Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-05-16
Mark Twain's Search for Rare Book.

AT n meeting of literary club held
in this city some months ago, Mark
Twain was the essayist of the evening,
and, for the purpose of fully illustrat-
ing the subject under consideration, he
read numerous extracts from rare
book which had been lent to him for
the occasion. 1t was n very rare volume
and it had come into Mr.. Clemens
hands only by accident and for short
time. 1t happened that Mr.. Cable
was then Mr.. Clemens guest, sick
at his house. Mr.. Cable had the book,
and he had borrowed it from n gentle
man in New York who valued it so
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 Mr.. Clemens take it with
him from the house that evening and
was uneasy until he brought it back in
safety.
The reading was complete success,
and the book was heartily en- Dyed. 1t
was found that the Hon. Henry c.
Robinson had 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
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 letter
came instead, saying that careful in
quiry and long search had simply de-
monstrated that the book could not be
had. 1t 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 a boy in college, and q
| few weeks ago while in that city he
stepped into the old store where lie had
once seen it on the shelves. The same
old proprietor was there, and remem-
bered his visitor. "Do you recall such
and-such bookP" asked Mr.. Twitchell
"Oh, yes" was the reply, "and / re-
member so-and-so (the author) when
he was in college," and pleasant flow
ell timidly asked whether it would be
possible to secure a copy of the book
now at this late day, and hardly dared
to hope for favorable reply.
"Well," was the answer, II under
took to put my cellar in order the other
day, and found about cord of them
down there, and think / could supply
you if you wanted quite q number.
He inquired the price of the book
Qor copy of which an unrestricted of
| fer had been sent out) and was told
that they were ten cents apiece. He
took dozen and came back to Hart.
ford. Tying up six of them, he put
them in his pocket few days later
when he was going to walk with Mr..
! Clemens.
Introducing the subject of the rare
volume, Mr.. Twitchell casually inquired
of his companion if he had ever found
a copy of it.
Never" said Mr.. Clemens. "There
are none in existence. The book is
| something we must 90 without"
"What would yon give for copy?"
asked Mr.. Twitchell, and the answer
was that it wasn't 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 tho book was unob-
| tainable.
"Well, Mark" said Mr.. Twitchell,
produ ueing the package, "if that's tho
way you feel, here are six to begin
with; and, If these aren't enough can
get you a couple of hundred more.''
The unlimited order for one copy at
any price has been rescinded and 1t will
lake u bonfire to make the book rare
one. Hartford Conn. Courant.