The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-18
MARK TWAIN CHATS.
Humorist INDUCES In a Few Inter
esting Remarks.


New York, Oct 1S.-s'When said that
IF once got ashore in the United States
I'd break my legs so that I could not
get away again. remarked Samuel L.
Clemens this morning, in his easy, pleas
ant drawl. I meant to register a protest
against having to pack up a satchel and
90 somewhere
The only thing that worries me-
said he, sis that / may be told to move
on. I've been around so much that I
have none of those littI> prejudices
against other countries. Neither is it
that I am not comfortable. am I'd
be comfortable in coal cellar if they
would only let me stay there. But be-
fore got accustomed to my surround
1ngs would be obliged to move some
where else. Still, I would be an ing@le
to the various countries whose hospital
1ty have enjoyed and under whose flags
I have lived if 1 did not appreciate the
kindness with which I was received
abroad
Mr.. Clemens said that he supposed he
would not be able to vote this fall but
that he was going to support somebody.
I've been a mugwump these many
years he said I am mugw Jump
now. / shall be a mugwunp until 1 die
and afterward- It is the only entirely
respectable party that ever existed
With the well-known and irresistible
twinkle in his eye, he added:
. It understand that am the only liv-
ing member of it. I will maintain its
responsibility to the end. Do you know
what the mugwump platform is2 It
mas one plank out OF hOWSoeVer many
candidates there may be before the pub
lie select the best man. Don't pay any
attention to principles. If had a vote
on November would inquire into the
character of Mckinley and of Bryan,
and vote for the one who had the sound
est morals. Everyone has some prin-
ciples, I suppose, but I'd rather support
a man with morals and without prin-
ciples than a man with principles and
without morals
Mr. Clemens was much amused by a
statement printed in a morning paper
that his drawl indicated that he belong
ed to the leisure class
Il was born into the leisure class, "
said he, but that is the most courteous
name ever heard it called by. Usually
It is called by a pretty rude name. I
have been charged with being lazy, but
from this time forth shall claim my
place in the ranks of the leisure class .
Mr.. Clemens said he would try to live
quietly this winter. "a certain amount
OF dining is fit and proper, he said, but
If you 90 too far somebody gets up and
says, oh, thunder. that man talks too
much I don't believe it has ever been
truly said of me-truly said-that talk
ed too much. and don't mean that it
shall be- I have three dinner appoint
ments, made some time since, and in
tend to be discreet about the rest"
MI Clemens would say nothing about
his literary plans.
Ny literary projects are yet unborn"
said he, and as yet there has been ap-
pointed neither a birthday nor chris
tening- 1 always refuse to discuss per-
sOnal affairs. Generally I make some
sort Of an answer to a question of that
kind, but what / say does not mean any
thing. You say I've been compared with
Scott in the payment of the debts of the
publishing houses in which I was inter-
ested. Nice, but purely personal"
Said a grape to his friend: IF they
eat US
They viii surely get appendicitis.
said the friend: You are wrong If
they bite US
They may possibly have appendicitis"