The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11
CAREER OF MARK TWAIN
A STORY OFTEN TOLD. hut ONE
THAT BEARS REPETITION WELL.
Work That Appeal Peculiarly
10 Roys and Men.
James =. Ford. in corller's weekly.

James L. Ford, fin Golfers Weekly.
! myself was the original discoverer OF
Mark Twain. at least so far as our school
was concerned. and the other day, as
sat talking TO The ruddy-faced and grizzled
man or sixty-ffve, my memory went back
Just one-third OF century, and saw my
self once more seated with my companions
around the big stove in the upper hall OF
the old schoolhouse rubbing with witch
hazel extract the shins and elbows that
had been bruised In the playground. and
reading aloud In turn from the Jumping
Frog"
We were too young then to understand a
great many things that some of US know
now. I knew that had no idea that the
author OF the little book of sketches that
Rad fallen into our hands was in the legiti
mate line OF succession to the leadership
of American humor-a line that may be
said to have begun with Lieutenant Derby
and ended with Bin Nye. / do not mean
TO say that Mark Twain was deposed from
the leadership. he simply rose to higher
things. and now. wisely enough, is devot-
ing his later years to books which. like
"Joan Of Arc and "Huckleberry Finn"
are far more likely to outlive the TWEEN
Abroad or 1.-The Gilded Age"
We were too young. We boarding school
youngsters. who gathered nightly about
the big stove to anoint our shins with
witch-hazel and our minds with pure
healthful and MIGRATING humor-to this
very day the peculiar smell of that ONT
ment never fails to recall TO my mind the
story OF the bad little boy who did not
anything about the history of American
humor or the technique OF the professional
humorist- But we had pretty clear ideas
as TO what was funny. and on the night
that / came 10 the upper hall with the
Jumping Frog" in my hand we had an
adjourned session after the teacher had
made his rounds, and, until far into the
night We sat listening 10 those wonderful
stories and muffling and choking down our
laughter for fear II would be heard two
floors below. That night we voted that the
new humorfst was pretty nearly as funny
as Dickens and considerably funnier than
Artemus Ward.
I have learned a great deal since then
about humorous literature. the way in
which IL Is prepared and the men who have
achieved fortunes and reputation in some
cases. delirium tremens and poverty in
others. by their skill in it's preparation, and
now, after lapse OF a third OF a century,
] see no reason why the verdict rendered
by half a dozen boys on that winters night
should be reversed.
A LIFE WITH A LESSON.
The story of the life OF Samuel L.
Clemens has been told and retold a thou
sand times. But 1t Is story which cannot
be told too often to the rising generation Of
America. nor is there any writer in the
land. no matter of what sex, age or prev
ious condition OF seriousness, who can fail
to profit by a close study Of q literary
career which had its beginning In our own
native soil. and whose constant upward
tendency from that day until the present
has scarcely a parallel in the craft of let
tiers OF to-day.
II is impossible TO discuss his work with
out comparing 1T in a way with that of his
contemporaries and taking into account the
rather peculiar literary age in which he has
lived and achieved his reputation. One of
the peculiarities of this age Is that IL has
produced very few writer's whose work has
improved and mellowed and ripened as the
years went by. The subject is not pleas
ant one for consideration, nor do 1 care to
mention by name the many who have en-
tered the field with book story of re-
markable briliancy and promise, and then
gone doddering slowly down the broad path
that leads TO weak babblings and after
ward complete silence. We have only to
mention the name OF any American writer
or the past quarter OF century and then
ask ourselves, whether 1t is his first or his
ory- That will tell the story, and / am
afraid that I'm nine cases out Of ten the
story Is not one Of sound healthful literary
growth
do not think that anyone will deny that
Mark Twain's name will De linked in our
literary history with that of his later and
more serious work-the finer fruit OF rip
ened thougn,, experience AMI traVel-rather
than with the first outcroppings. rich as
they were, CO that rative humor that was
so keen ant homely and racy of the soil.
But u few days ago, as i listened TO
his talk about his journey around the
world and thought OF the great and hon.
orable task for which that journey had
been undertaken, IT seemed to me that
the great humorist had not yet passed his
prime; and as he spoke vaguely and in
uncertain notes about the work which he
has laid out for his future years. the
idea impressed itself upon me that the
great book OF his lie is yet to be written
and that, should his life be spared. IL still
remains for him 10 give to the world the
work by which he will be remembered
throughout all time.
A DEBT OF HONOR PAID.
1t is scarcely necessary to speak of the
enormous debt OF honor that impelled Mr..
Clemens to undertake the most extended
lecture tour OF the age at time OF life
when most writer's are thinking only Of
rest from their labor II is pity, however.
that the complete story of that remark
. doic JJulHcl-OA tie StId4Sc anu QlSld0l
lands visited. of the enormous audiences
that assembled everywhere to see this rep
resentative American writer, Of the rapid
ity with which the debt was wiped out
cannot be told in full as a valuable les
son to the rising generation There Is one
fact in connection with IL. however, that
must have impressei itself upon those who
have either heard Mr. Clemens talk about
81 or read the printed interviews on the
day following his arrival, and THAI is his
keen sense o. the dignity Of humor.
wish that every actor. we'll as every
humorist, could be made TO study the way
In which this distinctive American, on his
return 10 his native land. rises to the dig
nifty OF the occasion and discusses the coun-
tries that he has visited and the remark
able personages whom he has met with a
seriousness that the subject demands.
Nothing Is easier for a comedian than to
''cIown" a part for the purpose of getting
a laugh" But there is only one way I'm
which comedian can win enduring popu-
larity and renown. and that is by knowing
when TO. resist the temptation 10 be funny.
IL is pitfably small achievement TO make
the unthinking laugh. The comedian can
do IL by falling down on the stage and
making a face. and the travelled numorist
can always prod outlaws out or fools OF a
certain class by calling the Queen OF
England Mrs. Guelph" and abiding TO the