St. Paul daily globe., 1895-07-25
MARK TWAIN'S READING.

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Mark Twain, the noted author and
lecturer, appeared last night at the
Peoples church and was greeted by
very large and select audience.
For over two hours he held this
large concourse of people at perfect
ease and received their undivided
attention, demonstrating once more
that he has not lost a particle of
the popular hold which he has upon
the reading public. A little more
gray than at his former appearance,
a little more worn by illness and
work, but beyond that nothing
seemed changed in his appearance
as he was escorted to the platform
by Col. J. H. Davidson, who intro
duced the speaker to his audience
A prolonged outburst of applause
demonstrated the fact that his old
time popularity had, if anything, in
creased with the flight of time.
Mr.. Clemens chose for his pro-
gramme seven selections from his
best known writings. These were
About a Deceased Person." ''The
Jumping Frgg," 1.-THE Grandfather's
Old RAM" SMALLPOX and Other
Things" can Early Transgression,"
''Tom Sawyer's Crusade" about
Christening"
The speaker blended pathos and
humor in such rapid succession that
the audience had some difficulty to
keep from laughing at the wrong
time. But the humor was presented
in the mans own inimitable style,
and there was no moment all
through the lecture when those pres
ent were not most highly enter
tained. Every story seemed IA
miliar to them; but given from the
authors own lips they seemed to
possess new freshness which was
pleasing. To every story he applied
moral, always pert and often
humorous.
Always be brave to the limit Of
your personal courage, but when you
reach the limit, stop, don't strain.'
That was the opening sentiment of
the lecture. 81 thought it good doc
trlne when 1 wrote it, and 1 think
so still. But this limit of courage
should be aScertained early in life.
Many men wait too late in life to
find it out, and then attribute their
failures to chance and become SUI
perStitious.'
He then related the we'll known
story of the boy in his fathers office,
at which place he had sought refuge
after sneaking away from school,
and having the body of a murdered
man brought in, with the result Of
a hasty and rather unmanly exit
through the window. The story of
the frog caused much merriment.
To the third subject the speaker
applied this moral, Never be loose
in your conversation, but concen-
trate." This was aptly illustrated
by "Grandfather's Old RAM" in
which the relator never comes to the
point, owing to being constantly
sidetracked by his wonderful men,
ory. By his own method of Sc
quence, or evolution, he arrived at
the moral conclusion taught by the
story of Smallpox when he con-
cludes in the language ,of Huck
Finn: GA fellow has got to start
early in life if he wants to do right
and learn how. But what's the use
of all the trouble in trying to do
right when it's easier to do other
wise and the wages are the same"
"An Early Transgression" brought
out the story Of the stolen watermelon,
which happened to be green. That this
was an offense on the part of the
farmer from whom the melon was
stolen was the natural conclusion of
the tale. OF course the melon was
returned, the farmer being warned
not to repeat the offense and eau
toned to at once replace it with good
ripe fruit. Moral: Always remem-
Der your first transgression and the
shame of being found out" The story
about a Christening" with the am
bilious minister delivering a fine ora
ton over the boy, who turned out
to be a girl, led the speaker to moral
ize that it were better for people not
to jump at conclusions too rapidly
And amid the laughter over this pa
thetic tale he concluded his address.
Mark Twain is at present on a tour
around the world. After going through
the Western country his party will
embark for Australia, where the prin-
cipal cities will be visited. Tasmania,
New Zealand and Ceylon will follow,
and then comes India as far as Bonn
bay. Then he proceeds to England,
where he will rest for time, return
ing later to his home at Hartford,
where he will retire for a long season
of quietude now much needed.
At the present time he keeps in
that not overmuch coveted feeling
occasioned by the possession of a
very troublesome carbuncle, which is
not apt to make a man feel very
humorous. In his talk he keeps away
from this disagreeable subject as much
as possible. Otherwise his health is
not of the best, and the present tour
is made with a view of regaining it
as far as may be possible.