Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-23
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 sub ,ect under consideration, he
read numerous extracts from n rare
book which had been lent to him for
the occasion. IL was very rare volume
and IL had come into MIR. Clemens
hands only by accident and for short
time. Ii happened that Mr.. Cable
was then Mr.. Clemens guest, sick
ut 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
MIR. Cable to treasure il 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;oyed. 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 nave a
copy, and he wrote to a New York
book-buying house directing them to
BUY 1t for him regardless of cost. He
must have 1t. Time passed, but the
DOCK did not come; and finally n 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 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 o
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 remem
bered his visitor. ''Do you recall SUCH
and-such bookpr asked Mr.. Twitchell.
''Oh. yes" was the reply. ''and re-
member so-and-so (the author) whep
ne was IN college," and a pleasant flow
OF "reminiscences followed. Mr. Twich.
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 a cord of them
down there, and think j could supply
you If you wanted quite n number. "
He inquired the price of the book
Uor copy of which an unrestricted of.
fer had been sent out) and was told
that they were ten cents apiece. He
eook dozen and came back to Hart
lord. 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. Twitchell casually Incurred
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 go without"
what would you give for a copy?"
vas that II wasn't question of money.
He would give whatever was asked
The price was for the owner to set. then
ne would pay it But it was idle TO
tainable.
well, Mark" said Mr.. Twitchell.
produ ing the package, IF that's the
way You feel. here are six to begin
WITH and, II these aren't enough / can
get you couple Of hundred more
The unlimited order for ore copy at
any price has been rescinded and II will
take bonfire to make the book a rare
one--Hartford Conn CoEranI