Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-07-22
PAYS TRIBUTE TO MARK TWAIN
Glasgow Paper Says He Takes Place
of sOmethinE More Than
Humorist.


GLASGOW, July 2O.-(special)-The
Glasgow Herald pays the following inter-
esting tribute to Mark Twain:
THE American writer whose pen name is
perhaps the most familiar to the English
speaking people Of both hemspheres has
pegged out other claims upon the kindly
feelings OF America and Britain than that
of the accepted humorist. Humor Is
substance which does not readily submit
itself to chemical analysis either quantita-
tive or qualitative. The literary gager can
not take its strength with any authoritative
accuracy. There are few experiences more
depressing than that of the reader, who
recommends a book which has vastly
entertained him to a friend and gets II
back with suggestive promptitude and
frank acknowledgment that the borrower
can see no fun IN this words implying
surprise that the lender should have OBJ
tanned any satisfaction from such dreary
stun. Hundreds of people must have had
this experience with the works of Mr..
Dooley. who is in a peculiar degree handi.
capped by his resort to Chicago-Irish dia-
lect, and to numerous political and social
references, whose point is blunted for the
British reader. 1t would be disingenious
| compliment to say that Mark Twain has
escaped the common lot Of humorlsts.
There are thousands Of people who can
not enjoy a professedly funny book like
The Inpocents Abroad though they may
revel in Tom Sawyer which is something
more than humorous. And Mark Twain is
of course subject to the Limitation which
is laid upon his compatriot writers by the
M. titure OF British subjects who cannot
stand American humor. One cannot argue
this point. II one does not like American
humor one cannot acquire a taste for II, as
of 1t were merely caviare or olives. We do
not propose to attempt the task of fixing
Mark Twain's place among the literary
men of his country, of comparing him with
Artemas Ward or contrasting him with
Bret Harte. He has other claims upon the
affection OF the Anglo-American world, al
though It may be only through his vocation
as a humorst that he has been able to ad-
vance and establish them.
''He touched on one in few words at the
close of the speech delivered TO the Pill
| grims gathering He could not forget that
there is a duty towards the living and II
one could be cheerful-cheerful in spirit
cheerful in speech and in hope-that Is
benefit to those around one.' That is the
doctrine which Stevenson preached in
sistently and practiced with conspicuous
success, often in circumstances which made
cheerfulness a shining virtue. Mark Twain
is also living example of what cheerful
ness can do for a man himself as we'll as
for those about him. He was smitten to
the ground by a financial disaster which
suggests a parallel with the ruin that over
took, but did not daunt the brave and
steadfast spirit of Scott. Mr.. Clemens
made touching reference to other losses,
cruel enough TO excuse a morose outlook on
life. But at 70 as the earlier part of his
speech showed he preserves the mirthful-
ness and high spirits of a schoolboy on
holiday The cabled message which des-
scribes him as the champion dispenser of
sunshine and good cheer expresses an
American view which hundreds of thous-
Z ands of Brltons will heartily endorse and
Mr. Blrrell did not exaggerate the function
of a popular writer when he claimed for
Mark Twain that he had been the true
consolidator of nations because his
humor dssipates and disperses national pre-
judices. The key to the affection, the
hearty, honest, human affection. OF which
Mark Twain has had so many assurances
and which he values infinitely above praise
or fame has always been in his possession.
1t is the spirit of kindliness and human
sympathy which animates all that he has
written. Humor is not a trick or even a
knack; 1t is a mental and spiritual attitude
towards life and ones fellows in which
certain men are set by nature And the
kindliness which is the first essential OF
the humorst who would capture the af-
lection of all classes of men and women
has been bestowed In a most generous
measures upon Mark Twain"