The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-23
How Mark Twain Won His Wife.
San Francisco Call.

San Francisco Call.
The turning-point in Mr.. Clemens
life was made in 1868, when he went to
the Holy Land with the excursionists
on the steamer Quaker City. He had
been in New York but short time, act
ing as correspondent for the Alta. when
the opportunity occurred to make this
trip, which proved eventually to be the
most fortunate one for our Bohemian.
The preprietors had been paying 50
much per letter, ia which Mr.. Clemens
cerved up New York in a serio-comic
way, when they were astonished to re-
ceiye an urgent request to advance ST., 200
to enable him to go sbroad with the
d" Innocents THE consideration for this
to be correspondence from points of inter
est visited. He wrote five or six letters
during the same voyage. After little
hesitation, natural, under such circum~
stances, Mr.. Clemens request was
granted, and he Joined the excursionists
To the moral and religious people who
made up the panty, his presence was IN
desirable, for he still cSnied his mining
manners with him, and spoke the Washoe
vernacuIar. 1t happened among the
passengers there was an old gentleman
from Elmira, n. Y, named Langdon,
who was accompanied by his son, = mere
boy, and daughter. This boy conceived
sort of friendship for Mr.. Clemens, and
associated with him almost constantly.
He introduced his friend to his sister.
Miss Olivia L. LaDgdon. and we may
add, to his fate. The old gentleman
fought rather shy of the Washoe Bohe~
miaD's society, but the young lady looked
on him kindly, and the light OF her eyes
purified his life. 1t was a case of love at
first sight as far as Mr.. Clemens was con.
cerned, and the influence of the feeling
was most beneficial. He began to live
clearly in moral sense, abandoned cards
and gambling aud drink, and gave uT
scofing at the religious opinions of his
/ fellow.passengers. He wanted to find
grace with the lady of his love and hel
father. Before the voyage WIS over he
asked Mr.. Langdon for Olivia, and the
refusal he received chilled but did moi
dishearten him. He simply told tn;
somewhat indignant parent that he could
wait, but be was determined to marry
his daughter. Il was said OF John Eos
ter, the English writer, and at one timt
editor of the London Examiner, that hi
love letters were the most remarkabl,
ever penned, because they were writer
at the instigation of young lady whom
he wished to make his wife, but who
knowing his habitual Incidence, and a
the same time his great talent, refused
to listen to his addresses till he had dis
tinguished himself. He did so, and VOL
bride that was proud of him. Mr.
Clemens case is hardly parallel to this
but is similar in some respects. w
think his Innocents Abroad" was
labor OF love in degree. 1t made hin
famous as q humorous writer, and Will
all the world was talking about him ant
his book he came to Elmira, accompan
led by an editorial friend from Cleve
land, and again renewed his suit 70
Miss Langdon's hand. This time the oil
man listened with more complacency
The yound lady's brother pleaded 70
Clemens, aud his Cleveland friend, VIII
knew Mr.. Langdon well, also advocate
his claims. But more powerful pleader
than all of these was the young lady
heart, and for her father, the evidence
of capacity Mr.. Clemens had given, an
also of reformation of lite. A famil
meeting was held, and into its charme
circle the expectsnt bridegroom gladl
stepped.