The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-26

Itlhb OF American women NJ Gbuuebmuh
at Jesus COllege-ExchAnGes COmpIt-
nlents With Irish Secretary BirreIl
Pathetic Memories OF the HumOrist.
Special Cd6e Despatch 10 THE SUN.
LONDON. June 2b.-Mark Twain arrived
tonight at Oxford, where he will receive
tomorrow the degree of Doctor Of Letters.
His first public appearance was made in
the dining room Of Jesus College, where
he was the guest Of Principal John Rhys.
The college was holding a gaudeamus. a
dinner to old graduates. Mr.. Clemens
appeared rather late at the dinner. and
Principal Rhys a~pologized for his lateness.
saying he had been detained by ladies at
his (Rhys's) house. being very susceptible
to the influence Of the fair sex.
In reply to a toast Mark Twain spoke Of
the influence Of American women. He pro-
tested that a London newspaper had said
he had spoken to the Queen at the garden
party at Windsor with his hat on. He
said he had approached the Queen as n
American would approach a lady. with his
hat in his hand. The Queen said, mir.
Clemens. put your hat on. Then added
the speaker. Il did what l suppose no Eng
lishman would nave done. l disobeyed a
roy al OolIllldbOf ~ blC SoCCh u6oAh ootAb
Mr.. Clemens, please put your hat on
and I never disobey a lady twice. 30 l put 1t
on"
He also complained that the London
papers described him as greeting the King
by putting his arm around his shoulder.
That was not true, he declared. Mr..
Clemens left Jesus College to go to bed
OF all the functions given by the Pill
grims' Club none has excelled in brilliancy
of company and speeches those at the lunch
con given to Mark Twain to-day at the
Savoy Hotel. On entering the banquet hall
ones attention was Immediately attracted
by excerpts from Mark tTwain's books,
while on the cover Of the menu card was
depicted Mark Twain himself, in Pilgrims
garb, holding In his left hand a quill
pen and in his right a cord, attached TO
which was the famous jumping frog Of
Calaveras. The background of the picture
showed the Mississippi River, with a
double funnelled p~addlewheeler ploughing
its waters.
Among the company were Augustine
Birrell. the Irish Secretary; Brg.-Gen.
Cook. U. s. A.; Chauncey NJ. Depew. the
Earl Of Granard. Sir Thomas Upton, An
thony Hope Hawkins. T. P. O'Connor.
Sir Gilbert Parker. Sir Charles Howard
Vincent, H. Rider Haggard and Consul-Gen-
eral Wynne. 1t a noticeable that this
function in honor Of a distinguished Ameri-
can was not attended by a single member Of
the American Embassy staff. ALI were in
attendance upon the Kings levee. although
a number Of Englishmen neglected the levee
In order TO tender homage TO Mark Twain.
This circumstance was much commented
upon, as II has been the practice Of the mem
bers Of the embassy, whenever possible,
to abstain from participation in any function
partaking OF an American character.
Mr.. Birrell in a witty speech said the
luncheon was to do honor to the finest
specimen extant Of the living author,
and humorously divided authors into two
the living and the dead. He re-
called memories Of his youth when he held
his hand in imagination to starving
Otway and came TO the aid Of Chatterton,
remarking that it vas easier to be kind to
q dead author than to endure some OF those
that were living. He paid an eloquent
tribute to Mark Twain. He said he admired
and loved him as a man who had consoli-
dated nations. removed national pre- judioes
and made the world better by his presence.
Mark Twain was in fine form n poked
q lot OF fun at Birrell. He twitted hin as
that the reading Of his mark
books had made him what he
Speaking Of reputation. he said he
it pretty hard hat or the day Of
his arrival in London the newspaper pla-
should read Mark Twain Arrives
The Ascot Cup Stolen
Suddenly, however, the speaker aban-
his humorous strain and in u voice
with emotion said: "A man does
not reach the border without knowing what
The serious side OF life is He ~reoounted
a pathetic manner the ties that bound
England and himself. telling Of the
sad death Of his daughter in midocean
as she was bout to join him seven years ago.
adding that though these personal sor-
,ows were great, the duty Of every one was
the living, and by cheerfulness Of
and speech. IL one could benefit
humanity in that way, it was his bounden
1uty to those around him to do so.
Mark Twain's note Of pathos affected the
company, and when he concluded by say
that in the hundreds Of letters he re-
from this side there was always a
tote Of affection, and that he felt when
standing under the British flag he was not
IN alien but at home. the'audienoe arose and
loud and long.
After the luncheon Mark Twain departed
or Oxford.