Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-23
TRIBUTE TO MARK TWAIN
GLASGOW PAPER SPEAKS FLAT
TERINGLY OF HUMORIST.
Purchase Of Burns Manuscript-Fic-
ton Reading on the Decline-Seek-
ing Designs for Memorial.
Special Cablegram to The Star.


public librarian relative to the decay in the
Scottish demand for fiction. 1t is even de-
clared that If the diminution should continue
one argument against free Libraries would
be Withdrawn. The curious point about the
report Is that fiction suffers the greatest
slump during the month of May. However
some of the students of Scottish statistics
profess to find satisfaction in the fact that
the proportion of solid and informing read
ing to the consumption of fiction is rising
And while this hot-weather discussion is
going on the Glasgow Herald pays the fol-
lowing interesting tribute to Mark Twain:
The American writer whose pen name
IS perhaps the most familiar to the Eng
disappearing people of both hemispheres
mas peSSed out other claims upon the
kindly feelings of America and Britain
than that of the accepted humorist. HUI
NOR Is a substance which does not read
lily submit itself to chemical analysis,
either cumulative or qualitive. The
literary gauger cannot 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 it back with sug-
gestive promptituGe and frank ac-
acknowledgement that the borrower can
see no fun In it, his words implying sur
prise 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..
Doo!ey who Is in a peculiar degree
handicapped by his resort to Chicago
irish dialect. and to numerous political
ana social references whose Loint is
blunted for the British reader. 1t would
be a dlsingenious compliment to say that
MARK Twain has escaped the common
lot of humorists. There are thousands
OF people who cannot enjoy profess
sedly funny book like The Inrocents
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 writer's by the multi
tude of British subjects who cannot stand
American humor." One cannot argue this
point. If one does not like American humor
one cannot acquire a taste for it. as if ii
were merely caviare or olives. We do not
propose to attempt the task of fixing Mark
IWains place among the literary men of
his country, of comparing him with Ar
temus Ward, or contrasting him with Bret
Harte. He has other claims upon the af-
lection of the Anglo-American world al
though 1t may be only through his voca-
tion as humorist that he has been able
to advance and establish them.
Champion Dispenser of Sunshine.
HE touched on one in a few words at
the close of the speech delivered to the
Pilgrims gathering. He could not forget
that there is a duty toward the living and
If 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 insist
emily and practiced with conspicuous sue
cess, often in circumstances which made
cheerfulness shining virtue. Mark
Twain is also a living example of what
cheerfulness can do for a man himself as
well as for those about him. He was smit-
hV fin nia1 6ioa CTR
which suggests a parallel with the ruin
that overlook, 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 al seventy-two, as the earlier
part of his speech showed, he preserves
the mirthfulness and high spirits of a
Schoolboy on holiday.
THE cabled message which describes him
as the champion dispenser of sunshine and
good cheer expresses an American view
which hundreds Of thousands Of Britons
will heartily indorse; and Mr.. Birrell did
not exaggerate the function Of a popular
writer when he claimed for Mark Twain
that he had been the true con soidator of
nations, because his humor dissipates and
disperses national prejudiCes. The key to
the affection, the hearty. honest, human
Affection Of which Mark Twain has had SO
many assurances, and which he values in
finitely above praise or fame, has always
been in his possession. 1t is the spirit of
hlHullIleSS anu human sympathy WHICH dnl-
mates all that he has written Humor Is
not a trick or even knack; 1t Is a mental
and spiritual attitude toward life and ones
fellows In which certain men are set by
nature. And the kindness. which Is the
first essential of the humorist who would
capture the affection of all classes of men
and women has been bestowed in a most
generous measure upon Mark Twain"
More Relics Of Burns.
Mr. w. H. Dunlop of Doonside, secretary
to the trustees Of the Burns monument
has purchased some very valuable Burns
manuscripts, which will shortly be added
to the collection of Burns relics and mss.
al the Cottage. Perhaps the most interest
ing Of the new manuscripts is one secured
at the recent sale of the library of the late
Mr. j. B. Murdoch Of Capelrig, Renfrew-
shire. 1t Is an original Telegraph Mss, in
the hand of the poet written on excise
paper. The manuscript takes the form
of a poetical epistle and Is written. ITO
Capt. Gordon. when asked why 1 was not
to be of the party with him and his
brother Kenmore, at Symes." After enumer-
ating various abilities or failngs which he
possesses in comparison with Symes, he
concludes:
That to my grief adds more,
In baking me the social hour,
With you and noble Kenmore
The preservative operations now in prog
ress at Ayr Aud Brig. made famous by
Burns, toward which Burns admirers all
over the world have recently been invited
to contribute, have brought to light the
fact that the old roadway Of the bridge has
been slightly lower than the existing road
way and one Of the old water spouts with
the gutter stone inside the wall has been
found in position and almost entire. The
two concrete walls above the south pier
are now being built. The south wall has
been cleared and the center spandel walls
are being erected. Part Of the grouting Of
the old walls at this point has been sue
cessfuly accomplished.
Wallace and Bruce Monument.
Discussing the Wallace and Bruce monu-
ment for Edinburgh at the Bannockburn
day celebration, Mr. John Wilson. who
made the principal address, appealed
to the Edinburgh people to form local
committee and approach the Edinburgh
town council in reference to the matter
Mr. Wilson explained at the Bannockburn
day celebration that Mr.. Hugh Reid of
Cornwall Terrace, London, bequeathed on
October 8, 1929, in trust to the lord provost
and town council Of Edinburgh a sum Of
which the principal and interest were to
accumulate for twenty-five years from the
date of the death of the testator's widow.
This lady died in 1853 and the bequest re-