Smyrna times., 1879-04-02
How Mark Twain Won his Wife.

The turning point in Mr.. Clemens life
was made in 1868, when he went to the
Holy Land with the eXcursiouists on the
steamer Quaker City. He had been in New
York city but a short time, acting as cor
respondent for the Alta, when the op-
pOrunity occurred to make this trip, which
proved eventually 10 be the most important
one for our Bohemian. The proprietors
had been paying SO much per letter, in
which Mr.. Clemens served up New York in
a seriO.comic way, when they were
aStOnishad to receive an urgent request to
advance 1900 to enable him to 90 abroad
with the "innocents"-the consideration
iOl this to be correspondence from points
of interest visited. He wrote five or six
letters to the New York TrtL1nc during the
same voyage.
After a little hesitation, natural, under
such circumstances, Mr.. Clemens request
was granted, and he joined the excursion
lists. To tho moral and religious people
who made up the party, his presence was
undesirable, for he still carried his mining
manners with him, and spoke the Washoe
vernacular. 1t happened that among the
passengers there was an old gentleman
| from Elmira, New Yew York, named Lang.
don, who was accompanied by his son, a
ceived a sort Of friendship for Mr.. Clemens,
and associated with him almost constantly.
| lie introduced his friend to his sister. Miss
Olivia l.. Langdon, and the light of her
eyes purified his life.
1t was a case of love at first sight as far
as Mr.. Clemens was concerned, and the
influence of the feeling was beneficial
lie began to live cleanly in a moral sense,
abandoned cards and gambling and drink,
and gave up soothing at the religious opin-
ions OF his fellow passengers. lie wanted
to ind grace with the lady of his love and
her father. Before the voyage was over he
asked Mr.. Langdon for Olivia, and the re-
fusal he received chilled but did not dis
hearten him. lie simply told the some
what indignant parent that he could wait
but he was determined to marry his daugh
ter
1t was said Of John Foster, the English
writer, and at one time editor of the Lon
don Examiner that his love letters were the
most remarkable ever penned, because they
were written at the instigation of young
lady whom he wished to make his wife
but who knowing his habitual Incidence
and at the same time his great talent, re
fused to listen to his addresses till he haC
distinguished himself. He did so, and wor
bride that was proud of him. Mr.
Clemens case was hardly a parallel to this
but is similar in some respects.
We think his "Innocents Abroad" " wa
a labor Of love in a certain degree. /
made him famous as humorous writer
and while all the world was talking abou
him and his book he came to Elmira, nc
, companied by an editorial friend from
Cleveland, and again renewed his suit 70
Miss Langdons hand. This time the olt
man listened with more complacency
The young lady's brother pleaded for Glenn
| ems. and his Cleveland friend, who kne,
Mr.. Langdon well, also advocated hi
. claims. But more powerful pleaders thai
all these was the young lady's heart, an
. for her father, the evidences of capacit
. Mr.. Clemens had given, and also of re
formation in life. A family meeting wa
, held, and into its charmed circle the e1
pectant bridegroom gladly stepped.