Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-22

Marx Twain nlu SOI1letHlnS pICSSih6
to say to the editors of newspapers the
other day, so he sent the following
communication to Harper's Weekly, IL
Illustrated by himself. The editor not
only published it in the advertising
columns of his paper. but sent the bill
at regular rates to the writer. This is
the letter:
ITO the Editor:
"Sir,-I am approaching seventy: 1t
is in sight; it is only three years away.
Necessarily. / must go soon. 1t is Dut
matter of course wisdom. then, that l
should begin to set my worldly house
in order now, so that 1t may be done
calmly and with thoroughness, in place
of waiting until the last day, when, as
we have often seen, the attempt to set
both houses in order at the same time
has been marred by the necessity for
haste and by the confusion and
waste of time arising from the inabili-
ty of the notary and the ecclesiastfc to
work together tremendously. taking
turn about and giving each other
friendly assistance--not perhaps in
fielding, which could hardly be ex-
pected, but at least in the minor offices
1
consequence of which conflict of inter-
ests and absence of harmonious action
q draw has frequently resulted where
this i'll fortune could not have hap
pened if the houses had been set in Or
der one at a time and hurry avoided
by beginning in season, and giving to
each the amount of time fairly and
justly proper to it.
In setting my earthly house in order
I find 1t of moment that l should at
tend in person to one or two matters
which men in my position have long
had the habit of leaving wholly to
others, with consequences often
most regrettable. I wish to speak of
only one of these matters at this time:
Obituaries. OF necessity, an Obituary
is thing which cannot be SO jul
diciOusly edited by any hand as by that
! Of the subject of it. In such a work it
is not the Facts that are of chief i'm
portance. but the light which the
obituarist shall throw upon them. the
meanings which he shall dress them in,
the conclusions which he shall draw
from them, and the judgments which
he shall deliver upon them The Yer
diets. you understand that is the dan
ger-line.
In considering this matter. in view
of my approaching change. it has
seemed to me wise to take such meas
ures as may be feasible. to acquire, by
courtesy of the press. access to my
standing obituaries, with the privilege
If this is not asking too much-of
editing. not their Facts. but their Yer
diets. This. not for present profit, fur
Their than as concerns my family, but
as a favorable influence disable on the
Other Side, where there are some who
are not friendly to me.
with this explanation of my mo-
tives. l will now ask you of your cOur-
tesy to make an appeal for me to the
public press. 1t is my desire that such
journals and periodicals as have
obituaries of me lying in their pigeon-
holes, with a view to sudden use some
cay. will not wait longer, but will pub
lish them now. and kindly send me a
marked copy. My address is simply
New York city, have no other that is
permanent and not transient.
Il will correct them-not the Facts,
but the Notwithstanding out such
clauses as could have a deleterious in
fuence on the Other Side, and replac-
ing them with clauses of a more ju-
dicious character. ] should, OF course.
expect to pay double rates for both the
omissions and the substitutions: and I
should also expect to pay quadruple
rates for all obituaries which proved
to be rightly and wisely worded i'm the
originals. thus requiring no emenda-
tions at ALL
1t is my desire to leave these
Amended Obituaries neatly bound be-
hind me as perennial consolation and
entertainment to my family, and as an
heirloom which shall have a mournful
but definite commercial value for nv
remote posterity.
Il beg. sir. that you will insert this
Advertisement Ut-eOw, agate, inside). |
and send the bill to
Yours very respectfully,
MARK TWAIN.
r. S.-For the best Obituary-one |
suitable for me to read in public, and