Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-01
Mark rwain,s
Ih.laie.lhia Pr.s..

nan how it happened that Mark
Twain wrote and published 80 little
nowadays. He writes as much as
ever" was the reply. "but his barom-
eter is out of order, and be does not
Know what TO publish; so he publishes
nothing
"W6st in the world has his
barometer to do With his literary
activity"
His barometer il a mai servant
named Jacob, who is remarkable for
his deficient sense OF humor. Mark
oeTer can Judge Of the merit Of his own
performances. Years ago he fell into
the habit Of testing everything that he
wrote BY observing its effect upon
Jacob. If Jacob listened TO The
reading OF the article. jest, or story
with unmoYed ~countenance, or merely
smiled in a perfunctoy way, Marx
was satisfied and seat the manuscript
70 the printer. But il Jacob laughed
outright, or gave any other indications
Of genuine merriment, the humorist
concluded that the stuff was hopeless
and withheld it from publication. BE
regarded Jacob as iDfallible and came
10 lesn upon bis Judgment.
About three years ago, it appears,
Jacob lesrped TOR the FIRST time from
some outsider that his master was a
professional humorist He leIt greatly
honored that he should have been
chosen habitually 10 enjoy the first
freshness Of every new production OF
genius de did not exactly under
stand why be should have been thus
chosen, but felt in a vague way that a
great humorist must need sympathy
and appreciation, aud must naturally
look for il 70 the fellow being nearest
at hand. He also felt that be had
perhaps failed 70 be at all times sufi.
GENTLY sppreeiatiye. So Jacob kept
bis discovery 70 himself as far az his
master vas concerned, and resolved TO
be as appreciative Ia the future as
anybody could desire.
'One day Mark called Jacob in and
read him a sketch entitled The Cow
and the LightDing-rod Man In
competing il Mark hid Catered him
sell that he had struck a pretty hne
streak. To disbursement Jacob put
back bic head and roared. With a
Eali suppressed circulation Mark
dashed tbs nalussrlpt iat6 lhe waste
basket. Then Mark waited six weeks
" Two months 70 collect his forces
(tcr be Is never p~recipitate 10 any
thiog be does) and achieYeda romance
CALLED How Bounced the Baby.
he SUMMONED Jacob and watched
biz face with obvious s%nziety a. he
read tie touching narrative. JScob's
minh vas psinfal 10 observe. Marx
tore Up the story aud then tore his
hair.
Two Or three experiments Of this
sort, With unyaYying resuls,persuAded
Mark Twain that the malaria which
be bas been breeding EVER since Is
bean . efeep w the DGnBoehcut
valley, had reached him At last and
destroyed his powers Of usefulness,
Be feil into q settled melancholy His
friend, the Rev Mr. TsitchelL tried
10 vain " cheer him up 'Perhsps,
Suggested GEitcbell, your nan has
really eHltiysted > ssHee Of hgpog,
~ that you must no longer Judge
~ opp0sites Marx shook his head,
aad borrowed a copy Of Jona
tbaB EdNsfas 5ermOng from
bic friends library. 10 copied
out slObg passage from the discourse
On efemsl pgaishment, add pelmed
II III o. Jacob ~ bis 0gu latest effort,
fOT he lrst tine II history, tho
NCOmg periods provoked peala OF
IaughteT Jaeob bold biz sides and
ghoOk al over. Then he suddenly
st0Dped, bic c%ountenanco became
blank turned pale, and he %inconti.
pfDdg Aed lie bad see murder In
w DssteTC eye,
itt,7 ssid ibe Hartford man, 10
conclusion, is Why Marx Twain does
cot write. he hung bis reputation a.
4 hlmoDst upO0 Bis barometer, and
10 hefemftfr 40 longer works"
A correspondent OF KNOWLEDGE
llL0sdon) who signs himself "A
Brother Cinder" ref ring 10 tho 6rst
taO eremsti0ns which have taken
plaes n kDgland 10 modern tiuee and
" ths deposition which Was made Of
tho eshes, bfgs leeYS % suggest "a
Ia Healaf and moro appropriate mode
" Opposing u tho ashes Of a corpse
eyemaisd These ashea, ! think he
observes. consist wholly Or ptinei.
pally of phosphate OF Inns, and there
lme kss6 only 70 DO treated With sgl.
DbHne acid " convert them into
sBDhsle Of limo-i o., gypsum or
plsstsf u PsFlG With this substance
! m94el can Dc osht 10 q mould preyi-
0gslg prepared. a9d presenting either
ne fqli agBfs 0f tho deceased, or
ilmdg me bust " The likeness can
ItAk6 ths form Of 4 medal ION. Which
aver form Of memorial 10 adopted, a
assa esse would DO sufficient proteo-
ION fgf h, and the costly urn oan be
dispensed with ~ unnecessary, while