The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-06-24
The GREAT SORROW
OF MARK TWAIN
Loss of His Wife a Crushing
Blow to the Great Amer
lean Humorist.
SHE WAS OLIVIA LANGDON
tuthor Met Her on the Stearnsh
When Returning From a Trip Dur
ing Which He Gathered "In-
nocents Abroad" Material.

Florence. Italy.-Half an hour befor,
the death of Mrs. Samue' Clemmens
wife of Mark Twain" the American
author and lecturer, which occurred
here, she had conversed chcerfuIly witt
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 MARS Twain at q
birthday dinner given in his honor at
the Metropolitan club in New York.
With unmistakable depth of feeling
| the great humorist added;
Her heart, my heart, our single
| heart. you viii ind full of love and
/ memory for you all My birthday viii
| be tomorrow. and hers. God bless her,
| WAS Thursday
! In proportion to the fame of her nus
| band. Mrs. Samuel Clemens was per
| haps heard less of than the Wife OF amy
| prominent American OF today. Yet not
| only had She individuality and very
great personal charm, but she was init
mately identified with every later phase
OF the humorist5 development and life
He himself has said THAT She was his
constant inspiration.
Mrs Clemens was very neal death
last summer. She was stricken with
| nervous proStration while ut York Hair
Dor, Me. There had been little or no
improvement in her condition, and the
doctors were fearful that she might NOT
pun through. With infinite tenderness
the humoriSt watched over her iuspir-
ing hope and cheer He neglected an
outside engagements and set aside most
OF his work for her sake.
She Was Olivia Langdor
Mrs. Clemens was Miss Olivia /.
Langdon, daughter of Jorvis Langdon
OF Elmira, n. Y. When Mark Twain
was returning on the Quaker City from
the tour of Europe, which supplied the
material for The Innocents Abroad
he met Miss Langdon's brother.
Later Mr.. Clemens got n newspaper
assignment which brought him to the
Langdon household in Elmira and from
that time dated the romance which did
not end with the singularly happy mar
liage 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, she was restored tic
health. The cure was the sensation OF
Elmira and young Clemens was sent
out there to interview Miss Langdor
on her recovery.
He obtained the interview ana an in
terest was aroused between the two
that quickly developed into love.
MISS Lansdon'S parents were at first
strongly opposed to Clemens as a hus-
band fer her, and the newspaper man's
great ti!nidity for some time stood in
the way OF further progress to his suit
He finally screwed up courage to
speak to Mr.. Langdon, ana one morning
tltnidly entered his future fatker-in-
laws private office.
In his embarrassment. Mark stan-
mered:
Mr., Langdon-have you~-noticod
ANYTHING etween--your daughter
and--Ine? 2"
No" shouted the Directing parent.
view of his visitor.
Well" said the young man, rs he
turned to the door, ready for instant
flight, IF you-keep sharp--loo!s-
out--you-WILL!"
Clemens so far overcame the obtec-
tons of Miss Langdon's parents to his
marriage that when the event took
place his father-in -law presented him
TO house in Buffalo ana 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
was almost unclouded, except for the
loss of their daughter, olivia LanEdon
Clemens, at time when she was WIN
ming fame and fortune by her music.
Mrs. Clemens was an ideal mother az
well as wife. Like her husband, but
even more than he, she was a home
lover. She 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
astrously Mrs. Clemens had invested n
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 so per cent of
the liabilities remaining, and then the
two started out together on that Won
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 l.. Webster & Co, though Mark
Twain was liable for only thirds of
that amount. His achievement is With
out parallel among literary men since
the time of Sir Walter Scott.
Mark Twain's slster-in-law, the
widow of Orion Clemens. once related
an incident which pictures the humor-
lists unseltish love for his wife.
My best thoughts always come to
me when l 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 while she improved
but recently her health has been de-
clining.
Russia and Japanese Arms.
Army and Navy Journals The cali
Der of the rifle used by the Japanese
frnnnS iS phk. TINT Of