Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-05
MARK TWAIN's QUEST.
The Efforts of the HumOrist to Secure
Rare BoOk-A Long Search.

The Efforts of the Humorist to Secure
Rare BoOk-A Long Search.
At meeting Of a literary club held in
this city some months ago, says the Hart
ford Couront, Mark Twain was the essay
ist of the evening, and, for the purpose of
fully illustrating the subject under con-
sideration, he read numerous extracts
from rare book which had been lent to
him for the occasion. 1t was very rare
volume, and it had come into Mr.. Glenn
ems hands only by accident and for a
short time. 1t happened that Mr.. Gable
was then Mr.. Clemens guest, sick at his
house. Mr.. Gable had the book, and
he had borrowed it from a gentleman
in New York who valued it so highly
that he repeatedly besOught Mr..
Cable to treasure it with the utmost care
| and return it without fail. Indeed Mr.
Gable was so careful Of it that he hest
tated to let Mr.. Clemens take it with him
from the house that evening and was un.
easy until he brought it back in safety
The reading was a complete success, and
the book was heartily enjoyed. 1t was
found that the Hon. Henry G. Robinson
had a COPY, which had belonged to his
brother, Mr.. Lucius Robinson, but to al
most all present the book was entirely
novel. Mr.. Clemens determined to have
a CODY. and wrote to a New York book.
buying house directing them to buy it for
him regardless of cost. He must have it.
/ Time passed, but the book did not come,
and finally letter came instead saying
| that careful inquiry and long search had
simply demonstrated that the book could
not be had. 1t was out ofprint and out OF
existence. That ended the matter. The
Rev. Mr.. Twichell, who was at the gath
ering. remembered he had seen the book
on sale in New Haven when he was boy
at college, and a few weeks ago, while in
that city, he stepped into store where
he once had seen it on the shelves. The
same old proprietor was there, and he re-
membered his visitor. 'DO you recall
such and such a book p asked Mr..
Twichell. .'Oh, yes" was the reply.
land / remember so-and-so (the author }
when he was in college," and pleasant
flow Of Renaissance followed. Mr..
Twichell timidly asked whether it would
be possible to secure copy of the book
now at this late day and hardly dared
hope for favorable reply.
"Well," was the answer, 81 undertook
to put my cellar in order the other day,
and l found about a cord Of them down
there, and / think l could supply you if
you wanted quite a number"
He inquired the price of the book for
copy of which an unrestricted offer had
been sent out) and was told that they
were ten cents apiecel He took a dozen
and came back to Hartford. Tying up
six Of them, he put them in his pocket a
few days later when he was going to
walk with Mr.. Clemens. Introducing the
subject of the rare volume, Mr.. Twichell
casually inquired of his companion if he
had ever found copy of it.
"NeVer." said Mr.. Clemens. "There are
none in existence. The book is something
we must 90 without"
"What would you give for copy?"
asked Mr.. Twichell, and the answer was
that it wasn't a question of money. He
would give whatever was asked. The
price was for the owner to set, then he
would pay it. But it was idle to talk
about it, as the book was unobtainable.
''Well, Mark" said Mr.. Twichell, pro-
ducing the package, ''if that's the way
you feel, here are six to begin with; and,
if these aren't enough, l can get you a
couple of hundred mOre."
The unlimited order for one copy at any
price has been rescinded, and it will take
a bonfire to make the book rare one.