第 15 节
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had vastly altered since the beginning of that correspondence。 Some of
the chapters he rewrote; others he eliminated entirely。 It required two
months of fairly steady work to put the big manuscript together。
Some of the new chapters he gave to Bret Harte for the Overland Monthly;
then recently established。 Harte himself was becoming a celebrity about
this time。 His 〃Luck of Roaring Camp〃 and 〃The Outcasts of Poker Flat;〃
published in early numbers of the Overland; were making a great stir in
the East; arousing there a good deal more enthusiasm than in the magazine
office or the city of their publication。 That these two friends; each
supreme in his own field; should have entered into their heritage so
nearly at the same moment; is one of the many seemingly curious
coincidences of literary history。
Clemens now concluded to cover his lecture circuit of two years before。
He was assured that it would be throwing away a precious opportunity not
to give his new lecture to his old friends。 The result justified that
opinion。 At Virginia; at Carson; and elsewhere he was received like a
returned conqueror。 He might have been accorded a Roman triumph had
there been time and paraphernalia。 Even the robbers had reformed; and
entire safety was guaranteed him on the Divide between Virginia and Gold
Hill。 At Carson he called on Mrs。 Curry; as in the old days; and among
other things told her how snow from the Lebanon Mountains is brought to
Damascus on the backs of camels。
〃Sam;〃 she said; 〃that's just one of your yarns; and if you tell it in
your lecture to…night I'll get right up and say so。〃
But he did tell it; for it was a fact; and though Mrs。 Curry did not rise
to deny it she shook her finger at him in a way he knew。
He returned to San Francisco and gave one more lecture; the last he would
ever give in California。 His preparatory advertising for that occasion
was wholly unique; characteristic of him to the last degree。 It assumed
the form of a handbill of protest; supposed to have been issued by the
foremost citizens of San Francisco; urging him to return to the States
without inflicting himself further upon them。 As signatures he made free
with the names of prominent individuals; followed by those of
organizations; institutions; 〃Various Benevolent Societies; Citizens on
Foot and Horseback; and fifteen hundred in the Steerage。〃
Following this (on the same bill) was his reply; 〃To the fifteen hundred
and others;〃 in which he insisted on another hearing:
I will torment the people if I want to。。。。 It only costs the people
1 apiece; and if they can't stand it what do they stay here for?。。。
My last lecture was not as fine as I thought it was; but I have
submitted this discourse to several able critics; and they have
pronounced it good。 Now; therefore; why should I withhold it?
He promised positively to sail on the 6th of July if they would let him
talk just this once。 Continuing; the handbill presented a second
protest; signed by the various clubs and business firms; also others
bearing variously the signatures of the newspapers; and the clergy;
ending with the brief word:
You had better go。 Yours; CHIEF OF POLICE。
All of which drollery concluded with his announcement of place and date
of his lecture; with still further gaiety at the end。 Nothing short of a
seismic cataclysman earthquake; in factcould deter a San Francisco
audience after that。 Mark Twain's farewell address; given at the
Mercantile Library July 2 (1868); doubtless remains today the leading
literary event in San Francisco's history。 'Copy of the lecture
announcement; complete; will be found in Appendix H; at the end of last
volume。'
He sailed July 6th by the Pacific mail steamer Montana to Acapulco;
caught the Henry Chauncey at Aspinwall; reached New York on the 28th; and
a day or two later had delivered his manuscript at Hartford。
But a further difficulty had arisen。 Bliss was having troubles himself;
this time; with his directors。 Many reports of Mark Twain's new book had
been traveling the rounds of the press; some of which declared it was to
be irreverent; even blasphemous; in tone。 The title selected; The New
Pilgrim's Progress; was in itself a sacrilege。 Hartford was a
conservative place; the American Publishing Company directors were of
orthodox persuasion。 They urged Bliss to relieve the company of this
impending disaster of heresy。 When the author arrived one or more of
them labored with him in person; without avail。 As for Bliss; he was
stanch; he believed in the book thoroughly; from every standpoint。 He
declared if the company refused to print it he would resign the
management and publish the book himself。 This was an alarming suggestion
to the stockholders。 Bliss had returned dividendsa boon altogether too
rare in the company's former history。 The objectors retired and were
heard of no more。 The manuscript was placed in the hands of Fay and Cox;
illustrators; with an order for about two hundred and fifty pictures。
Fay and Cox turned it over to True Williams; one of the well…known
illustrators of that day。 Williams was a man of great talentof fine
imagination and sweetness of spiritbut it was necessary to lock him in
a room when industry was required; with nothing more exciting than cold
water as a beverage。 Clemens himself aided in the illustrating by
obtaining of Moses S。 Beach photographs from the large collection he had
brought home。
LXVII
A VISIT TO ELMIRA
Meantime he had skilfully obtained a renewal of the invitation to spend a
week in the Langdon home。
He meant to go by a fast train; but; with his natural gift for
misunderstanding time…tables; of course took a slow one; telegraphing his
approach from different stations along the road。 Young Langdon concluded
to go down the line as far as Waverly to meet him。 When the New York
train reached there the young man found his guest in the smoking…car;
travel…stained and distressingly clad。 Mark Twain was always
scrupulously neat and correct of dress in later years; but in that
earlier day neatness and style had not become habitual and did not give
him comfort。 Langdon greeted him warmly but with doubt。 Finally he
summoned courage to say; hesitatingly
〃You've got some other clothes; haven't you?〃
The arriving guest was not in the least disturbed。
〃Oh yes;〃 he said with enthusiasm; 〃 I've got a fine brand…new outfit in
this bag; all but a hat。 It will be late when we get in; and I won't see
any one to…night。 You won't know me in the morning。 We'll go out early
and get a hat。〃
This was a large relief to the younger man; and the rest of the journey
was happy enough。 True to promise; the guest appeared at daylight
correctly; even elegantly clad;; and an early trip to the shops secured
the hat。 A gay and happy week followeda week during which Samuel
Clemens realized more fully than ever that in his heart there was room
for only one woman in all the world: Olivia Langdon〃Livy;〃 as they all
called herand as the day of departure drew near it may be that the
gentle girl had made some discoveries; too。
No word had passed between them。 Samuel Clemens had the old…fashioned
Southern respect for courtship conventions; and for what; in that day at
least; was regarded as honor。 On the morning of the final day he said to
young Langdon:
〃Charley; my week is up; and I must go home。〃
The young man expressed a regret which was genuine enough; though not
wholly unqualified。 His older sister; Mrs。 Crane; leaving just then for
a trip to the White Mountains; had said:
〃Charley; I am sure Mr。 Clemens is after our Livy。 You mustn't let him
carry her off before our return。〃
The idea was a disturbing one。 The young man did not urge his guest to
prolong his…visit。 He said:
〃We'll have to stand it; I guess; but you mustn't leave before to…night。〃
〃I ought to go by the first train;〃 Clemens said; gloomily。 〃I am in
love。〃
〃In what!〃
〃In love…with your sister; and I ought to get away from here。〃
The young man was now very genuinely alarmed。 To him Mark Twain was a
highly gifted; fearless; robust mana man's manand as such altogether
admirablelovable。 But OliviaLivyshe was to him little short of a
saint。 No man was good enough for her; certainly not this adventurous
soldier of letters from the West。 Delightful he was beyond doubt;
adorable as a companion; but not a companion for Livy。
〃Look here; Clemens;〃 he said; when he could get his voice。 〃There's a
train in half an hour。 I'll help you catch it。 Don't wait till to…
night。 Go now。〃
Clemens shook his head。
〃No; Charley;〃 he said; in his gentle drawl; 〃I want to enjoy your
hospitality a little longer。 I promise to be circumspect; and I'll go
to…night。〃
That night; after dinner; when it was time to take the New York train; a
light two…seated wagon was at the gate。 The coachman was in front; and
young Langdon and his guest took the back seat。 For some reason the seat
had not been locked in its place; and when; after the good…bys; the
coachman touched the horse it made a quick spring forward; and the b