National Republican., 1888-06-01
suERInAN,s MEMOIRS.
The Work Completed, and the Copy in
the Hands of the Publishers,
rHartrort Courantl
T11'F' 17T1 Y 0V777E VIM
A rrnnricr for ihn Cnurnilt fnnnl Mr

llHIllOTb NOUIdlIsI
\ reporter for the Courant found Mark
Twain AT his home in this city, aud asked
him about Gen. Sheridan and his relations
with him Mr. Clemens Mark Twain) said
he had known the gentleman for twenty
years or more, having first met him in
Washington at q reception at Gen Grants
before the latter was elected President.
Their personal acquaintance, however, had
been mainly matter Of later years. II ap-
pears now that Mark Twain's publishing
house Of Charles l.. Webster S Co. is to
stand In the same relation to Sheridan as to
Grant, the other popular hero of the war;
and is to do the world another similar ser
vice in giving to 1t ShcIi1an's memoirs.
The facts are found in the following inter
view:
Reporter. There ,Was, an item in the .CgNc
sheridan had written his autobiography an |
delivered II TO your firm Charles l.. Web.
stcr S CO.. for publication, Have you any
objections to saying whether the report was
NIark twain Nc; It was well founded.
Reporter. Would you mind giving me some
particulars--if there would be no Improperly
Mark Twain There is nothing about the
matter which needs conCealm lment, Aud In
fact there are but few particulars. These arO
about all. Mr.. Webster and called on Gen.
sheridan at his office in the War Department
n couple of years ago, and made Il contract
with him for his autobiography, upon terms
satisfactory TO both parties. This was not
long after we had published the second vol.
umc of Gen. Grants personal Memoirs.
Gen. sheridan was as reluctant to try the un
Grant before him; but the desire to secure a
comfortable provision for their families pre-
vailed with both. Gen. sherdan's, procedure,
| after he had once made up his mind, was char.
.f.t.ts Ia of In uf hta ngL
| all his might, and never called a halt until u
| was finished. one can see by his manuscript
| that he, like Gen. Grant, found authorship
| easy after he once got started; authorship Is
| always easy when one has something to say.
Reporter. VIII II make large book;
Mark Twain; Two Volumes royal octave
lust a companion to the Grant Memoirs.
Reporter The work Is completcdl
Mark Twain. Yes. The first volume has
| been for some time in the hands of the ,prin.
| tiers: the manuscript of the second was deliy-
cred to us, revised, corrected, and completed,
| a week before the general was taken sick,
| and Is in the safety deposit vaults in New
| York. The maps and engravings are all
Reporter. Has the general ever published
| anything in the way of literaturey
Mark Twain. From remarks which he made
at that first interview, judge that this Is his
| he would have, liked to write century war
| article, but could never quite overcome his
| indisposition 70 appear in print,
| Reporter. How do YOU think he has sue
| ceedcd as an author? mean is the book -
| Mark Twain. know what you mean: is the
book going TO be interesting! for that Is the
| first requirement of all memoirs. We'll, | am
| quite sure that whoever takes itup will not put
| II down again until he has read " through
| But that goes without saying. No man whC
| has filed the world with his name could write
an autobiography with dull pages in IL.
There can be no doubt that the publica
tion Of Sheridan's memoirs will prove almos
as important contribution to history ant
| to literature as Gen. Grants, and that tn,
work will equal II in life and interest. Eacl
| is imdispensable IN am American home.