mark twain, a biography, 1900-1907-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


when　the　train　pulled　in；　to　cheer　and　wave　and　to　present　him　with
flowers。　　Sometimes　he　spoke　a　few　words；　but　oftener　his　eyes　were　full
of　tearshis　voice　would　not　come。

There　is　something　essentially　dramatic　in　official　recognition　by　one's
native　Statethe　return　of　the　lad　who　has　set　out　unknown　to　battle
with　life；　and　who；　having　conquered；　is　invited　back　to　be　crowned。　　No
other　honor；　however　great　and　spectacular；　is　quite　like　that；　for　there
is　in　it　a　pathos　and　a　completeness　that　are　elemental　and　stir　emotions
as　old　as　life　itself。

It　was　on　the　4th　of　June；　1902；　that　Mark　Twain　received　his　doctor　of
laws　degree　from　the　State　University　at　Columbia；　Missouri。　　James
Wilson；　Secretary　of　Agriculture；　and　Ethan　Allen　Hitchcock；　Secretary　of
the　Interior；　were　among　those　similarly　honored。　　Mark　Twain　was
naturally　the　chief　attraction。　　Dressed　in　his　Yale　scholastic　gown　he
led　the　procession　of　graduating　students；　and；　as　in　Hannibal；　awarded
them　their　diplomas。　　The　regular　exercises　were　made　purposely　brief　in
order　that　some　time　might　be　allowed　for　the　conferring　of　the　degrees。　
This　ceremony　was　a　peculiarly　impressive　one。　　Gardner　Lathrop　read　a
brief　statement　introducing　〃America's　foremost　author　and　best…loved
citizen；　Samuel　Langhorne　ClemensMark　Twain。〃

Clemens　rose；　stepped　out　to　the　center　of　the　stage；　and　paused。　　He
seemed　to　be　in　doubt　as　to　whether　he　should　make　a　speech　or　simply
express　his　thanks　and　retire。　　Suddenly；　and　without　a　signal；　the　great
audience　rose　as　one　man　and　stood　in　silence　at　his　feet。　　He　bowed；　but
he　could　not　speak。　　Then　that　vast　assembly　began　a　peculiar　chant；
spelling　out　slowly　the　word　Missouri；　with　a　pause　between　each　letter。　
It　was　dramatic；　it　was　tremendous　in　its　impressiveness。　　He　had
recovered　himself　when　they　finished。　　He　said　he　didn't　know　whether　he
was　expected　to　make　a　speech　or　not。　　They　did　not　leave'him　in　doubt。　
They　cheered　and　demanded　a　speech；　a　speech；　and　he　made　them　oneone
of　the　speeches　he　could　make　best；　full　of　quaint　phrasing；　happy　humor；
gentle　and　dramatic　pathos。　　He　closed　by　telling　the　watermelon　story
for　its　〃moral　effect。〃

He　was　the　guest　of　E。　W。　Stevens　in　Columbia；　and　a　dinner　was　given　in
his　honor。　　They　would　have　liked　to　keep　him　longer；　but　he　was　due　in
St。　Louis　again　to　join　in　the　dedication　of　the　grounds；　where　was　to　be
held　a　World's　Fair；　to　celebrate　the　Louisiana　Purchase。　　Another
ceremony　he　attended　was　the　christening　of　the　St。　Louis　harbor…boat；　or
rather　the　rechristening；　for　it　had　been　decided　to　change　its　name　from
the　St。　Louis＇Originally　the　Elon　G。　　Smith；　built　in　1873。＇to　the
Mark　Twain。　　A　short　trip　was　made　on　it　for　the　ceremony。　　Governor
Francis　and　Mayor　Wells　were　of　the　party；　and　Count　and　Countess
Rochambeau　and　Marquis　de　Lafayette；　with　the　rest　of　the　French　group
that　had　come　over　for　the　dedication　of　the　World's　Fair　grounds。

Mark　Twain　himself　was　invited　to　pilot　the　harbor　boat；　and　so　returned
for　the　last　time　to　his　old　place　at　the　wheel。　　They　all　collected　in
the　pilot…house　behind　him；　feeling　that　it　was　a　memorable　occasion。　
They　were　going　along　well　enough　when　he　saw　a　little　ripple　running　out
from　the　shore　across　the　bow。　　In　the　old　days　he　could　have　told
whether　it　indicated　a　bar　there　or　was　only　caused　by　the　wind；　but　he
could　not　be　sure　any　more。　　Turning　to　the　pilot　languidly；　he　said：
〃I　feel　a　little　tired。　　I　guess　you　had　better　take　the　wheel。〃

Luncheon　was　served　aboard；　and　Mayor　Wells　made　the　christening　speech；
then　the　Countess　Rochambeau　took　a　bottle　of　champagne　from　the　hand　of
Governor　Francis　and　smashed　it　on　the　deck；　saying；　〃　I　christen　thee；
good　boat；　Mark　Twain。〃　　So　it　was；　the　Mississippi　joined　in　according
him　honors。　　In　his　speech　of　reply　he　paid　tribute　to　those　illustrious
visitors　from　France　and　recounted　something　of　the　story　of　French
exploration　along　that　great　river。

〃The　name　of　La　Salle　will　last　as　long　as　the　river　itself；〃　he　said；
〃will　last　until　commerce　is　dead。　　We　have　allowed　the　commerce　of　the
river　to　die；　but　it　was　to　accommodate　the　railroads；　and　we　must　be
grateful。〃

Carriages　were　waiting　for　them　when　the　boat　landed　in　the　afternoon；
and　the　party　got　in　and　were　driven　to　a　house　which　had　been　identified
as　Eugene　Field's　birthplace。　　A　bronze　tablet　recording　this　fact　had
been　installed；　and　this　was　to　be　the　unveiling。　　The　place　was　not　in
an　inviting　quarter　of　the　town。　　It　stood　in　what　is　known　as　Walsh's
Rowwas　fashionable　enough　once；　perhaps；　but　long　since　fallen　into
disrepute。　　Ragged　children　played　in　the　doorways；　and　thirsty　lodgers
were　making　trips　with　tin　pails　to　convenient　bar…rooms。　　A　curious
nondescript　audience　assembled　around　the　little　group　of　dedicators；
wondering　what　it　was　all　about。　　The　tablet　was　concealed　by　the
American　flag；　which　could　be　easily　pulled　away　by　an　attached　cord。
Governor　Francis　spoke　a　few　words；　to　the　effect　that　they　had　gathered
here　to　unveil　a　tablet　to　an　American　poet；　and　that　it　was　fitting　that
Mark　Twain　should　do　this。　　They　removed　their　hats；　and　Clemens；　his
white　hair　blowing　in　the　wind；　said：

〃My　friends；　we　are　here　with　reverence　and　respect　to　commemorate　and
enshrine　in　memory　the　house　where　was　born　a　man　who；　by　his　life；　made
bright　the　lives　of　all　who　knew　him；　and　by　his　literary　efforts　cheered
the　thoughts　of　thousands　who　never　knew　him。　　I　take　pleasure　in
unveiling　the　tablet　of　Eugene　Field。〃

The　flag　fell　and　the　bronze　inscription　was　revealed。　　By　this　time　the
crowd；　generally；　had　recognized　who　it　was　that　was　speaking。　　A
working…man　proposed　three　cheers　for　Mark　Twain；　and　they　were　heartily
given。　　Then　the　little　party　drove　away；　while　the　neighborhood
collected　to　regard　the　old　house　with　a　new　interest。

It　was　reported　to　Clemens　later　that　there　was　some　dispute　as　to　the
identity　of　the　Field　birthplace。　　He　said：

〃Never　mind。　　It　is　of　no　real　consequence　whether　it　is　his　birthplace
or　not。　　A　rose　in　any　other　garden　will　bloom　as　sweet。〃




CCXXIII

AT　YORK　HARBOR

They　decided　to　spend　the　summer　at　York　Harbor；　Maine。　　They　engaged　a
cottage；　there；　and　about　the　end　of　June　Mr。　Rogers　brought　his　yacht
Kanawha　to　their　water…front　at　Riverdale；　and　in　perfect　weather　took
them　to　Maine　by　sea。　　They　landed　at　York　Harbor　and　took　possession　of
their　cottage；　The　Pines；　one　of　their　many　attractive　summer　lodges。　
Howells；　at　Kittery　Point；　was　not　far　away；　and　everything　promised　a
happy　summer。

Mrs。　Clemens　wrote　to　Mrs。　Crane：

　　　　　We　are　in　the　midst　of　pines。　　They　come　up　right　about　us；　and　the
　　　　　house　is　so　high　and　the　roots　of　the　trees　are　so　far　below　the
　　　　　veranda　that　we　are　right　in　the　branches。　　We　drove　over　to　call　on
　　　　　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Howells。　　The　drive　was　most　beautiful；　and　never　in　my
　　　　　life　have　I　seen　such　a　variety　of　wild　flowers　in　so　short　a　space。

Howells　tells　us　of　the　wide；　low　cottage　in　a　pine　grove　overlooking
York　River；　and　how　he　used　to　sit　with　Clemens　that　summer　at　a　corner
of　the　veranda　farthest　away　from　Mrs。　Clemens's　window；　where　they　could
read　their　manuscripts　to　each　other；　and　tell　their　stories　and　laugh
their　hearts　out　without　disturbing　her。

Clemens；　as　was　his　habit；　had　taken　a　work…room　in　a　separate　cottage
〃in　the　house　of　a　friend　and　neighbor；　a　fisherman　and　a　boatman〃：

　　　　　There　was　a　table　where　he　could　write；　and　a　bed　where　he　could　lie
　　　　　down　and　read；　and　there；　unless　my　memory　has　played　me　one　of
　　　　　those　constructive　tricks　that　people's　memories　indulge　in；　he　read
　　　　　me　the　first　chapters　of　an　admirable　story。　　The　scene　was　laid　in
　　　　　a　Missouri　town；　and　the　characters　such　as　he　had　known　in　boyhood；
　　　　　but　often　as　I　tried　to　make　him　own　it；　he　denied　having　written
　　　　　any　such　story；　it　is　possible　that　I　dreamed　it；　but　I　hope　the　MS。　
　　　　　will　yet　be　found。

Howells　did　not　dream　it；　but　in　one　way　his　memory　misled　him。　　The
story　was　one　which　Clemens　had　heard　in　Hannibal；　and　he　doubtless
related　it　in　his　vivid　way。　　Howells；　writing　at　a　later　time；　quite
naturally　included　it　among　the　several　manuscripts　which　Clemens　read
aloud　to　him。　　Clemens　may　have　intended　to　write　the　tale；　may　even　have
begun　it；　though　this　is　unlikely。　　The　incidents　were　too　well　known　and
too　notorious　in　his　old　home　for　fiction。

Among　the　stories　that　Clemens　did　show；　or　read；　to　Howells　that　summer
was　〃The　Belated　Passport；〃　a　strong；　intensely　interesting　story　with
what　Howells　in　a　letter　calls　a　〃goat's　tail　ending；〃　perhaps　meaning
that　it　stopped　with　a　brief　and　sudden　shakewith　a　joke；　in　fact；
altogether　unimportant；　and　on　the　whole　disappointing　to　the　reader。　　A
far　more　notable　literary　work　of　that　summer　grew　out　of　a　true　incident
which　Howells　related　to　Clemens　as　they　sat　chatting　together　on　the
veranda　overlooking　the　river　one　summer　afternoon。　　It　was　a　pathetic
episode　in　the　life　of　some　former　occupants　of　The　Pinesthe　tale　of　a
double　illness　in　the　household；　where　a　righteous　deception　was　carried
on　during　several　weeks　for　the　benefit　of　a　life　that　was　about　to　slip
away。　　Out　of　this　grew　the　story；　〃Was　it　Heaven？　or　Hell？〃　a
heartbreaking　history　which　probes　the　very　depths　of　the　human　soul。　
Next　to　〃Hadleyburg；〃　it　is　Mark　Twain's　greatest　fictional　sermon。

Clemens　that　summer　wrote；　or　rather　finished；　his　most　pretentious　poem。　
One　day　at　Riverdale；　when　Mrs。　Clemens　had　been　with　him　on　the　lawn；
they　had　remembered　together　the　time　when　their　family　of　little　folks
had　filled　their　lives　so　full；　conjuring　up　dream…like　glimpses　of　them
in　the　years　of　play　and　short　frocks　and　hair…plaits　down　their　backs。　
It　was　pathetic；　heart…wringing　fancying；　and　later　in　the　day　Clemens
conceived　and　began　the　poem　which　now　he　brought　to　conclusion。　　It　was
built　on　the　idea　of　a　mother　who　imagines　her　dead　child　still　living；
and　describes　to　any　listener　the　pictures　of　her　fancy。　　It　is　an
impressive　piece　of　work；　but　the　author；　for　some　reason；　did　not　offer
it　for　publication。　＇This　poem　was　completed　on　the　anniversary　of
Susy's　death　and　is　of　considerable　length。　　Some　selections　from　it　will
be　found　under　Appendix　U；　at　the　end　of　this　work。＇

Mrs。　Clemens；　whose　health　earlier　in　the　year　had　been　delicate；　became
very　seriously　ill　at　York　Harbor。　　Howells　writes：

At　first　she　had　been　about　the　house；　and　there　was　one　gentle　afternoon
when　she　made　tea　for　us　in　the　parlor；　but　that　was　the　last　time　I
spoke　with　her。　　After　that　it　was　really　a　question　of　how　soonest　and
easiest　she　could　be　got　back　to　Riverdale。

She　had　seemed　to　be　in　fairly　good　health　and　spirits　for　several　weeks
after　the　arrival　at　York。　　Then；　early　in　August；　there　came　a　great
celebration　of　some　municipal　anniversary；　and　for　two　or　three　days
there　were　processions；　mass…meetings；　and　so　on　by　day；　with　fireworks
at　night。　　Mrs。　Clemens；　always　young　in　spirit；　was　greatly　interested。　
S