The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08
Mark Twain Visited the House
of Representatives
Clad in Garments Which Match
ed His Hair.
He WAS ON BUSINESS.
Made a Plea for Extension of
the Copyright Law.
Was Given Informal Reception
in the Press Gallery.

Washington. Dec Samuel l.
Clemens. Mark Twain was at the
capitol yesterday He blew in on the
house side in the afternoon and took a
seat in the Speakers gallery. The
slang expression blew in" never seem
ed more appropriate than when he de-
scended tho steps of the gallery to the
front row and seated himself.
He came like a zephyr, suggestive OF
the seashore or the piazza Of a sum
mer hotel on a hot afternoon. From
head to foot he was clad in white He
wore a suit Of white flannel, and the
north end of his figure was topped off
by an immense snowy white head OF
hair, with which the house is familiar
Members of the house rubbed their
eyes and looked a second time to sat
fsfy themselves that it was not Cen
era1 GrOsvenor, Of Ohio, or John Wes-
ley Gaines. of Tennessee, re-appearing
as they did one hot summer day last
session. each clad in spotlesS white.
Grosvenor ard Gaines were in their
seats. and inquiry soon revealed the
Identity of the visitor in the gallery.
The day was the coolest day of the
winter, which is very young in Wash
ington- The first furry OF snow was
visible. and the ground was covered
with hoary frost. The appearance,
therefore of a man clad IN pure white
islators as badly as did the entrance of
a tabby cat in the chamber the pre-
vious day.
Mark Twain was here for a purpose.
It was not to show off his clothes, nor
any other vain or sentimental reason.
Neither was it the Peoples lobby. OF
which he is distinguished member
and its chosen work which brought
him. He was here to appear before
the committee having in charge the
lob 1dV0R9fa
amendment of that law so that the life
Of a copyright shall be extended from
the present twenty-eight years limit to
the life Of the author and fifty years
thereafter.
After calling on Speaker Cannon
and his visit to the speakers gallery
Mr. Clemens was given an informal
reception in the house press gallery,
where he RECALLED a half hundred or
more cOrresp Ondents who happened to
be present at the time with some OF
his original philosophy and humor.
what do you think of congress p
someone asked.
Il would like to say what l think Of
congress, but the man coming here
with a special interest and a favor to
ask would find it was not a good thing
to do was the reply.
He was asked why he was wearing
white clothing at this time of year
This is not suit of clothes 1 am
wearing. but uniform" he replied.
1T IS the uniform of the American
Association of Purity and Perfection.
I am president and treasurer of the as
ISOLATION. 1 am the only member and
the only man eligible to membership.
! was II years old last Saturday.
When a man gets that old he has
right to arrogate to himself a lot of
privileges which men younger than II
have no right to el joy. When men
are over that age they are privileged
TO dress in the current fashion that
conforms most to their comfort
4 have reached the age where dark
clothes have a depressing effect upon
me prefer bright clothes and col
ors"like the ladies wear at the opera
At the opera the men are not anv more
cheering than lot Of old crows If 1
can't find anyone else who wears col
orless clothes to cheer me up, / wear
them myself"
what do you think is the most
comfortable cOStume 20 another asked
There's no more delightfuI cos
tune than the human skin It is the
most satisfa Glory I ever saw. It was
worn in the Sandwich islands when
was there thirty years ago. If the
&atives wore any other adornment it
was pair of sDecks- But what are
clothes for in modern civilization?
They are to preserve decency and for
as much comfort as we can get out of
3hern, but man can't re much today
except color. Nothing is more absurd
or GDgraceful than the modern mans
clothing or night. and at night
he wears the most ridiculous of all
garb, the evening dress
Asked If he would then advise the