St. Landry democrat., 1884-05-31

On, stupldeSt OF StupldS? he eX-
claimed, as he thrust slippers and
brushes into his yalise in the privacy of
his cabin. Bagged by the Smollett
ogress after all, by Jupiter!" he added
as he gave a last twist to his fair mus
tache before the misty mirror.-M O.
Times Democrat.
Mark Twain's Search for a Rare Book.
At meeting of a 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 a very rare volume
and it had come into Mr.. Clemens
hands only by accident and for a short
time. 1t happened that Mr.. Cable
was then Mr., Clemens guest, sick
at his house. Mr.. Gable had the book,
and he had borrowed it from a gentle
man in New York who valued it so
| highly that he had repeatedly besought
Mr.. Cable to treasure 1t with the utmost
care, and return it without fail. Indeed,
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 enjoyed. 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 determined to have a
copy, and he wrote to 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. MIR. 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
few weeks ago while in that city he
stepped into the old store where he had
once seen it on the shelves. The same
old proprietor was there, and remem-
bered his visitor. 'tDo you recall such
and-such book?' asked Mr.. Twitchell.
"Oh, yes, was the reply, sand I re-
member so-and-so (the author) when
he was in college, and pleasant flow
of "Reminiscences followed. Mr.. Twich-
ell timidly asked whether it would be
possible to secure copy of the book
now at this late day, and hardly dared
to hope for favorable reply.
''Well, was the answer, 81 under.
took to put my cellar in order the other
day, and found about a cord of them
down there, and I think could supply
you if you wanted quite a number. u
He inquired the price of the book
(tor copy OF which an unrestricted of
fer had been sent out) and was told
that they We're 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 ne 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. 'sThere
are none in existence. The book is
something we must go without s"
What would you give for copy?"
asked Mr.. Twitchell, and the ansy enE
was that it wasn't question of mosRy.~
He would give whatever was atEed. |
The price was for the owner to sea- then /
he would paE.;a But it was id.b to
talk about it, as the book was Il ob-
well well, Marx, = said Mr.. Twsofen, |
producing the package, ''if that II the
way You feel, here ass six toSegin
with; and, if these areh' enouaI I.san
get YOU a couple of hundred more.
The unlimited order for ore copy at
my price has been rescinded and it will
AXE a bonfire to make the book a rare
me. = Hartford Conn Courant.
DR.. blcCosh. of Princeton, knows
about colleges. He has at