The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-12
the BUsT AND the BRAIN.
some Further Light on the Sad Case OF n
Great Humorist.


HARTFORD, Nov. 10.-The true story Of
the destruction OF Mark Twain's plaster bust Of
Calvin has been so twisted and distorted by GER
tain newspapers that MIR. Clemens's conduct II
placed In rather UNPLEASANT light In justice
TO him consider II nv duty as the orig nal mar
rator OF the facts, to give YOU the comp etc ami
correct version ofthls unfortunate ndr.
The bust Of Calvin was a wedding present to
Mr.. and Mrs. Clemens from a piOus clergyman
who had accompanied Mark Twain upon his ex-
petition to the Holy Land The appropriate
gilt WAS highly valued by both husband ana
wife. Tue former always treated II with grave
reverence. and made "A point every spring and
fall OF providing II with new silk hat Of the
latest style. Calvin stood. not upon the mantel.
but upcn the centre table IN Marks study.
WHAT. therefore, WAS Mrs. Glenn mss astonish-
ment, upon returning a few weeks ago rom
brief visit to her fathers home, tn find tina In
her absence tue cherished features OF John Cal
win had been urnamented oy the addition OF
par Of spird nous tacnes ano a fancifdi godtce.
done In tnkl The austere tneOlOslan now
looked IKE French irOer.
Marx protested his innocence In the most sol
euin III amer, aud neither olduched nor biu-ned
beneath tue searching ~ OF Ills Indignant
wife. at may have been the cat no sug-
ges ed.
san Twain Clemens 70 replied the DIV, with
some animation, you are decevng me. The
cat could never have done tnat shameful deed.
More likely IL was Charles Warner, ur that 10
HaWley. or some Of those that have been here
carousiug while | was away. Wv wish TO
know what . been going 90 IN TINS house,"
Marks expl nation tn the eat might have
Jumped upon the table. oil ped the end OF her
/ II IN the inkstlnd, and THUS ACCOMPLISHED the
WORK Of Dissertation, WIS turust aside as con
temnth0ly Inadequate.
AN inpronaVility lsn't an impossioilty,"
mutt.r Mark.
mo. SAMUEL Clemens, nor Ia this house a
place for Wild cnrousinrs ana sacrilep business"
was the lon al and conclusive rejpinder.
Inc next diy Iw In tried To throw the blame
on Prof. huxley, and the dav alter tnat he adj
mfted IN conndsnce that Boo lnetr-oll WIS
the real 4 a. Tit IL Il as lie " = untoie TO show
tn either prof. Huxl or Bob lneersoll mad
been enter AIMED AT tho Clemens mansion dur
ing the Absenre Of it's nii-te-s the explan'-
tiuns were sternly rejccte us miserable suoter-
Tie suit, oct VS. not REQUIRED to again, nut
the besmearei face Of John Calvin remained IN
Marks study, silent accuser, a dumo Yet ter
rible witDe-s.
In vain Clemens tried 10 scripe on the nous
| tache. In vaiu be end-avOred to erase the
Rohtee with the blade Of Ina penknife scrape
| deep a. he might the INK went deeuer rtlll. aud
the unly result of his efforts WAS TO make CAT
| vim face moro ghastlN tnan ever. More awful
| yet was the ex rrssipn which would come over
! NJ =. Niemens's face ~ she pointed TO the bust,
aud by looks more significant thtn words, re-
minded her wroiched husband Of the my-teri-
Gus proceedings IN must nav occurred III The
.stab isunent during ter lh-enc".
II was about tins time that JOhn Gavin dsap-
reared. A week later he wa, accidentdN DIS
covered hurcd beneath several tons ot nay In
| the + anle lnit, and was rescued ana restored O.
| X oWledge - the ahduction. Tue next daN,
| huweV, r, Calvin WAS asaln gone, and not untll
the favprte plle of the gieat hunurist hid been
sciz 4 aud held a. a aostage did he theulo-ldu
! re- lupetr
All thi- was wearing on the mind OF NV friend
| Citmrns. Perhaps II was III" acrusi ~ voice n'
RLui ~ CONSCIENCE uVrnaVs IL was the Melgn
Of "a 81 su.p cions that IN de nm monuy
treif1, ANA NOR So. II Wa now that re wenl
into puhtics, win the sad !, suits nirf ted IN
reViuus letter. 1t Wds Low th.t he beg u &,
say strange things and d. slll stranger. II ~
now That II logan to or whispered ,bput Hart
| Il A M.H O.k