The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-01-31

Mark Twain Samuel L. C!emens)'
the greatest of living humorists, was
the guest of honor the other night at a
dinner at Delmonico's in New York
given by Colonel George Harvey III
honor of the humorists seventeen birth
day anniversary.
William Dean Howells was called up
on to offer the toast to Mr.. Clemens.
He said he would make it in the form
of a double barreled sonnet, and pro
posed the health of the Father Of the
American Joke, with the wish that he
might live as long as he liked. MT
HoweIls then read the following poem
A traveller from the old world just es-
capped
Our customs with his life, had found his
way
To a place uptown, where a colossus
shaped
Itself, sItyscraper high, against the day.
A vast smile, dawning from its mighty
lips,
Like sunshine on its visage seemed to
brood
One eye winked in perpetual eclipse;
In the other huge tear Of pity stood.
Wisdom in chunks about its temples
shOne
It's measureIess bulk grotesque exultant
rose,
And. while Titanic puissance clothed it on,
Patience with foreigners was in its pose.
So that, "NVhat art thou?" the emboldened
traveller spoke,
And it replied: Il am the American joke.
81 am the joke that laughs the proud to
scorn;
v,orL at Crtleltv. baniSh care:
I cheer the lonely, clipper the forlorn;
l bid the oppressor and hypocrite be-
ware.
/ tell the tale that makes men cry for JOY;
bring the laugh that has no hate in 1t;
In the heart of age l wake the undying
boy
My big stick blossoms with a thornless
The lame dance with delight in me; my
mirth
Reaches the deaf untrumpeted; the blind
NV point can see l jolly the whole earth,
But most I love to jolly my own kind.
Joke of a people great, gay, bold and free,
I type their master mood. Mark Twain
made me-
Humorist, philosopher and poet spoke
in turn in Mark Twain's speech on
How to Get to Be Seventy and Not
Mind It. in answer to the toast. He
began with a whimsical diary Of his
first day, recited in that inimitable
drawl quaint formulate for promoting a
reliable longevity, and then in voice
low, yet resonant and clear, and in
words which flowed as if to music far
away, he tod of life beyond the allot-
ted span. Ills auditors at first We're
convulsed with laughter; they were be-
guiled into delightful byways, and
when the last line was spoken they
were on the verge of tears.
II remember that first birthday well, "
said Mr.. Clemens. whenever l think
of it it is with Indignation. Every
thing was so crude, 50 unaesthetic.
Nothing was really ready. l was born,
you know, with a high and delicate
aesthetic taste. And then think of it
l had no hair, no teeth no clothes.
And I had to go to my first banquet
like that
And everybody came swarming in.
1t was the merest little hamlet in the
backwoods of Missouri where never
anything happened at all. All interest
with that peculiar provincial curiosity
to look me over and to see if l had
brought anything fresh in my particu-
lar line Why, l was the only thing
that had happened in the last three
months, and l came very near being
the only thing that happened there in
two whole years.
They gave their opinions. No one
had asked them, but they gave them
and they were all just green with pref
udice l stood it as long as-well, you
know, I was born courteous. l stood
it for about an hour; then the worm
turned. l was the worm. 1t was my
turn to turn, and 1 did turn. I knew
the strength of my position. l knew
that I was the only spotlessly pure
person in that camp, and just came
out and told them so.
ut was so true that they coulC
make no answer at all. They merely
blushed and went away. Well, tina
was my cradle song, and now l an
singing my swan song 1t is IA
stretch from that first birthday t.
this. the seventeen. Just think Of it!
THE. seventeen birthday! 1t is tn,
time of life when you arrive at a new
and awful dignity; when you ma!
throw aside the decent reserves whicl
have oppressed you for a generation
and stand unafrald and unabashed up
on your seven terraced summit an(
look down and teach-unrebuked Yol