The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-06-19
MARK TWAIN TRIE, TO BE MERRY
New York Herald Finds q Sad Tone in His
VOiCc,

| New York, June 17.-There is no doubt
| that Mark Twain is in dire straits much
| as ne denies it. The New York Herald
has started fund for him, giving itself
81, ,OoO Il prints the following from its
European edition under London date:
"Of course 1 am dying" And Mark
Twain smiled grimly.
"But 1 do not know that am doing
it any faster than anybody else. AS
for dying in poverty. had just as soon
die in poverty here in London as any
where. But it would be a little more
difficult, because have got quite num-
Der Of friends, any one of whom l be-
lieve would be good for months pro-
vision, and That would drag out the
agony a fairly long time"
I could not help thinking there was
somet thing forced in the careless tone.
Was it possible that the reverses OF for
tune of the author OF so many works
bubbling over with wit and humor and
philosophy and high spirits were as seri
Gus as had been recently stated? 1t IS
true that Mr.. Clemens denied the re-
port first published-namely, that he
was dying in state Of extreme poverty
and certainly he looked in fairly good
health when saw him couple Of days
ago in his house at Chelsea, and yet
there was a difference in his physiog
nomy.
1t was more lined and much timer
than when I saw MIN last. His hair is
as bushy as ever and is now almost
snowy white, and there was a species
Of hopeless resignation in his bearing
that was in painful contract to his one
time easy going carelessness: and in
spite OF his disclaimer, in spite Of his
assertion that he was perfectly well, !
was convinced that If his physical
health were Of the best, ne was, never
theless so disturbed BY mental worries
that the report of his failing condition
was practically well founded.
mo, I assure you," he added. II am
as we'll as ever was. You see, you
must not attach too much Importance
to my wife's remark that I was not in
a condition to receive visitors. That |
simply meant that 1 was in bed. Now |
most women think that if man does |
not get up before u o'clock there must |
be something wrong with him. and as I |
never do get UP before then. my wife |
thinks I am not in good health AS a |
matter Of fact, when you Were announc- |
ed I told her to have you shown up to |
my room. but you can never persuade |
a tidy woman TO show stranger into
an untidy bedroom, and so that did not |
work.
II said TO her, Show him up. Send
some cigars UP. I am comfortable
enough
Yes she said. but what about him?'
" On said. IF you want him to be
as comfortable as am make him a bed
in the other corner Of the room That
did not work either, 50 I thought the
best thing 20 do was to get up and come
to see you"
Chatting in this way I introduced as
islicately as possible the subject OF the
reports published recently in the Ameri-
IAN press, TO which he gave the answer
hat opens this interview.
AS matter OF fact. however. heard
from other sources that since the death
1f his daughter. some months ago, Mr.
Clemens has been trying 10 hide his
grief. trying to live down his bereave-
nent in complete Isolation. Until few
lays ago. in fact, very few people were
N the secret Of his whereabouts, and
1ad It not been that cousin OF his here
n London fell i'll Mark Twain's name
would not probably have been brought
ID in connection with any such state
lielt as that he was dying and in COM
,lete poverty. for. although his losses
With the Webster publishing firm have
been 81 serious as 70 enguf the whole
: his fortune he is. perhaps. the las;
nan in the whole world 10 le: any one
,now OF his financial difficulties 50 long
Is ne has strength 70 hold his pen or so
ony as his fertile brain can evolve
thoughts.
His cousin fell III. and, the nsmes be-
ag the same. the two men were con-
,