davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30
His Millions for Humanity,

it was believed, and so reported, that
he had siven the entire Nobel fortune to
the University of Sweden, but this was
denied, and it is now definitely known
Just what disposition the rich man made
of his millions. The will was opened on
Dec. 50. The instrument is not lengthy.
1t is dated at Paris, Nov. 27, 1895, and
begins by cancelng all former wills.
Some millions of kroner are bequeathed
to relatives and friends after which the
text of the Will reads as follows: THE
whole of my remaining fortune is to be
given away in this manner: My execu-
tors are ordered to convert my entire
estate into safe securities, which shall
constitute a fund, the interest of which
Is to be annually divided among those
who, during the year preceding, have
done the greatest service to humanity.
The income is to be divided into five
equal parts, which sail be distributed in
this way:
"One-ffth for the most important
discovery in the natural sciences.
One-fifth for the most important
discovery in physiology and medicine.
"One-tifth for the most excellent work
in literature, and the remaining fifth
part to that person who has labored
most effectively for the unition of hu-
manity, the disarmament, partial or
complete, of standing armies, and for
the organization and promotion Of
peace congresses"
THE prizes for natural science and
chemistry" continues the will are to
be awarded by the Swedish Academy
of Science. Those for physiology and
medicine by the Carolina Institute at
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

entirely owing to an imperfect study, Cr
a misapprehension, of its provisions or of
their possible effect.
II seems to be supposed that the treaty
may require the contracting parties 10
ferrng to the treaty itself, it viii be found
that the parties have agreed to submit
their differences to arbitration only 'in
accordance with the provisions and subject
to the limitations of this treaty" The
questions which may be submitted are all
included under three heads, viz: Pecunid-
ry claims, territorial claims and IAN other
matters in difference, in respect to which
either of the high contracting parties shall
have rights against the other under treaty
or otherwise" 1t is clear that no such
agreement requires the arbitration of mat
ters of policy. The term rights" as used
in the treaty. can only mean legal rights,
The words of the treaty aptly define the
agreement to arbitrate so as to exclude
from its operation all questions not suita-
BILE for judicial decision; and ii could no
more be held by either party to require
Great Britain to arbitrate the principle OF
the balance of power In Europe, or the
United States the Monroe Doctrine, than
1t could be held to oblige either party to
arbitrate its standard of value or its tariff
policy.
The appointment of the third or NTH
those wasteful disturbances of the busi-
ness of the country which are sometimes
caused by groundless rumors OF impend-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

The following public statement con-
cerning the treaty of arbitration be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States, now awaiting ratification in the
senate is made by the permanent COM
mittee on arbitration appointed at the
Arbitration conference held at Wash
ington on April 22 and %, 1896:
THE ORIGIN OF THE TREATY.
From Washington's administration
down TO this day, arbitration has uni
formly been prominent feature of our
national policy. Acting upon the convic-
tion that justice is best occurred by Judi
cial methods, our government has always
stood among the nations as the champion
very definite sense the result OF our mi
tiative. In 1890 congress unanimously
adopted a concurrent resolution request
ing the president "to invite from time
TO time, as fit occasions may arise, nego-
tiations with any government with which
the United States has or may have dplo-
matte relations, to the end that any differ
enees or disputes arising between the two
governments which cannot be adjusted
by diplomatic agency, may be referred to
arbitration and be peaceably adjusted by
such means" In 1898 the British house
OF commons expressed the hope that Her
MaJesty's government would lend their
ready cooperation to the government of
the United States, upon the basis of the
foregoing resolution" The pending
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

the spirit of push and self-reliance
which is forced by life in a one-story
house. He romped about Hannibal.
There was no one in town who ever
dreamed the shaggy head of brown hair
covered the brains which should later
make him a welcome guest at the palace
of the German emperor.
VAGUE IDEAS OBJ TWAIN'S YOUTH.
There are many stories over here
about his early adventures The Lon
doners know that he was once a pilot
on the Mississippi, but they have but
little notion of where the Mississippi is
He is known as a journalist, but the
most active journalism he ever talks
about is his term as city editor of the
Enterprise, published in Virginia CITY,
New, or as joint reporter and deputy
sheriff at Dutch Flats, III the Sierra
Nevadas. This was in 1862 and 1863,
while he was searching fame and
wealth in the west and before he mad
pushed himself into the attention or the
east or the admiration of the critics and
people over here.
He came over the Atlantic first in
1867. He had previously rambled over
the islands of the Pacific and had be-
gun lHe ,Ol ailiNicS "iiN'
were beginning to attract attention. He
! returned to America from the conti-
nent, and "Innocents Abroad" in 1869,
rather placed him in the public eye as
professional humorist. 1t gave him the
reputation for broad and healthy HUI
| NOR The first impression was that he
| would not succeed in any other field.
HAYMAKING IN SUNSHINE.
! 1t was about this time that Profess
| sor Charles +. Richardson, in his book
| on the literature of the country, ad-
vised Mark Twain to make hay while
the sun shines-"since twenty years
| hence, unless the school enshrines its
wits in some higher literary achieve
ment it's unknown successors will be
| the privileged comedians of the repub-
| lc."
There have been no successors, un-
| known or otherwise, and more than
twenty years have passed.
He has proved the proverb of Commo-
| dore Vanderbilt that it is easier to earn
"A fortune than to keep it, His earn
| ings We're immense from the beginning,
and have succeeded twice over
that of any other American writ
er. Bronson Howard made oyer
| S-Uu,uuU III the IOydIlleS oll his
! plays, but Twain received more
than that for ''Innocents Abroad" His
income from this source was 100000
! during the first three years. Miss AL
colt made 100000 out of Little Men"
and Little Women" but Twains
"Gilded Age was worth $4,000 to his
rapidly growing fortune. Tom Saw
yer' was gold mine. Life Upon the
Mississippi and "A Tramp Abroad"
had sales that We're marvellous.
ONCE A FULL MILLIONAIRE
The hay he made while the sun shone
amounted to half a million. and good
| investments made him as much more.
The financial sun began to set in 1894
although "Pudd nhead WilBn" ana
other short sketches went to Erove ,iat
he had vein other than the one he tad
worked SO essfully-somethinG to
make people laugh and then think. 1t
was then that he began to handle ac-
lively his large means. The prospects
of the publishing firm of Webster & GO.
seemed glittering, and he put mis- capital
into it. He was then so years old and
was preparing to settle in London and
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

treaty. by which the two governments
certain limitations, "all questions in diff
ference between them which they may
fail to adjust by diplomatic negotiations >
follows almost the precise words of ,ne
resolution of congress.
None but the most cogent reasons could
justify the rejection of a treaty thus ne
gotiated in direct response to our own
invitation.
WHAT THE TREATY IS.
The treaty provides different methods
for the various cases arising.
Pecunlary claims are to be submitted
TO a tribunal consisting of "jurists of re-
pute," three or five in number, each gov
ernment naming one member of the court
If it consists of three persons, or two
members, If 1t consists of fve. The re-
naming member is to be selected by those
first named, or, If they cannot agree, by
the joint action of the Supreme court OF
the United States and the judicial COM
mittee of the British Privy Council. Final
ly. and only in the event of these bodies
being unable to unite in selection, the
third or NTH member is to be named by
the king of Sweden and Norway.
Other matters of difference not involv-
ing territorial claims, are also to be sub
mitted to the tribunal of five. constituted
as above but whenever 1t is found that
the determination of any dispute neces-
sarily involves rights of either party as
distinguished from the private rights
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

Stockholm, Jan. 12.-The superb for
tune of the Nobel family-the greatest
fortune in all Sweden, and one of the
greatest in all Europe, If not in the
world-will go to the advancement of
science and the elevation of the human
race More than 800, 900, 900 francs-$6O, :
600, 900 in American coin--has been be-
queathed by its late possessor, Alfred
Noble, to be used as a perpetual fund,
the interest of which will serve as O.
stimulus to inventive genius, a reward
for discovery in science and as an emo.
lument for those who excel in aesthetic
and literary arts. Never in the history
of mankind has such thing as this
been known. No king has ever been
such royal donor; no government has
ever held out such inducements to the
cultivation of all those fields from which
spring the efficient and permanent fore
es that go to make up human progress.
Alfred Nobel, by his grand bequest, has
earned a place in history. His good
work will live, in fact, and his memory
to come. The wealth which his genius
enabled him to win from the world he
has given back to the, world at large;
not to his own country, but all coun-
tries; not to his own people, but to all
peoples. That is why Alfred Nobel is
more honored in Sweden today than is
Sweden's king, kind and good though
he be. The great manufacturers char
acter was in every way entirely worthy
of the name he bore.
Alfred Nobel, the last of the four No
bel brothers, the petroleum kings of Eu-
in1 HrS
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

Stockholm; those for literature by the
Swedish Academy, and those for the
promotion of peace by a committee of
hVe persons to be appointed by the
Norwegian storthing 1.-The Legislative
body, representing the sovereign people
of NorWayl. 1t is my earnest desire
that in the distribution of the prizes
the nationality of the prize winner shall
not be considered. The one most worthy
shall be awarded the prize, whether he
be Scandinavian or otherwise" Some
months of investigation will be required
before the precise amount of Mr.. No
bells fortune can be learned. But there
is no doubt that the total to be used in
the ways described will exceed that of
the sum mentioned above.
BY this will the great Swede dWarfs
all the henefactors who have pre-
ceded him. The munificence of his be-
quests to humanity make the philan-
thropistS of all times and all coun-
tries insignificant by contrast. Com
pared with what he does for his race
the giVings of the philanthropists of
Europe and America become mere bag
atelles in the miser's grudging, half
open hand. Founders of big hospitals
creators of universities, builders of
churches-all who have come before
him-are swept into oblivion by the
length and breath of his wonderful
legacy. Proportional to the Vastness of
his Gift is the wisdom with which it is
given. Mr.. Nobel has founded no uni
Versity; no nation or state or city
community is to be benefited by his
deed. The whole world will share in
Continued ON Page l0)
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

be a strong safeguard of peace between
the two great nations concerned in it, ana
as the glorious example is likely to be
mankind.
The initiation of the movement for es-
tablishng a permanent system of arbi-
tration of which this treaty between the
United States and Great Britain is the
first fruit, forms one of the most honora-
BILE pages in American hisory, The Ameri-
can people will certainly not fail to ap-
preciate the glory of leadership in this
great cause which is the cause of advance
ing civilization.
For these reasons the committee, being
convinced after careful study that the
treaty deserves all the concentrations
bestowed upon 1t by friends of peace ana
progress throughout the world, express
the confident hope that the senate of the
United States will soon give the treaty the
sanction of its approval.
Respectfully submitted, William T.,
Dodge, John w, Foster j. l}, Moore, Ly-
man j. Gage, Horace Davis, Henry Hitch
cock, c, G, Harrison, Charles +. Fenner,
Charles W. Elliot Simeon Il. Baldwin, ID.
NJ. Key, Nelson a. Miles, j. Randolph
| Tucker, Fleming Du Bignon, Carl Schurz,
/ William II. Taft, Gardiner G. Hubbard.
| Herbert Welsh j. II, Converse, George A.
| Pilsbury, Alex, r. Humphrey, l.. T. Cham
| berlain, George l.. Rives, William C.
| Gray, w. a, Fuller, Moorheld Storey, Ed
| ward Atkinson, Joseph Crosby, A. T. Nc
| Gill, Oscar II. Hundley,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

take life as his hard work deserved he
should. 1t was at the beginning II this
plan that he was forced to the realiza-
/ tion of absolute bankruptcy.
Mark Twain had pulled himself up by
/, his own bootstraps, and he started out
to rebuild his fortune. His name as a
fllterary man-not as a business man
was all he had left. He found 1t was
worth money, and he signed a contract
for a series of European letters for AN
American magazine at the unprece lent
ed rate of $1,000 per letter lie secured
! other contracts, and, had he been the
same as he was thirty years ago, there
was enough in sight to wipe out his OBJ
legations made by the publishing house
and put him on his feet. He was not
equal to the opportunities.
A few months ago he came back from
a trip to Africa. He is putting the cx-
periences he had into his book and
should he live long enough to complete
the story he hopes to pay the last cent
of his Indebtedness and leave something
for his family. The struggle is really
one of most fearful contemplation with
every indication that the poor man will
not be able to realize his last faint hope.
1t is possible at this time to see pro-
phecics in some of the assertions he
has made in other years. He wrote in
the midst of his prosperity that "the law
recognizes no mortgage on a mans
brains. Honor Is harder master tha IN
law. 1t cannot compromise for less
than hundred cents on a dollar, and
its debts never outlaw" He once said
that he learned this philosophy when
he was living out in Florida. little
town in Missouri. The home in which
he was born was a two-room log cabin
altogether too mean a house for so
great man to be born in" as his moth
er remarked during her last illness. His
father struck hard fast to honor. He
paid his debts at their face value.
There is alWays evidence that his life
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

on the big river left the most secure i'm
pressions on his mind. 1t was from this
period that he got the name under
which he Is known, even by his personal
and intimate friends. 1t is the cry used
to this day in the river navigation, and
means that the man at the line, taking
the depth of the water for the captain,
finds 1t Is twelve feet to the bottom.
Twain" stands for twelve and Mark"
Is an abbreviation for the long sentence
that would be necessary to say that the
mark" shows twelve feet. The man
at the line yelled Mark twain" and
Clemens at the pilot replied Mark
twain" He did not suspect at the time
that the expression would become his
torical rather than provincial.
The humorist always has given his
mother much of the credit for his sue
cesses. She was a superior and hand
some woman, much given to dreamy
speculation. She was the source of
some of his most admirable character
istics. 1t was also fortunate that his
early home was surrounded with natur-
al features which made good capital for
him in later years.
EARLY IMAGINATION FOSTERED.
There We're glens and cliffs and is
lands with caves fostering the imag
ination of any lad who was capable of
dreams of adventure. Almost every
rock and natural scene used in Tom
Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn" can
still be found. Tom Sawyers' island
Is still in the river just below Hannibal.
Clemens, as a boy, had the greatest
ambition to excel. Next to being at the
head of his class, he hoped to be a star
in a circus. He tells that he used to
give exhibitions of his Dfowess during
recess" He could walk farther on his
hands, jump higher and turn neater
somersauts than any other boy in
school. 1t was this romping, rowing
spirit that laid the foundation for his
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

ing conflict. 1t cannot fail, therefore, TO
arbitrator in certain contingencies, by
the king of Sweden and Norway, has been
criticised, but no more acceptable means
of selection has been suggested Leaving
the choice OF an umpire to lot, as has been
done in some of our treaties, Is open to far
graver objections. 1t has been our COM
mon practice in treaties of arbitration, to
provide for the appointment of certain
members of the tribunal by friendly Eu-
ropean governments. The San Juan dis
pute which was the subject of our last
boundary arbitration with Great Britain,
was submitted to the dicision of the EN-
peror of Germany as sole arbitrator But
a more conclusive answer than an appeal
to precedent, is found i'm the fact that this
treaty provides that all territorial claims,
and all disputes Involving principles Of
general importance affecting national
rights, are to be dealt with by a court
exclusively composed of American and
British judges, and that such controVer-
sizes cannot be decided against us unless
two ont of three of our own representa-
tives concur in thinking us in the wrong.
WHY THE TREATY SHOULD BE RAT
lFIED.
\ candid examination of the treaty Will
show that while fairly covering all sub
jects proper TO be submitted to judicial
decision, 1t has been drawn with unusual
caution and precision, so as to protect the
Just rights of each country. For claims
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30
CREATED JUST FOR FUN.

He looked like a boy created just for
fun and his perpetually tired, weary
gait and ludicrous speech made him
such joke that, had anyone venturcd
to pick one of the Clemens boys as a
coming great man, the choice would
have surely fallen upon Henry or Orion
anyone but Samuel.
Mark Twain has been honored with
memberships in most of the leading or
ders and societies of merit on the con-
tinent. He wore the ribbon of the Lee
gion of Honor, and when asked about
it did not draw himself up with pride,
but replied that he had the distinction.
Few escape it," he added, with his
customary drOllery And the readiness
of the bit of humor is but Characters
tic of the readiness with which he saw
the fun in everything. 1t was this read
mess that made him one of the best
takers that ever stood at a banquet
table.
There is now no more personally pop
ular writer in London. The reading
public here knows him as it knows a
household but there are not many who
realize the pluCky fight he is making,
with all the odds against him. He is
probably working harder now than ever
before. Sad it is the results do not look
promising
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

Mrs. Henry r, Abbey is to appear in
London as FloreEce Gearard, the name
under which she made her reputation in
England. She will act under the manage
ment of John Sleeper Clarke in Glen
Macdonough's play, THE Prodigal
Father
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

subsequent health, which could not be
undermined by hard work, but which is
failing under the stress of disappoint-
ment.
1t has been insisted that Twain's
shambling step and drawing method
of speech are affectation. The men who
remember him as boy claim that the
two peculiarities were distinguishing
traits in the boys young habits. He
was then thick set, with shaggy hair,
and n face SO full of freckles that there
was not room for one freckle more.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-30

whereof II is merely the international rep
resentative, then the dispute is to be re-
ferred to the tribunal provided for the ad-
judication Of territorial claims,
This tribunal Is to consist of three
American and three British judges named
by the president of the United States and
the queen of Great Britain respectively.
There is no umpire. The award of this
tribunal IS not TO be final unless agreed
upon by majority of not less than tive
to one of its members. But if there should
be less majority, the award may also
be final If both powers acquiesce. If either
protests against II as erroneous the award
will be of no validity. 1t Is further pro-
there shall be no recourse TO hostile meas
ures of any description until the media
tion of one or more friendly powers has
| been invited.
The treaty Is to remain in force for five
years and as much longer as the two gov
ernments desire-either being at liberty
| TO terminate II after Jan. IL, 1902 by mere
| ly giving notice. There will. therefore, be
| fun opportunity for revision II, after 9
! fair trial, experience shows defects in :hC
practical working of the scheme,
SUPPOSED OBJECTIONS TO THE
| TREATY.
The objections to the treaty which have
| come to the notice of this committee
| have received careful and respectful con
] sideration. We believe that they are almos