The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-06-26
ALL LOVE OUR
TWAIN At HOME
AND ABROAD
Pilgrims Toast Edward, Roose-
welt and Author.
TWAIN HERE; CUP STOLEN.'
Most Noted Man In American World OF
Literature Says He Feels Not
Like M Allen.

ute which Mark Twain Samuel l.
Clemensl has received In England was
the Pilgrims dinner In his honor. The
hosts numbered 100, many of whose
names are known both sides Of the At
lantlc. Two notable speeches were
made, that of chief Secretary For Ire.
land Blrrell. introducing Mark Twain.
which was classic aud full OF I'm.
NOR. concluding with n tribute which
brought the company 10 It's feet with
prolonged cheering. aud Mark Twaln's
reply, which was largely humorous.
But. after talking Ia that strain for
some minutes. he paused aud said:
Il have chnfied aud chaffcd aud
chaffe,l. but n man does not reach the
verge Of scyenly-two years without
knowing life"
lie then proceeded In a serious and
somewhat pathetic strain which touch.
cd his auditors deeply and then bowed
his thanks.
Mr.. Twain began his speech by
thanking the London men warmly. In
the center OF the table was q plaster
statue Of Mark Twain In Pilgrims
robes. holding mammoth pen aud
leading n jumping frog by a string.
4 poem by the editor of Punch on
THE menu was IN part n follows:
pilot Of MANY Pilgrims since the shout.
Mark Twain.
That serV~s you or deaihless sign ON
Missis.ippis waterway.
Rams out over the piummst's line.
sam. who're tho countless rippl.s laugh
above the blue Of haicyon seas.
I,ons may you keep your course un-
broken.
Buoyed upon a love ten thousand fathoms
deep.
There were only two toasts. king
Edward aud the President Of the Unit
Ell states" and "our Guest. Mark
Twain
Mr.. BlrreIl. In proposing the latter
toast. said that Samuel l.. Clemens
was known 60 all goOd men aud wo-
mon Ia both hemlsphercs aud TO all
boys and girls who are good for any
thing NJ Mark Twain.
The dead authors. he said. were n
mighty army They abounded on the
shelves. but Marx Twain was the I'm.
est specimen extant of the living au.
thor. They all loved him and were
there 10 tell him 50 lie wasn't going
20 say what the world thousand years
hence would think Of Twain. but he
was speaking for the men and women
~ to-day aud their chihdrcn-to say
what Twain had been TO them.
lie remembered In 1871 buying q
copy Of The Jumping Frog" la the
preface Of which Twain was described
~ The Wild Humorlst 81 the Pacific
slope" aud THE Moali-t 81 the Main"
Hut the author had proved 10 be- an In
fuencc In dissipating national preju-
dice aud would leave the world richer
than he-had found H.
Mr. Clemens. replying. said that See
Rotary Birrcll had touched very lightly
upon his position ~ n moralizt He
was glad to D. recognlzed NJ such. Ia
cause be- had suffered since he had
been In England When be- came here.
he said. he saw n placard announcing
MARX Twain arrives" aud The Ascot
cup Il stolen" aud he had no doubt
that his character had suffered there
by. lie was quite sincere la his pro
test. as be- never got the cup because
he never had chance a. get H.
Then In n similar bantering mood he
told story after story until. becoming
more serious. he pathstically referred
10 the loss of his daughter. Confirm
ing. he said:
Il have received since arriving hun.
dreds aud hundreds of letters from all
conditions Of people In England. There
Il compliment and praise In them: but.
above all. there l. the note ~ affection.
aud affection Is the most precious re
ward n man can desire. whether for
character or achievement These let.
tiers make rue feel that IN England. as
In America. am not stranger. not an
allen. but at home"