Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-12
MARK IWAINs SUMNER HOME.
A Visits 10 His House and Study In the
suburbs OF Elmira.
< y. ~ Correspondent Of
Con- ier-,JOUFHdl.

ILaTG v. ~ Correspondent Of tie LotsisriHs
COi1ier-JOUTRdL
hesummer residence of Mr. Clemens
is acknowledged to be here in the viein-
ity of Elmira, notwithstanding he has
house or two in other parts of the United
States. His place Is known as 'Quairy
Farm which is also the residence of
his sister-in-law, Mrs. Theodore Crane,
and Is situated about two miles away
from the business portion of the city,
on an eminence known as East HILL"
The funny mans house is reached from
the city by winding road, which is
steep, very steep, and at times is really
a dangerous driveway. We go thither
in a canoe, drawn by two large horses,
to whom the task of climbing seems
not an unfamiliar one. Up and still
up, and after an exciting dash up the
hillside We see the house in the distance
and handkerchiefs tiuttering from the
veranda. A few moments later | alight
from the coupe, and am seated in
huge easy chair with the members of
Mark Twain's family on every side.
The house, an elegantly built and fur
niShed structure, has an abundance of
windows and glass doors on the south
side, so that, from within, the lovely
scenery in the valley below is plainly
visible. An arched carriageway con-
meets with the veranda, and the whole
is protected from glare and heat by
vines and awnings so as not to obStruct
the view. In front of the house and be-
yOnd, in place of the pretty lawn, Is
huge field of oats, which completely
shrOudS the brow Of the hill, and with
its undulating surface sOftens and dis
guisCS any abruptneSs or rOughness
which there might otherwise be in the
foreground.
The house throughout is furnished in
an elegant and costly manner. DivianS,
Persian rugs, easy chairs, books, statu
airy, articles of yirtu and bric-a-brac are
on every side, and the whole has the
appearance of place where one could
dream his life away. Mr.. Clemens re-
tires to his study every morning after
breakfast and writes steadily until III
the afternoon. He does all of his own
work, and employs neither secretary
nor amanuenSiS. He has become quite
proficient in the Use of the Typewriter,
and utilities that instrument in
attending To his correspondence.
During the past few weeks
he has been somewhat annoyed
bv visitors and sight-Seers. One day in
the week land this happens to be the
very day) the genial humOriSt seeks re-
pose and rest by going down to the city,
meeting some of his friends, indulging
in a hotel dinner and several games of
billiards. This j. what he calls rest
from his literary labOrs. Owing to his
absence we have an opportunity Otpeep-
ing into his sanctum sanctorum; The
visitor finds the humOriSt's study higher
ND the hill, in the rear of the house, and
screened by vines and evergreenS.
| II iSa small Octagonal building, contain
ing but a single room. Here the hui
mOrist does the greater portion OF his
summers work, and for eight summers
Mark Twain has worked induStIiOusly,
for, notwithstanding the fact that he
/ has been called indOlent, he is a most
indefatigable worker. To keep away
| the large number of sight-seers who
come up the big hill to his sanctum,
] Twain has posted on the door the fol-
lowing novel sign: step softly! Keep
awayI Do not disturb the remains"
! In spite of this characteristic warning
we open the door and enter. The
| floor is bare, and has across one corner
some pages of manuscript and scraps
/ of newspaper articles pinned to 1t to
prevent dispersion by the wind. There
Is a table in the center of the room, COW
cred with books, pamphlets, newspa-
pers, MANUSCRIPTS and all the parapher-
MALTA of authorship. On one side IS a
comfortable looking lounge, somewhat
soiled by use, and over the fireplace IS a
shelf on which rests few books and
| roupie of boxes of choice cigars. mat
is all except pervasive odor OF smoke.
The five o'clock dinner hour brings
! Mark Twain up from the city ana he
Joins his family in the parlor. he Is
now forty-seven years of age, WIN
iron gray hair, cut rather snort,
and mustache of the same color. lie
Is OF medium height, inclining to port
illness, has a small, black, piercing eye,
and a rather aquiline nose. He Is pleas
| ant in his manner, and talks when ne
has anything to say, but has a particu-
lar horror of people who expect 10 oe
entertained by witty remarks, and eS-
pecially of some who seem to thlnS
that they must talk nothing but nom
sense In his presence. He is remarka,,
bly domestic in his tastes, and IS blessed
with a very lovely wife and three beau
tiful little daughters. Mrs. Clemens Is
a slender, graceful lady OF rare beauty,
genial, chatty, and charming. She Is
| g of tho late II I,QnW1On, oil