New-York tribune., 1900-10-28
A TALK BY MARK TWAIN
BE CALLS AMERICA THE GREAT UN-
GRAMMATICAL NATION-A GUEST
AT THE WONIANrS
PRESS CLUB
PRESS CLUB

The Vgomans Press Club Of New-York City and
all Of its women friends hocked to the chapter
room Of Carnegie Hall yesterday afternoon, drawn
thither by that irresistible magnet, Mark Twain
The members of the Committee on Journalism and
Literasure-AErs. Ida De Traford Bell, chairman
already priding themselves on presenting tho
banner day Of the year for the Wonan's Press
Club
guest was Mrs. Eliza Archard Connor who was
present for the first time since her tour OF the
world.
When Mark Twain arrived he must have far
a keen qualification at the warmth of his recep-
ton for the applause was prolonged and every
woman present arose to her feet and gave him
the Chautauqua salute.
Mrs. Fannie Humphreys Gafney preceded Mr.
Clemens with paper ''The Attitude and Re-
sponsibiIity Of Woman Toward Fixing the Stand
ard OF Light Literature" and 70 her he declared
he owed the inspiration Of his few remarks
7 sorry." he said, that Mrs. Gaffney has
condemned the books which cater TO the prevailing
public taste, for intending to contribute just
such literature. The mysterious influence OF Mrs
Gaffney's words the songs and the music have
called up three distinct pictures to my rrind-one
OF the nursery OF my children at home; another, a
picture Of misery "a jail where I was once-by
been found ouD. and the last. occurrence in a
certain house IN this city, some five six years
ago."
The first picture related to the precocity of his
OF six. and reducing the history Of a rendef
told By her nurse. to two three compact SEN
tenoes
'~Tbe reindeer she said. lis e very swift animal
One reindeer travelled four hundred miles in two
hours. This most extraordinary. When the
reindeer was done, he died"
Now, this" said Mr.. Clemens. expresses the
whole process OF thought in literature, the putting
Of this and that together and drawing
His second picture recalled visit to the Pretoria
JAN IA 1886 after the JamiEon raid. While there
Ar. Clemens became convinced that the greatest
things were accomplished by being shut out from
the world, where concentration of thought
prisoners by showing them this advantage, and
cited the instance Of Sir Walter Raleighs history
OF the world, which would never have been written
Pilgrims Progress" which he added. II could
have written myself If I'd been IN jail. told
them they ought TO pay board for the privilege of
staying there, but might as well have talked to
lot Of tombstones."
HIS third picture was drawn from house where.
he said, i first met that marvel Of marves Of
which there has been no precedent in human his
tory-Helen Keller. She who has been lifted out Of
and knows everything that I've been for nearly
ninety years trying to learn although / senti-
mentally blind morally deaf and sometimes dumb
not often That wonderful girl speaks nearly
perfect English grammar there is spoken-there
IS no such thing as perfect grammar. call this
the great ungranrnatical Nation nave been as
ISOLATED with several college professors since my
return. and heard say he don't Ike TO do it,
but he Will and another, i would have liked TO
have dore St But there I mustn't be too critical,
for nor always grammatical myself; but these
same professors viii write correctly but when they
morals with il. We all lack the splendid ad-
vantage OF being shut out, and II I'd been deaf.
thing"
In taking his leave Mr.. Clemens pleaded for his
upon me 10 conduct and direct successfully the
affairs Of this planet"