The Red Cloud chief., 1884-05-23
Mark Twain's Search for q Rare Book.

At a meeting OF n literary club held
in this city some months ago. Mark
Twain WAS the essayist of the evening.
and. for the purpose of fully illustrat.
iny the sub ect under consideration. he
read numerous extracts from Il rare
book which had been lent TO him for
the occasion. 1t was a very rare volume
and it had come into Mr.. Clemens
hands only by accident and for u short
time. 1t happened that MIR. Cable
was then Mr.. Clemens guest, sick
at his house. Mr.. Cable had the book,
and he had borrowed it from a gentle
man in New York who valued it 50
highly that he had repeatedly besought
Mr.. Cable to treasure it with the utmost
care. and return it without fail. Indeed.
Mr.. Cable was SO careful of it that he
hesitated to let MIR. Clemens take it with
him from the house that evening and
was uneasy 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 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 determined to nave q
copy, and he 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 a letter
came instead. saying that careful in
CURRY and long search had simply de-
monstrated that the book could not be
had. 1t was out of print and out OF
existence. That en'led 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 q boy in college, and 3
few weeks ago while in that city he
stepped into the old store where he had
once seen it on the helves. The same
old proprietor was there, and remem-
bered his visitor. ado you recall such
and-such n book??' asked Mr.. Twitchell.
''Oh. yes" was the reply. land | re-
member so-and-sO uhe author) when
he was in college," and a pleasant flow
of "reminiscences followed. MIR. Twich-
ell timidly asked whether it would be-
possible TO secure q copy of the book
now ut this late day. and hardly dared
to hope for a favorable reply.
Well was the answer. II under
took to put my cellar in order the other
day. and | found about 4 cord of them
down there, and I think / could supply
you if you wanted quite a number"
He inquired the price OF the book
flor 4 copy of which an unrestricted Of
fer had been sent QUIT and was told
that they we're ten cents apiece. He
took a dozen and came back to Hart
ford. 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. MIR. T~witchell casually inquired
of his companion if he had ever found
q copy of it.
Never" said Mr.. Clemens. There
are lone in existence. The book is
something VT must 90 without"
What would you give for a cOpy?"
asked Mr.. Twitchell. and the answe
was that it wasn't a question of money.
He would give whatever was asked.
tHc price "dS loT Inc Owl eI W set, tucI
he would pay it. But it was idle to
talk about it. as tho book was unOb-
tainabie.
"Well, Mark" said Mr.. Twitchell,
producing 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 L copy at
anv price has been rescinded and it will
take a bonfire to make the book a rars
Hartford Conn. CouranL