The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-07
MARK TWAIN'S AUDIENCE.
His Impressions of the Austrian EN-.
perOr-SOrry to Leave Vienna

Letter in New York Commercial Advertiser.
Mark Twain, with Mrs. Clemens and
daughters. leave Vienna this afternoon for
Prague, en- route for London, after a twenty
months stay in the Danubian kaiserstadt.
He had originally intended to take up his
residence in Vienna for fully two years, in
order that his daughter Miss Clara Clemens,
whose musical talents are well known might
study under the famous Polish pianist. Les
under Fraulein Marianne Brandt's tuition
The Clemens family had also intended to
pass the summer at Reichenau, near Vienna,
a favorite and romantic resort at the foot
of the Semmer:ng attitudes, but Unexpected
ly they now find, to their great regret, that
they must cut short their stay.
A wish very dear to Mark Twain's heart
was TO be granted an interview with En-
peror Francis Joseph before leaving the
austrian metropolis; where he, he has made
to repeat my visit, and 1 only hope / may
stu be able to do so, he remarked only
yesterday, but l am n, an old man. you
Is to hope / may. After visiting Prague
we proceed to Nuremberg ard Cologne,
thence to Brussels and then on to Eng
land, where We anticipate staying four
months. During the summer shall visit
the Highlands. as well as stay at some
seaside resorts. returning to America early
native home. which 1 have not seen for
years"
Mr.. Addison Harris. the American min
disposal of his illustrious countryman for
his drive to the Hofburg and back The
hour appointed for the audience as 1
o'clock. and as the interview was to be
of private character, the Emperor re-
paired from the audience chamber, where
he had been granting audiences through
ment to which visitors are admitted on
occasions few and far between. To have
been received by the autocrat in his own
private sanctum was an honor Mark Twain
was wholly unprepared for and In discuss
ing the subject later on in the day with
his Vienna friends, as well as with a few
representatives Of the press, native and
foreign, he took occasion to observe: 81
had fully expected that as i was to be
admitted to the imperial presence on a
normal audience day 1 would have been
brought face to face with his Imperial
Majesty in the prescribed way with the
common run of audience-seeking mortals.
and that the interview wiuld have been
Of the shortest duration possible. How
great was my establishment TO be ushered
into the E Emp STUDY regard tne
mark of courtesy extended. not so much TO
my humble person as to the country 10
which / belong, and as a sign of imperial
favor toward the literary world OF the
United States OF America. The distinction
accorded my country through me Is akin
to the distinction Emperor William con-
ferred on my sick colleague. Rudyard Kip
ling a while since by his telegraphic mes
sage OF sympathy, springing, "a IL assured
ly does. from the self-same source of genu-
Inc courtesy shared in common to a high
degree by two sovereign allies in their
keen appreciation for literature and author
ship.
Being aware how precious was the EN-
perors time. Mark Twain had prepared, he
assured US. short. and, what he eonsid-
language. which he had committed TO men,
DRY with great pains, seeing how imperfect
was his acquaintance with the vernacular.
Thus armed he entered the imperial pres
ence. Great. however. was his consterna-
ton and modification to discover. on meet
ms the potentate face to face. that he was