Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-04-28

that cunous Philosopher 'Pudd'nossd
wilson," made his bow.
But while the great humorist was
meeting with well.deserved success
from a literary standpoint. the imps
Of misfortune seemed TO dog his very
footsteps.
In 1884. he conceived the idea of
reaping the publishers IA well as the
authors profits from some of his
works Accordingly he organized
stock company known as c. l.. Web
ster a Co. IN which he was the
largest stockholder. to publish his
works. lie had accumulated consider.
able wealth and was rated as q mil
lionaire.
His financial ability. however. vas
none Of the best. and in 1894 his en-.
tire fortune was swept away by the
failure Of the publishing house. Mr..
Clemens was abroad at the time. and
although so years Of age. he started
out on a tour Of the globe. delivering
lectures and writing articles In order
to nay the debts of the defunct firm.
He had scarcely begun his great
task when fate. struck him another
hard blow. This was the death Of his
eldest and most accomplished daugh.
ter. Miss Olivia =. Clemens. who died
in August. 1876. at the age OF %. Bro.
ken in spirit, he continued his great
task and In two years he had paid OF
his debts
u vas during this dark period that
the veteran humorist was reported
destitute and dying in London. A
public appeal was sent out through
New York paper and $4,000 was
raised for him. But although pressed
for funds, he still retained his dig.
nifty and refused to accept the money.
Wife Passes Away.
As n in sympathy with her hus-
bands misfortuncs. his wife's health
began TO fail lie moved TO Florence.
Italy. in the hope that the mild climate
would restore her. but It proved Of no
avail. and on November 6. 1904. sho
died In that far OF land.
About this time the humorist met
II. II. Rogers. the Standard OIL mag.
nate. and the men became fast friends
Rogers gave his literary friend the aid
OF his financial experience. and Glenn.
ems was soon In possession OF a com.
Portable Income.
Although the future took on a
brighter aspect. his evil spirit was
only slumbering. and one day. without
asking the advice OF his shrewd com
panion. Twain" was lured into anoth-
er disastrous investment. He placed
! s32.5O0 in the Pleasure Company OF
America" a pure food organization.
and was elected president. But the
company went to the wall in 1907. and
with It the ss2.5OO disappeared
And nov misfortune selected an.
other weapon with which to attack the
white haired author. Heretofore his
books had escaped harsh criticisms
but In November. 1907. Tom Sawyer
and "Huckleberry Finn" his boy mas.
no ,ha n-ooL,,. p,,,,,. ,u.;a. -
~nns, ,or vo1nr ,,,nd.~ cnmn,rc,,a,
Joy of Detroit. Mich. declared his
work. a Double Barrelled Detective
Story" was literary Junk. unfit for a
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Tn achndron.s Thaa,ar- wh,.r
was founded hv .N,,rl, rw.,n" In Nou
York. and which represented one OF
his lifelong ambitions, was forced tC
close through lack Of funds.
Then the humorist and his daughter
Clara became involved In n lawsuit
over a farm which he had presented
to his former secretary, Mrs. Ralph
Ashcroft. on her wedding day, and
which he later attached on the advice
OF his daughter.
The facts regarding this disagree
able affair were aired In the press
much TO the humiliation OF the veter