New-York tribune., 1907-06-26
HONORING MARK TWAIN
GUEST OF THE PILGRIMS.
Mr.. BnrelPs Speech and the Reply
of 1Ir. Clemens.

London. June 25-Mark Twain was the guest
ta~iay of The Pilgrims at luncheon There were
only two toasts king Edward and the President
of the United States and 'Our Guest, Mark
Twain"
Augustine Birren. Chief Secretary for Ireland.
in proposing the latter toast, said that Samuel l.
Clemens was known to all good and women
In both hemispheres and to all boys and girls who
are good for anything as Mark Twain. The dead
authors. he said. were a mighty army. They
abounded on the shelves. but Mark Twain was the
finest specimen extant of the living author They
all loved him, and were there 10 tell him So He
was not going to say what the world thousand
years hence would think of Twain, but he was
speaking for the and women Of to-day and
their chidren-to say what Twain had been to
them.
He remembered in 1867 buying a copy Of THE
Jumping Frog" in the preface of which Marx
Twain was described as THE Wild Humorist Of
the Pacific Slope and 1.-THE Moralist OF the Main.
but the author had proved TO be an influence IN
dssipating national prejudice. and would leave the
world richer than he had found it
Mr. Clemens. replying. said that Secretary Birrel
had touched very lightly upon his position as a
moraIist. He glad to be recognized as such
because he had suffered since he had been in Eng
land. When he came here, he said, he saw q
placard announcing Mark Twain Arrives ana
The Ascot Cup Is Stolen and he had no doubt
that his character had suffered thereby. He was
quite sincere in his protest as he never got the
cup. because he never had chance TO get 1t.
In similar bantering mood he told story after
story. Becoming serious. he patheticany referred
to the loss of his daughter. Concluding. he said;
Il have received since arriving hundreds and hun
dreds letters from all conditions Of people In
England. There is compliment and praise them,
but, above all. there Is the note OF affection. ana
affection is the most precious reward nan can
desire, whether for character achievement
These letters make me feel that IN England as IN
America. am not stranger. not an alien. but at
home"
He then bowed his thanks. said 'I have to catch
a train for Oxford and withdrew. while the hosts
cheered with an enthusiasm unusual among Eng
iishmen.
Before the speeches a telegram of congratulation.
signed The Undergraduates of Oxford was read
as was another from the New York Pilgrims.
IN the centre OF the table plaster statue OF
Mark Twain IN pilgrims robe. holding a mann
moth pen and leading a jumping frog by string
The programme included poem by Owen Seaman,
editor OF Punch" II follows:
That serves you for deathless sign. on Mssissppfs
Rang plunmets line.
s where the countless rppes laugh above the blue Of
halcyon seas.
Long keep your course unbroken,
Buoyed upon a love thousand fathoms deep.
The presence Of Mr.. Birren and many other
members Of Parliament was particularly compli-
themselves from one Of the most important and
interesting debates OF the session.
Among the guests the Earl Of Granard. H
Rider Haggard. Anthony Hope Hawkins. Alfred
Sutro. Sir Gilbert Parker. T. p. O'Cpnnor, NJ. p.
the Master Of Elibank. Controller OF the Kings
cey NJ Depew. Sir Thomas Upton. II. Beerbohm
Tree, Colonel Sir Howard Vincent. Harry Brit
tain, Lord GIenesk. Colonel Millard Hunsiker. Ma
tor General William Henry Macknnon director
OF the auxiliary forces; Lieutenant General
Charles W. II. Douglas Lieutenant General c.
Nicholson. military member Of the army council;
Norman HapgOod. Louis y. Parker. Viscount
Morpeth. Sir Alfred Arnold. Owen Seaman. ]. w.
Comvns Carr STANLEY Boulter Robert p Porter
the Rev. Colin Campbell Commodore F. G..
Bourne. r. n; Henry Phpps, Sir Harry North
]. Morgan Richards. Sir George Newnes. Sir Rob
ert Harvey. Sir Roland Bennerhassett. the Hon.
s. w. Lawson. c. Arthur Pearson. the Hon.
Claude Hay. Sir George T. Goldie. H. II. Rogers.
Sir Douglas Straight, W. l. Grifiths, the Amert-
can Consul General at Liverpool; Hamar Green-
wood Archdeacon Sinclair Major General Henry
D. Hutchinson director Of staff duties: Professor
Charles Walsten, Consul General Robert j..
Wynne Sir Alfred Jones. T Fisher Unwin, Briga-
dier General Henry c. Cook (retired). J. Arthur
Baratt and r. Westacott. the American Vice
Consul here.
The committee in charge Of the luncheon was
obliged 20 refuse the applications OF nearly a
thousand persons Of prominence who were anxious
Il attend