occupant　had　just　two　books：　the　Bible　and　The　Innocents　Abroadthe
former　in　good　repair。

Across　the　ocean　the　book　had　found　no　less　favor；　and　was　being
translated　into　many　and　strange　tongues。　　By　what　seems　now　some
veritable　magic　its　author's　fame　had　become　literally　universal。　　The
consul　at　Hongkong；　discussing　English　literature　with　a　Chinese
acquaintance；　a　mandarin；　mentioned　The　Pilgrim's　Progress。

〃Yes；　indeed；　I　have　read　it！〃　the　mandarin　said；　eagerly。　　〃We　are
enjoying　it　in　China；　and　shall　have　it　soon　in　our　own　language。　　It　is
by　Mark　Twain。〃

In　England　the　book　had　an　amazing　vogue　from　the　beginning；　and　English
readers　were　endeavoring　to　outdo　the　Americans　in　appreciation。　　Indeed；
as　a　rule；　English　readers　of　culture；　critical　readers；　rose　to　an
understanding　of　Mark　Twain's　literary　value　with　greater　promptness　than
did　the　same　class　of　readers　at　home。　　There　were　exceptions；　of　course。
There　were　English　critics　who　did　not　take　Mark　Twain　seriously；　there
were　American　critics　who　did。　　Among　the　latter　was　a　certain　William
Ward；　an　editor　of　a　paper　down　in　Macon；　GeorgiaThe　Beacon。　　Ward　did
not　hold　a　place　with　the　great　magazine　arbiters　of　literary　rank。　　He
was　only　an　obscure　country　editor；　but　he　wrote　like　a　prophet。　　His
articletoo　long　to　quote　in　fullconcerned　American　humorists　in
general；　from　Washington　Irving；　through　John　Phoenix；　Philander
Doesticks；　Sut　Lovingwood；　Artemus　Ward；　Josh　Billings　and　Petroleum　V。
Nasby；　down　to　Mark　Twain。　　With　the　exception　of　the　first　and　last
named　he　says　of　them：

　　　　　They　have　all　had；　or　will　have；　their　day。　　Some　of　them　are
　　　　　resting　beneath　the　sod；　and　others　still　live　whose　work　will
　　　　　scarcely　survive　them。　　Since　Irving　no　humorist　in　prose　has　held
　　　　　the　foundation　of　a　permanent　fame　except　it　be　Mark　Twain；　and
　　　　　this；　as　in　the　case　of　Irving；　is　because　he　is　a　pure　writer。
　　　　　Aside　from　any　subtle　mirth　that　lurks　through　his　composition；　the
　　　　　grace　and　finish　of　his　more　didactic　and　descriptive　sentences
　　　　　indicate　more　than　mediocrity。

The　writer　then　refers　to　Mark　Twain's　description　of　the　Sphinx；
comparing　it　with　Bulwer's；　which　he　thinks　may　have　influenced　it。　　He
was　mistaken　in　this；　for　Clemens　had　not　read　Bulwernever　could　read
him　at　any　length。

Of　the　English　opinions；　that　of　The　Saturday　Review　was　perhaps　most
doubtful。　　It　came　along　late　in　1870；　and　would　hardly　be　worth
recalling　if　it　were　not　for　a　resulting；　or　collateral；　interest。
Clemens　saw　notice　of　this　review　before　he　saw　the　review　itself。　　A
paragraph　in　the　Boston　Advertiser　spoke　of　The　Saturday　Review　as
treating　the　absurdities　of　the　Innocents　from　a　serious　standpoint。　　The
paragraph　closed：

　　　　　We　can　imagine　the　delight　of　the　humorist　in　reading　this　tribute
　　　　　to　his　power；　and　indeed　it　is　so　amusing　in　itself　that　he　can
　　　　　hardly　do　better　than　reproduce　the　article　in　full　in　his　next
　　　　　monthly　〃Memoranda。〃

The　old　temptation　to　hoax　his　readers　prompted　Mark　Twain　to　〃reproduce〃
in　the　Galaxy；　not　the　Review　article；　which　he　had　not　yet　seen；　but　an
imaginary　Review　article；　an　article　in　which　the　imaginary　reviewer
would　be　utterly　devoid　of　any　sense　of　humor　and　treat　the　most　absurd
incidents　of　The　New　Pilgrim's　Progress　as　if　set　down　by　the　author　in
solemn　and　serious　earnest。　　The　pretended　review　began：

　　　　　Lord　Macaulay　died　too　soon。　　We　never　felt　this　so　deeply　as　when
　　　　　we　finished　the　last　chapter　of　the　above…named　extravagant　work。
　　　　　Macaulay　died　too　soon；　for　none　but　he　could　mete　out　complete　and
　　　　　comprehensive　justice　to　the　insolence；　the　impudence；　the
　　　　　presumption；　the　mendacity；　and；　above　all；　the　majestic　ignorance
　　　　　of　this　author。

The　review　goes　on　to　cite　cases　of　the　author's　gross　deception。　　It
says：

　　　　　Let　the　cultivated　English　student　of　human　nature　picture　to
　　　　　himself　this　Mark　Twain　as　a　person　capable　of　doing　the　following
　　　　　described　things；　and　not　only　doing　them；　but；　with　incredible
　　　　　innocence；　printing　them　tranquilly　and　calmly　in　a　book。　　For
　　　　　instance：

　　　　　He　states　that　he　entered　a　hair…dresser's　in　Paris　to　get　a　shave；
　　　　　and　the　first　〃rake〃　the　barber　gave　him　with　his　razor　it　loosened
　　　　　his　〃hide；〃　and　lifted　him　out　of　the　chair。

　　　　　This　is　unquestionably　extravagant。　　In　Florence　he　was　so　annoyed
　　　　　by　beggars　that　he　pretends　to　have　seized　and　eaten　one　in　a
　　　　　frantic　spirit　of　revenge。　　There　is；　of　course；　no　truth　in　this。
　　　　　He　gives　at　full　length　the　theatrical　program；　seventeen　or
　　　　　eighteen　hundred　years　old；　which　he　professes　to　have　found　in　the
　　　　　ruins　of　the　Colosseum；　among　the　dirt…and　mold　and　rubbish。　　It　is
　　　　　a　sufficient　comment　upon　this　subject　to　remark　that　even　a　cast…
　　　　　iron　program　would　not　have　lasted　so　long　under　the　circumstances。

There　were　two　and　one…half　pages　of　this　really　delightful　burlesque
which　the　author　had　written　with　huge…enjoyment；　partly　as　a　joke　on　the
Review；　partly　to　trick　American　editors；　who　he　believed　would　accept　it
as　a　fresh　and　startling　proof　of　the　traditional　English　lack　of　humor。

But；　as　in　the　early　sage…brush　hoaxes；　he　rather　overdid　the　thing。
Readers　and　editors　readily　enough　accepted　it　as　genuine；　so　far　as
having　come　from　The　Saturday　Review；　but　most　of　them；　regarded　it　as　a
delicious　bit　of　humor　which　Mark　Twain　himself　had　taken　seriously；　and
was　therefore　the　one　sold。　　This　was　certainly　startling；　and　by　no
means　gratifying。　　In　the　next　issue　he　undertook　that　saddest　of　all
per