New-York tribune., 1906-12-08
MARK TWAIN'S VIEWS.
He DiScOurSes ON Clothes and Conn.,
right at Capital.
From The Tribune R,,rean \


Washington, Dec. 7.-Mark Twain visited the
press gallery Of the House of Representatives this
AFTERNOON and delivered homily on the subject of
ciothes 10 the Washington correspondents. The
hulhor was dressed in a summer suit of white
nanneIs' and when surprise was expressed that he
should show such disdain for the December air. he
said: There is absolutely no comfortable and
deHghtful and pleasant costume but the human
SKIN That however, is impossible. So when you
are seventy-one years old you may at least be
pardoned for dressing you please
For instance. 1 like the colors of the costumes
that women wear. They lively and not so de-
pressing as the dark suits of men. At the opera
mouse IN the evening when I look around at the
men in their black evening clothes 1 disagree
ably impressed with the fact that they are no more
cheerful and no more pleasant TO look at than a
lot Of crows. Mans dress Of the present day is
absurdly awkward and ungracefuI. I in favor
of going back to the splendors in dress OF the Mid
die Ages. Those were the days when could
wear bright raiment that a pleasure to the
eye. The Chinaman comfortable and bright
looking clothes. but l not prepared TO say
would favor that kind of dress altogether, though
they certainly have an advantage in the kind of
shoes they wear.
And yet there has been a decided change in the
style of mans dress in recent years. Why. twenty
five years ago I remember when man was not
considered dressed unless he high hat, and
nOw-well. l know I wouldn't wear one Of them
myself"
INe auInOr also appeared DeIOre IHe CuIIuIllLltcS
OF Congress which have the Copyright bill under
consideration. and brought close with laughter
q day of argumentative strife over the terms OF
the Copyright bill. He spoke after a brief state
ment by the Rev. DR. Edward Everett Hale, chap
lain of the Senate. Mr.. Clemens commented on the
impossiblity of understanding the legal phraseolosy
of the Copyright BILL and said he allowed all credit
10 the trained legislators who wrestling
with 1t.
Il am particularly interested in the portion of
tIa ,{ab do no
tinued. "I like that extension from the present
limit Of the life of copyright from forty-two years
the life of the author, and fifty years thereafter.
think that ought to satisfy any reasonable author.
because 1t will take care Of his children-let the
grandchildren take care of themselves. 1t will
satisfy me- because II viii enable me TO take care
Of my daughters. After that don't care. have
long been out of the struggle. Independent OF it
and Indifferent TO 1t.
TT is not Objectionable to that all the trades
and industries Of the United States in the bill
and protected by it. I should like 10 have oyster
culture added and anything else that might need
protection I have no III feeling. I think it just
and righteous measure. and should like TO see It
passed"
Mr.. Clemens argued that there was really no
legitimate ground for making any Limitation the
life of a copyright. But" ne added, Il under
stand it have limit, because that IS required
sets aside that prior constitution We call the Deca-
logLe The Decalogue says you shall not take
that harsher word But the laws of England and
AmeriC. do take away the property of the author.
They all talk handsomely of the literature Of the
land; then they turn around 10 crush and wipe II
cut of existence
The expiration Of a copyright, ne explained. did
not inure to the benefit OF the public hut TO the
publisher, who lives forever and families in
aftuence ard enjoys from generation To generation
these ill-gotten gains
Mr.. Clemens added: MY copyrights produce to
a great deal money than I spend
However. il l did not have them l could take care
Of myself. I know half a dozen trades. and If
those ran out I would invent half dozen others
But for my daughters I hope Congress win ex-
tend to them the charity which they have failed
get from me"
You cannot name twenty persons in the whole
United States.' he declared. who in the last
hundred years have produced books which have
outved the copyright limit"
Richard R. Bowker, vice president and Robert
Underwood johnson. secretary, OF the American
Copyright League, advocated the bill did
Thomas Nelson Pa ye. the author; T. D. Miiet. the
artist and ". A Livingston. representing the print
publishers.
importation Of books by libraries II. c. Wellman,
librarian, of Springfield Mass, and w. p. Cutter,
librarian of Southampton. Mass, charged that by
an agreement between the American Publishers
Association and the American Booksellers Associa
ton price of books controlled in this coun-
try The present bill 1t charged. was in the
interest of that agreement