The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-06-24
THE GREAT SORROW
OF MARK twain
Loss OF His Wife a Crushing
Blow to the Great Amer
lean Humorist.
SIZE WAS OLIVIA LANGDoN
Author Met Her on the STEAMSHIP.
When Returning From a Trip Dur
ing Which He Gathered On
nocents Abroad Material.

Florence, Italy.-Half an hour before
the death of Mrs. Samuel Clemmens
wife of Mark Twain" the American
autho and lecturer, which occurred
here, she had conversed cheerfully with
her husband.
The best of consorts. the truest OF
friends. the kindest of critics"
That was the beautiful tribute to his
wife publicly paid by Mark Twain at a
birthday dinner given in his honor at
h Metropolitan club in New York.
With unmistakable depth of feeling
the great humorist added:
Her heart, my heart. our single
heart, you will ind full of love and
memory for you ali. My birthday will
be tomorrow, and hers. God bless her,
was Thursday
In proportion to the fame of her hus-
band. Mrs. Samuel Clemens was per-
haps heard less of than the wife of any
prominent American of today. Yet not
only had she Individuality and a very
great personal charm. but she was init
mately identified with every later phase
of the humorist's development and life.
He himself has said that she was his
constant inspiration.
Mrs. Clemens was very near death
last summer She was stricken with
rvo prostration while at York Har-
Dor, Me. There had been, little or no
Improvement in her condition, and the
doctors We're fearful that she might not
pail through. With Infinite tenderness
the humorist watched over her. inspir-
ing hope and cheer. He neglected all
outside engagements and set aside most
of his work for her sake.
She Was Olivia ,nndo,
Mrs. Clemens was Miss olivia L
Iangdoil, daughter of Jervis Langdon,
Of Ellnira, n. Y. When Mark Twain.
was returning on the Quaker City from
the tour of Europe, which supplied the
material for The 1nnocents Abroad"
he met Miss Langdon's brother.
Later Mr.. Clemens got a newspaper
assignment which brought him to the
Langdon household in Elmfra, and from
that time. dated the romance which did.
not end with the si%ngularly happy mar
fiage in 1870.
For some years Miss Langdon had
been confined to her bed with what
was apparently an incurable disease,
Apparently In direct answer to her
%fervent prayers, h was restored to
aealth. The cure was the sensation OF
Elnaira, and young Clemens was sent
out there to interview Miss angdo
on her recovery.
He obtained the Interview and an in
terest was aroused between the two
that quickly developed into love.
Miss Langdon's parents We're at first
strongly opposed to Clemens as a nus
band for her. and the newspaper mans
great timidity for some time stood In
The way of further progress to his suit.
He finally screwed up courage to
speak to Mr.. Langdon, and one morning
tinaid1y entered his future father-in-
laws private office.
In his embarrassment, Mark SIAM
5mered:
Mr.. Langdon-have you-noticed
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. daughter
sand-me?" -
No" shouted the Directing parent.
wheeling sharply SO as to get a full
view of his visitor.
Veil said the young man, as he
turned to the door, ready for instant
flight, .if you-keep-a-sharp-look-
out-you-WILLli"
Clemens so far overcame the objec-
5tions of Miss Lallgdon's parents to his
marriage that when the event tool
place his father-in-law presented him
TO n house in Buffalo and a third In
terest in the Buffalo Express.
The city never attracted him, how
ever, and before long he had sold out
his interest there and moved away.
The domestic life of the Clemenses
vas almost ~unclouded, except for the
it'GS vi ltAViig Aod5itCit OllSla LdliSuCH
Clemens, at a time when, she was win
ming fame and fortune by her music.
RS. Clemens was an ideal mother as
We'll as wife. Like her husband, but
even more than he, she was a home
lover. SShe never cared for society.
Helped Husband in Difficulties.
In the publishing enterprise which
Mark Twain entered nearly twenty
years ago and which ended so dis
Il StYot3cJy NT,c (t1at,1ayc aho6 in,-aeta1 -
large sum in cash, almost as much In
fact, as all the rest OF the liabilities
combined. The author gave her control
OF the copyrights on his books.
With her aid he paid 90 per CEN of
the liabilities remaining, and then the
derful lecture tour around the world
in order that every cent OF indebtedness
might be wiped out. Through that long
and arduous journey Mrs. Clemens sup
ported her husband with the symp-'
athletic help which he, then over so
years of age, SO much needed. The,
result was the complete liquidation Of
all debts against the defunct firm Of
Charles /. Webster 6 Co, though Mark
Twain was liable for only two-thirds Of
that amount. His achievement is with
out parallel among literary men since
the time of Sir Walter Scott.
Mark Twain's sister-tn-law, the
widow of Orion Clemens, once related
an Incident which pictures the humor-
lists unselish love for his wife.
ely best thoughts always come to
ane when 1 am in bed" he said.
Why don't you write them down?"
What, disturb LIVE? No, indeed.
She is worth all thoughts-and more
besides"
Last fall Mr.. Clemens was advised by
physicians to take Mrs. Clemens to
Italy for the winter, and. shortly after
The winter opened. they sailed for that
country. For a while she improved.
but recently her health has been de-
ciining.
Well! We!H