Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-23
A Visit To His House and study i'm the
Suburbs of Elmira

Elmira "a. 70 Correspondence Louisville Courier
Journal.
The summer residence Of Mr.. Clemens is &C
knowledged to be here in the vicinity 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
or his sister-in-law. Mrs. Theodore Crane. and is
situated about two miles away from the busi-
ness portion of the city, on an emnence known
as East Hill" The funny mans house 10
reached from the city by winding road, which
ls steep, very steep, and at times Is really Q
dangerous driveway. We go thither i'm coupe,
drawn by two large horses. to whom the task Of
climbing seems not an unfamiliar one Up aud
still up. and after an exciting dash up the hill
sidewe see the house in the distance and hand
kerchiefs futtering from the veranda. A few
moments later alight from the coupe. and am
seated in huge easy chair with the members
OF Mark Twains family on every side.
The house, an elegantly built and furnished
structure, has an abundance Of windows and
glass doors on the south side, so that. from
within, the lovely scenery In the valley below 10
plainly visible. An arched carriageway connects
with the veranda, and the whole Is protected
from glare and heat by vines and awnings so az
not to Obstruct the view. In front Of the house
and beyond in place Of the pretty lawn. is q
huge field of oats. which completely shrouds the
brow OF the hill. and with its undulatlng surface
softens and DISCUSSES any abruptness or rough
ness which there might otherwise be In the fore
ground.
The house throughout is furnished in an ele
giant and costly manner. Diyans. Persian rugs,
easy chairs. books, statuary. articles OF riyts
anu brlc-a-brac are on every side, and the whole
has the appearance Of place where one could
dream his LIE away. Mr.. Clemens retires to his
study every morning after breakfast and writes
steadily until In the afternoon. He
does all OF his own work, and employs
neither secretary nor amanuenss. He has
become quite proficient i'm the use Of the
typewriter. and utilizes that instrument in at.
tending to his correspondence. During the past
few weeks he has been somewhat annoyed by
visitors and sight-seers. One day i'm the week
(and this happens to be the very day. the genial
humorist seeks repose and rest 10y going dow1
to the city. meeting some of his friends indulp.
ing In hotel dinner and several games Of biz
.iards. This is what he calls rest from his lite
rary labors. Owing to his absence We have an
opportunity Of peepng into his sanctum sane
forum. The visitor finds the humorist's study
higher up the hill. in the rear Of the house. and
screened by vines and evergreens. 1t is small
octagonal building containing but single room.
Here the humorist does the greater portion Of his
summers work, and here for eight summers
Mark Twain has worked industriously, for, not
wthstanding the fact that he has been called
lndOlent, he is a most indefatigabe 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 following novel sigM
''Step Softly! Keep Away! 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 manu-
script and scraps OF newspaper articles pinned
to it to prevent dispersion by the wind. There
is a table in the center of the room, covered
with books, pamphlets, newspapers, manu.
scripts, and all the paraphernalia of authorship.
On one side is a comfortable-looking lounge,
somewhat soiled by use. and over the fireplace
is a Shelf on which rests a few books and .
couple Of boxes Of choice cigars. That is all,
except pervasive odor of smoke.
The o'clock dinner hour brings Mark Twain
up from the city. and he joins his family In the
parlor. He is now AZ years Of age. with IRON
gray hair cut rather short. and moustache OF
the same color. He is Of medium height, In
Ginning to portliness. has a small, black piercing
eye, and a rather aquiline nose. He is pleasant
in his manner, and talks when he has anything
to say, but has particular horror of people who
expect to be entertained by witty remarks, and
especially Of some who seem to think that they
must talk nothing but nonsense in his presenoe.
He is remarkably domestic in his tastes. and 10
blessed with very lovely wife and three beautt-
full little daughters. Mrs. Clemens is a slender,
graceful lady. OF rare beauty, genial, chatty and
charming. She is the daughter OF the late J.
L0npdOn of Elmra.