The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-01-24
How Mark Twain Won His Wife



The turning-point in Mr.. Clemens
lie was made in 1865 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 SIS 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 so
much per letter, in which Mr.. Clemens
served up New York in a serio-comic
way, when they were astonished to re-
ceive an urgent request to advance 81 200
to enable him to so abroad with the
4" Tnnocents 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 un-
desirable, for ne still canied his mining
manners with him, and spoke the Washoe
vernacular 1t happened among the
passengers there was an old gentleman
from Elmirs, n. Y, named Lsngdon,
who was accompanied by his son, mere
boy, and daughter. This boy conceived
a sort Of friendship for Mr.. Clemens, and
associated with him almost constantly
He introduced his friend to his sister.
Miss Olivia L. Langdon. and we may
add, to his fate. The old gentleman
fought rather shy of the Washoe Bohe>
mian'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
cle&nly in a moral sense, abandoned cards
and gambling and drink, and gave up
SOOTHING at the religious opinions of his
fellow. passengers. He wanted to find
grace with the lady of his love and her
father. Before the voyage was over he
asked Mr.. Langdon for Olivia, and the
refusal he received chilled but did not
dishearten him. He simply told the
somewhat indignant parent that he could
wait, but he was determined to marry
his daughter. 1t was said of John Eos
ter, the English writer, and at one time
editor of the London Examiner, that his
love letters were the most remarkable
ever penned, because they were written
at the instigation of q young lady whom
he wished t. make his wife, but who,
knowing his habitual Incidence, and at
the same time his great talent, refused
to listen to his addresses till he had dis
tinguished himself. He did so, and won
bride that was proud of him. Mr..
Clemens case is hardly parallel to this,
but is similar in some respects. We
think his I" Innocents Abroad was 8
labor OF love in degree. 1t made him
famous as a humorous writer, and while
all the world was talking shout him and
his book he came to Elmira, accompan-
led by an editorial friend from Clevee
land, and again renewed his suit for
Miss Langdon's hand. This time the old
man listened with more cOmplacency.
The yound lady's brother pleaded for
Clemens. and his Cleveland friend, who
knew Mr.. Langdon well, also advocated
his claims. But more powerful plesders
than all of these was the young lady's
heart, and for her father, the evidences
of capacity Mr.. Clemens had given, and
also of reformation of life. A family
meeting was held, and into its charmed
circle the expectant bridegroom gladly
stepped.
"A beautiful girl in Iowa named
Jemima recently committed suicide be-
cause she could find no diminutive for
her name ending in dc" A few hours
a lterward came letter from classmate
"Dear, darling Minnie but
it was too late, and she was borne to the
grave by eight companions, named
Abbie, Bes lie, Carrie, Dol
lie, Elite, Florrie, George and Hattie.
The thirst for continual novelty
makes peol lie throw away good almanacs
at the end OF every year and buy new
Ones.
Nothing but leaves" said Eve plea.
s&ntly, when Adam praised the taste
SHOWN in her polonaise. He left,