Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-05-22
MARX Twain's Search for Rare Book.

At \ meeting of literary club held
In this city some months ago. Mark
Twain was tho essayist OF the evening.
and. for the purpose Of fully illusirat-
Ing the sub ect uuder consideration. he
read numerous extracts from a rare
book which had been lent 10 him for
the occasion IL was a very rare volume
and ii had come into Mr.. Clemens
hands only by accident and for short
time II happened that Mr.. Cable
was then Mr.. Clemens guest, sick
at his h0asC- Mr.. Cable had the book,
and he had borrowed il from a gentle
man in New York who valued il so
highly that he had repeatedly besought
Mr.. Cable to treasure il with the Utmost
care. and return il without fail. Indeed.
Mr. Cable was so careful of il that ne
hesitsted TO let Mr.. Clemens take il with
him from the house that evening and
was uneasy until he brought il back in
safety.
The reading was . complete success,
and the book was heartily en- Dyed It
was found that the Hon Henry c.
Robinson had a copy. which had be-
lOnged TO his brother. Mr.. Lucius Robin
son. but to almost all present the book
was entirely novel
Mr.. Clemens determineu TO have a
copy. and he wrote 20 a New York
bOOk-buying house directing them to
buy il for him reganlless of cost He
must have H. Time passed, but the
book did not come: and finally q letter
came instead. saying thar careful in
quiry and long search had simply de-
mOnstrated that the book could not be
had il was out Of print and out Of
existence That ended the matter.
Rev. Mr.. Twitchell, who was at the
gathering, remembered that he had
seen the book on sale in New Haven
when he WAS boy in college. and .
few weeks ago while in that CITY he
stepped into the old store where he had
once seen il on the shelves. The same
old proprietor was there, and resnem
bered his visitor. s.Do YOU recall SUCH
and-such bOok?' 1skei Mr.. Twiichell.
'-Oh. yes" was the reply. ''and re
member sO-and-sO fthe anfhor) whep
he was in college" and pleasant fow
of "reminiscences followed. Mr. Twich-
ell timidly asked whether il wOuld bs
possible 10 secure = copy of the book
now at this late day. and hardly dared
to hope for favorable reply.
well was the answer. Il under.
took TO put my cellar in order the other
day, and found about n cord of then
down there. and think could supplg
you If you wanted quite a number. .
He inquired the price of the book
Oor copy of which an unrestricted Of l
fer had been sent Out) and was told
that they were ten cents apiece. He
soOk dozen and came back 10 Hart I
ford Tying up six of them. he put
them in his pocket n few DAYS later
when he was going to walk with Mr.. /
Clemens.
Introducing the subject Of the rare
volume, Mr.. Twischell casually inquired |
of his companion Il he had ever found /
a copy Of IL
Never" said Mr.. Clemens. There /
are none in existence. The book is /
something we must 90 without"
What would YOU give for a copy?"
asked Mr.. Twitchsll. and the answer /
vas that Il WASH question OF money.
he would give whatever was asked. /
The price was for the owner to set. then 4
be would pay il But it was idle TO
talk about il. as the book was unob-
tainabie.
We'll Mark" said Mr. TwitcheIl.
PrOdu ing the package. IF that's the
way You feel. here are six 70 begin
with; and. if these aren't enough / can
get YOU a couple Of hundred more
The unlimited order for ore cony az
any price has been nescinded and il viii
axe bontire TO make the book a rare
Conn CoErassL