New-York tribune., 1902-08-22
MARK TWAIN ON "HUCK FINN"
SOME EMPHATIC OPINIONS ON MORAL AND
OTHER INFLUENCES IN THE
DENVER LIBRARY.

A few days ago it was reported that Mark
TWains book, ''Huckeberry Finn" had been
barred out Of the Denver Public Library On
learning this The Denver Post" telegraphed to
Mark Twain for an expression Of his opinion on
the subject. He sent the following letter. which
, is printed in The Post" which adds, however
that the efforts OF the people who trying
to have 'HuckIeberry Finn" discarded from the
library failed, and the book will be restored to
the shelves. This is the letter:
Your telegram reached me (per posD from
York Village (Which is a short brickbat throw
from my house, yesterday afternoon when IT
was thirty hours old And vet in my exper. .ence,
that was not only abnormally quick work for a
telegraph company TO do. but abnormally intelli-
gent work for that kind OF mummy TO be whlrl-
ing off out Of its alleged mind
Twenty-four hours earlier the Country Club
had notified that a stranger In Portsmouth
"a half hour from here) wished me to come 70
the club at 80 p. m, and call him up ana taih
upon a matter of business. l said: Let him
take the trolley and come over, If his business
is worth the time and the fare to him It was
doubtless yourself-and not in Portsmouth but in
Denver. I not thinking much about business
at the time, for the reason that consultation
of physicians was appointed for that hour q 80
at my house to consider if means might be de-
vised to my wife's life At the present
writing-Thursday afternoon-it is believed that
When the watch was relieved an hour ago
and I left the sick chamber to take my respite
I began to frame answers to your dispatch, but
it was only to entertain myself, for 1 aware
that am not privileged TO speak freely in this
matter funny as the occasion is and dearly as
I should like laugh at it; and when can't
speak freely I don't speak at all.
You see there are two or three pointers:
First-Huck Finn was turned out Of a New
England library seventeen years ago-ostensibly
on account of his morals: really to curry favor
with parsonage. There has been no other in
stance until now
Second-A few months ago published a ar
ticle which threw mud at that pnchbeck hero,
Funston, and his extraordinary morals.
Thirl-Huck's morals have stood the strain
in Denver and in every English, German and
French speaking community in the world-save
one-for seventeen years until now
Fourth-The strain breaks the connection now
Fifth-In Denver alone
Sixth-Funston commands there.
Seventh-And has dependents and influence.
When one puts these things together. the cat
that is in the meal is disclosed-and quite un-
mista kabIy.
TO curry favor with Funston. end whom God has
not dealt kindly with in the matter OF WISDOM, ~
Everybody in Denver knows this, even the
dead people in the cemeteries. It may be that
Funston has wit enough TO know that these good
idiots are adding another howling absurd ~ TO
his funny history: it may be that God has chari-
tably spared him that degree of penetra ton,
slight as II is In any case, he is-as usual-a
proper object of compassion, and the bowels or
my sympathy are moved toward him.
There's nobody for me to attack in this mat
ter even with soft and gentle ridicule-and
shouldn't think Of using grown up weapon
in this kind of a nursery. Above all l couldn't
venture to attack the cIergynen whom you men
ton for have their habits and live in the same
always reading immoral books on the sly, and
then selfishly trying to prevent other people
from having the same wicked good time.
No if Satan's morals and Funstons are pref
erabIe to Huck's let Hucks take back seat;
they can stand any ordinary competition, but
not combination like that. And I'm not going
to defend them, anyway Sincerely yours;
York Harbor, Aug ID 1902.