mark twain, a biography, 1900-1907-第23章

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　　　　　neighbors　for　audience；　and　then　pass　the　hat。

It　is　not　one　of　Mark　Twain's　greatest　stories；　but　its　pathos　brings　the
tears；　and　no　one　can　read　it　without　indignation　toward　the　custom　which
it　was　intended　to　oppose。　　When　it　was　published；　a　year　later；　Mrs。
Fiske　sent　him　her　grateful　acknowledgments；　and　asked　permission　to　have
it　printed　for　pamphlet　circulation　m　Spain。

A　number　of　more　or　less　notable　things　happened　in　this；　Mark　Twain's
seventieth　year。　　There　was　some　kind　of　a　reunion　going　on　in
California；　and　he　was　variously　invited　to　attend。　　Robert　Fulton；　of
Nevada；　was　appointed　a　committee　of　one　to　invite　him　to　Reno　for　a
great　celebration　which　was　to　be　held　there。　　Clemens　replied　that　he
remembered；　as　if　it　were　but　yesterday；　when　he　had　disembarked　from　the
Overland　stage　in　front　of　the　Ormsby　Hotel；　in　Carson　City；　and　told　how
he　would　like　to　accept　the　invitation。

If　I　were　a　few　years　younger　I　would　accept　it；　and　promptly；　and　I
would　go。　　I　would　let　somebody　else　do　the　oration；　but　as　for　me　I
would　talkjust　talk。　　I　would　renew　my　youth；　and　talkand　talkand
talkand　have　the　time　of　my　life！　　I　would　march　the　unforgotten　and
unforgetable　antiques　by；　and　name　their　names；　and　give　them　reverent
hail　and　farewell　as　they　passedGoodman；　McCarthy；　Gillis；　Curry；
Baldwin；　Winters；　Howard；　Nye；　Stewart；　Neely　Johnson；　Hal　Clayton；
North；　Rootand　my　brother；　upon　whom　be　peace！and　then　the
desperadoes；　who　made　life　a　joy；　and　the　〃slaughter…house；〃　a　precious
possession：　Sam　Brown；　Farmer　Pete；　Bill　Mayfield；　Six…fingered　Jake；
Jack　Williams；　and　the　rest　of　the　crimson　discipleship；　and　so　on；　and
so　on。　　Believe　me；　I　would　start　a　resurrection　it　would　do　you　more
good　to　look　at　than　the　next　one　will；　if　you　go　on　the　way　you　are
going　now。

Those　were　the　days！those　old　ones。　　They　will　come　no　more；　youth　will
come　no　more。　　They　were　so　full　to　the　brim　with　the　wine　of　life；　there
have　been　no　others　like　them。　　It　chokes　me　up　to　think　of　them。　　Would
you　like　me　to　come　out　there　and　cry？　　It　would　not　beseem　my　white
head。

Good…by。　　I　drink　to　you　all。　　Have　a　good　time…and　take　an　old　man's
blessing。

In　reply　to　another　invitation　from　H。　H。　Bancroft；　of　San　Francisco；　he
wrote　that　his　wandering　days　were　over；　and　that　it　was　his　purpose　to
sit　by　the　fire　for　the　rest　of　his　〃remnant　of　life。〃

　　　　　A　man　who；　like　me；　is　going　to　strike　70　on　the　30th　of　next
　　　　　November　has　no　business　to　be　flitting　around　the　way　Howells　does
　　　　　that　shameless　old　fictitious　butterfly。　　（But　if　he　comes　don't
　　　　　tell　him　I　said　it；　for　it　would　hurt　him　&　I　wouldn't　brush　a　flake
　　　　　of　powder　from　his　wing　for　anything。　　I　only　say　it　in　envy　of　his
　　　　　indestructible　youth　anyway。　　Howells　will　be　88　in　October。）

And　it　was　either　then　or　on　a　similar　occasion　that　he　replied　after
this　fashion：

　　　　　I　have　done　more　for　San　Francisco　than　any　other　of　its　old
　　　　　residents。　　Since　I　left　there　it　has　increased　in　population　fully
　　　　　300；000。　　I　could　have　done　moreI　could　have　gone　earlierit　was
　　　　　suggested。

Which；　by　the　way；　is　a　perfect　example　of　Mark　Twain's　humorous　manner；
the　delicately　timed　pause；　and　the　afterthought。　　Most　humorists　would
have　been　contented　to　end　with　the　statement；　〃　I　could　have　gone
earlier。〃　　Only　Mark　Twain　could　have　added　that　final　exquisite　touch
〃it　was　suggested。〃




CCXXXVI

AT　PIER　7O

Mark　Twain　was　nearing　seventy；　the　scriptural　limitation　of　life；　and
the　returns　were　coming　in。　　Some　one　of　the　old　group　was　dying　all　the
time。　　The　roll…call　returned　only　a　scattering　answer。　　Of　his　oldest
friends；　Charles　Henry　Webb；　John　Hay；　and　Sir　Henry　Irving；　all　died
that　year。　　When　Hay　died　Clemens　gave　this　message　to　the　press：

　　　　　I　am　deeply　grieved；　&　I　mourn　with　the　nation　this　loss　which　is
　　　　　irreparable。　　My　friendship　with　Mr。　Hay　&　my　admiration　of　him
　　　　　endured　38　years　without　impairment。

It　was　only　a　little　earlier　that　he　had　written　Hay　an　anonymous　letter；
a　copy　of　which　he　preserved。　　It　here　follows：

　　　　　DEAR　&　HONORED　SIR；I　never　hear　any　one　speak　of　you　&　of　your
　　　　　long　roll　of　illustrious　services　in　other　than　terms　of　pride　&
　　　　　praise&　out　of　the　heart。　　I　think　I　am　right　in　believing　you　to
　　　　　be　the　only　man　in　the　civil　service　of　the　country　the　cleanness　of
　　　　　whose　motives　is　never　questioned　by　any　citizen；　&　whose　acts
　　　　　proceed　always　upon　a　broad　&　high　plane；　never　by　accident　or
　　　　　pressure　of　circumstance　upon　a　narrow　or　low　one。　　There　are
　　　　　majorities　that　are　proud　of　more　than　one　of　the　nation's　great
　　　　　servants；　but　I　believe；　&　I　think　I　know；　that　you　are　the　only　one
　　　　　of　whom　the　entire　nation　is　proud。　　Proud　&　thankful。

　　　　　Name　&　address　are　lacking　here；　&　for　a　purpose：　to　leave　you　no
　　　　　chance　to　make　my　words　a　burden　to　you　and　a　reproach　to　me；　who
　　　　　would　lighten　your　burdens　if　I　could；　not　add　to　them。

Irving　died　in　October；　and　Clemens　ordered　a　wreath　for　his　funeral。　　To
MacAlister　he　wrote：

　　　　　I　profoundly　grieve　over　Irving's　death。　　It　is　another　reminder。　
　　　　　My　section　of　the　procession　has　but　a　little　way　to　go。　　I　could
　　　　　not　be　very　sorry　if　I　tried。

Mark　Twain；　nearing　seventy；　felt　that　there　was　not　much　left　for　him　to
celebrate；　and　when　Colonel　Harvey　proposed　a　birthday　gathering　in　his
honor；　Clemens　suggested　a　bohemian　assembly　over　beer　and　sandwiches　in
some　snug　place；　with　Howells；　Henry　Rogers；　Twichell；　Dr。　Rice；　Dr。
Edward　Quintard；　Augustus　Thomas；　and　such　other　kindred　souls　as　were
still　left　to　answer　the　call。　　But　Harvey　had　something　different　in
view：　something　more　splendid　even　than　the　sixty…seventh　birthday　feast；
more　pretentious；　indeed；　than　any　former　literary　gathering。　　He　felt
that　the　attainment　of　seventy　years　by　America's　most　distinguished　man
of　letters　and　private　citizen　was　a　circumstance　which　could　not　be
moderately　or　even　modestly　observed。　　The　date　was　set　five　days　later
than　the　actual　birthdaythat　is　to　say；　on　December　5th；　in　order　that
it　might　not　conflict　with　the　various　Thanksgiving　holidays　and
occasions。　　Delmonico's　great　room　was　chosen　for　the　celebration　of　it；
and　invitations　were　sent　out　to　practically　every　writer　of　any
distinction　in　America；　and　to　many　abroad。　　Of　these　nearly　two　hundred
accepted；　while　such　as　could　not　come　sent　pathetic　regrets。

What　an　occasion　it　was！　　The　flower　of　American　literature　gathered　to
do　honor　to　its　chief。　　The　whole　atmosphere　of　the　place　seemed
permeated　with　his　presence；　and　when　Colonel　Harvey　presented　William
Dean　Howells；　and　when　Howells　had　read　another　double…barreled　sonnet；
and　introduced　the　guest　of　the　evening　with　the　words；　〃I　will　not　say；
'O　King；　live　forever；'　but；　'O　King；　live　as　long　as　you　like！'〃　and
Mark　Twain　rose；　his　snow…white　hair　gleaming　above　that　brilliant
assembly；　it　seemed　that　a　world　was　speaking　out　in　a　voice　of　applause
and　welcome。　　With　a　great　tumult　the　throng　rose；　a　billow　of　life；　the
white　handkerchiefs　flying　foam…like　on　its　crest。　　Those　who　had
gathered　there　realized　that　it　was　a　mighty　moment；　not　only　in　his　life
but　in　theirs。　　They　were　there　to　see　this　supreme　embodiment　of　the
American　spirit　as　he　scaled　the　mountain…top。　　He；　too；　realized　the
drama　of　that　momentthe　marvel　of　itand　he　must　have　flashed　a　swift
panoramic　view　backward　over　the　long　way　he　had　come；　to　stand；　as　he
had　himself　once　expressed　it；　〃for　a　single；　splendid　moment　on　the　Alps
of　fame　outlined　against　the　sun。〃　　He　must　have　remembered；　for　when　he
came　to　speak　he　went　back　to　the　very　beginning；　to　his　very　first
banquet；　as　he　called　it；　when；　as　he　said；　〃I　hadn't　any　hair；　I　hadn't
any　teeth；　I　hadn't　any　clothes。〃　　He　sketched　the　meagerness　of　that
little　hamlet　which　had　seen　his　birth；　sketched　it　playfully；
delightfully；　so　that　his　hearers　laughed　and　shouted；　but　there　was
always　a　tenderness　under　it　all；　and　often　the　tears　were　not　far
beneath　the　surface。　　He　told　of　his　habits　of　life；　how　he　had　attained
seventy　years　by　simply　sticking　to　a　scheme　of　living　which　would　kill
anybody　else；　how　he　smoked　constantly；　loathed　exercise；　and　had　no
other　regularity　of　habits。　　Then；　at　last；　he　reached　that　wonderful；
unforgetable　close：

　　　　　Threescore　years　and　ten！

　　　　　It　is　the　scriptural　statute　of　limitations。　　After　that　you　owe　no
　　　　　active　duties；　for　you　the　strenuous　life　is　over。　　You　are　a　time…
　　　　　expired　man；　to　use　Kipling's　military　phrase：　You　have　served　your
　　　　　term；　well　or　less　well；　and　you　are　mustered　out。　　You　are　become
　　　　　an　honorary　member　of　the　republic；　you　are　emancipated；　compulsions
　　　　　are　not　for　you；　nor　any　bugle…call　but　〃lights　out。〃　　You　pay　the
　　　　　time…worn　duty　bills　if　you　choose；　or　decline　if　you　preferand
　　　　　without　prejudicefor　they　are　not　legally　collectable。

　　　　　The　previous…engagement　plea；　which　in　forty　years　has　cost　you　so
　　　　　many　twinges；　you　can　lay　aside　forever；　on　this　side　of　the　grave
　　　　　you　will　never　need　it　again。　　If　you　shrink　at　thought　of　night；
　　　　　and　winter；　and　the　late　homecomings　from　the　banquet　and　the　lights
　　　　　and　laughter　through　the　deserted　streetsa　desolation　which　would
　　　　　not　remind　you　now；　as　for　a　generation　it　did；　that　your　friends
　　　　　are　sleeping　and　you　must　creep　in　a…tiptoe　and　not　disturb　them；
　　　　　but　would　only　remind　you　that　you　need　not　tiptoe；　you　can　never
　　　　　disturb　them　moreif　you　shrink　at　the　thought　of　these　things　you
　　　　　need　only　reply；　〃Your　invitation　honors　me　and　pleases　me　because
　　　　　you　still　keep　me　in　your　remembrance；　but　I　am　seventy；　seventy；
　　　　　and　would　nestle　in　the　chinmey…corner；　and　smoke　my　pipe；　and　read
　　　　　my　book；　and　take　my　rest；　wishing　you　well　in　all　affection；　and
　　　　　that　when　you　in　your　turn　shall　arrive　at　Pier　70　you　may　step
　　　　　aboard　your　waiting　ship　with　a　reconciled　spirit；　and　lay　your
　　　　　course　toward　the　sinking　sun　with　a　contented　heart。〃

The　tears　that　had　been　lying　in　wait　were　not　restrained　now。　　If　there
were　any　present　who　did　not　let　them　flow　without　shame；　who　did　not
shout　their　applause　from　throats　choked　with　sobs；　the　writer　of　these
lines　failed　to　see　them　or　to　hear　of　them。　　There　was　not　one　who　was
ashamed　to　pay　the　great　tribute　of　tears。　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Many　of　his　old　friends；　one　after　another；　rose　to　tell　their　love　for
himBrander　Matthews；　Cable；　Kate　Douglas　Riggs；　Gilder；　Carnegie；
Bangs；　Bachellerthey　kept　it　up　far　into　the　next　morning。　　No　other
arrival　at　Pier　70　ever　awoke　a　grander　welcome。




CCXXXVII

AFTERMATH

The　announcement　of　the　seventieth　birthday　dinner　had　precipitated　a
perfect　avalanche　of　letters；　which　continued　to　flow　in　until　the　news
accounts　of　it　precipitated　another　avalanche。　　The　carriers'　bags　were
stuffed　with　greetings　that　came　from　every　part　of　the　world；　from　every
class　of　humanity。　　They　were　all　full　of　love　and　tender　wishes。　　A　card
signed　only　with　initials　said