The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08
adoption of feminine garb by men. Mr.

adoption of feminine garb by men, Mr.
Clemens replied:
yes, women always take our cloth
ing; let US take their They have
color and look pretty. Or, I would go
back to the middle ages for the gaudy
costumes Of that time-the court
dress. splendid color-before they had
buttons and laced W their clothes
and it required a little time to do it
Mr.. Clemens explained however.
that he wore heavy clothing beneath
his white exterior and that he was per-
fectly comfortable outside but not in
side, the Overh Gated capitol.
He talked a little of what he hoped
to accomplish in behalf of the authors
on the copyright law. A correspondent
who apparently spoke without think
ing of Mr.. Clemens former home sug-
gested that the famous author might be
able to show the members of the
committee before VIII ON he was to ap-
pear. what he wanted. even if they
were Missourians and had to be
shown"
Quickly the reply came:
Being from Missouri myself, I am
very certain that I could show them
very readily and with much satisfaction
to myself. the business of my cause
Mr. Clemens brought to a close with
laughter a day of argumentative strife
over the terms of the copyright bill,
now the subject of hearings before the
senate and house committees on pat
ents.
Mr.. Clemens followed a brief state
nent by Rev. Edward Everett Hale,
chaplain of the senate, and commented
on the impOssibiEty of understanding
the legal phraseolOgy OF the copyright
bill. He said he allowed all credit to
"the trained legislators" who were
wrestling with it.
Il am partly interested in the por-
ton of the measure which concerns my
trade" he continued. Il like that eX-
tension from the present limit of the
lie of copyright from a years to the
life of the author, and so years there
after I think that ought to satisfy any
reasonable author. because it will take
care of his children-let the grand
children take care of themselves. 1t
Will satisfy me, because it will enable
me to take care of my daughters. At
ter that I don't care. I have long been
out Of the struggle, independent of it,
and Indifferent to it,
It is not Objectionable to me-" he
continued, that all the trades and in
dustries of the United States are in the
bill and protected by it. I should like
thing else that might need protection. I
have no in-feeling. I think it a just and
righteous measure and should like to
see it passed.
The expirat ton of a copvright he ex-
plained, did not inure to the benefit Of
the public, but to the publisher, who
lives forever and rears families in af-
nuence to enjoy from generation to
those iU-gotten gains"
Mr.. Clemens added:
Ny copyrights produce for me a
great deal more money than 1 can
spend. However, if I did not have them
| could take care of myself. 1 know
half dozen trades, and if those ran
out 1 would invent a half dozen others. |
BUT for my daughters. I hope congress |
Will extend to them the charity which |
they have failed to get from me-
You can not name 20 persons in the |
whole United States" he declared, |
who in the past 100 years have pro-
duced books which have outlived the |
copyright limit"