The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-09
MARK TWAIN,S LATEST.
Speech of Americas Humorist at the
English Authors Club.
New York Journal

(New York Journal.
Not since the memorable tour of the
world by General Grant has any Ameri-
/ can citizen had such a triumphant well
come abroad as Mark Twain Samuel
L.. Clemens). Americas greatest living
humorist. He has been greeted in
France. Switzerland. Germany and
England almost like a crowned head.
Public and private receptions and BAN
quets have been given him wherever he
has gone.
While in Vienna a few weeks ago the
and honored him with a private inter-
view. Mr.. Clemens laboriously wrote
out a solemn speech in German and
carefully committed it to memory. But
ne became so embarrassed upon enter
Ing the study of the emperor that he
entirely forgot IL. His majesty waited
few moments for his visitor to speak.
and then was highly amused when Mr.
Clemens broke into good Connecticut
English and told the emperor the story
of his forgotten speech.
Two weeks ago the Authors club in
London welcomed Mark Twain's arrival
in England by a banquet. Sir Walter
Besant, in proposing the health of Mark
Twain, made witty speech. and in re-
ply TO the toast Mr.. Clemens said:
1t does not embarrass me TO hear nv
books praised so much. 1t only pleases
and delights me. Naughter;)
l have not gone beyond the age wnen
embarrassment is possible, but | have
reached the age where 1 know how to
conceal it. (Cheers)
1t is such satisfaction to me to hear
Sir Walter Besant. who is much more
capable than l to judge of my work. de-
liver Il judgment which is such con-
tentment to my spirit: Qaushter)
Well, l have thought we'll of the books
myself. but / think more of them now.
daughter and cheers.)
1t charms me also to hear Sir Spencer
Walpole deliver a similar judgment, and
l shall treasure his remarks also. l
shall not discount these praises in anv
possible way. When | report them to
my family they shall lose nothing
loud laughter.)
There are, however, certain heredities
which come down to us which our writ
ings at the present day may be traced
letters when | was a boy. L absorbed
them, gathered in their grace. wit and
humOr and put them away to be used
by and by. One does that so uncOn-
sciously with things one really likes
l am reminded now of what use those
letters have been to me.
They must not claim credit in Amer
lea for what was really written in an
other form long ago. They must only
claim that only trimmed this, That ana
ehe other and so changed their appearance
so as to make them seem original You
now see what modeSty L have in stock.
But il has taken long practice TO get II
there. Oaughter)
But 1 must not stand here talking. L
merely meant to get up and give NV
thanks for the pleasant things that pre-
ceding speakers have said of me.
1 wish also to extend my thanks to the
Authors club for constituting me a
member, at a reasonable price per year,
and for giving me the benefit of your
legal adviser.
/ believe you keep a lawyer: have
always kept a lawyer, too daughter,
though 1 have never made anything out
1t is service TO an author to have a
LAWYER There is something so disagree
able in having a personal contact with
publisher. loud laughter
So il is better to work through law
yer-and lose your case. understand
that the publishers have been meeting
together also, like us. l don't know what
for but possibly they are deVisinS new
and mysterious ways for remuneratlng
authors cob, OH and laughter
1 only wish now to thank you for
electing- me member OF TINS cIuoIt
you again for the pleasant things you
have said of me.
Last February, when Rudyard Kipling
was ill in America, the sympathy wnlcn
was poured out to him was genuine ana
sincere (cheers), and believe that Whlcn
cost Kiplins so much will bring England
and America closer together. CRenewed
/ have been proud and pleased to see
this growing affection and respect De,
tween the two countries nope IL VIII
continue to grow. and, please Gou' IL VIII
continue to grow: CCheerS-)
| trust we authors will leave to pos
terity. if we have nothing else to leave,
a friendship between England and Amer
ica that will count for much CheerS.)
I will not confess that l have been en-
gagged for the past eight days in COM
bling a pun. Uaughter)
/ have brought it here to lay at your
feet. do not ask your indulgence IN
presenting it, but for your applause. CUP
roarious lauShter)
Here it is: -, 49,.
Joined together in Kipling, may they not
De severed in Twain" daughter and
.heerS.)