Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-12-01
LOVING TRIBUTE TO
MEMORY OF
MARK TWAIN
tContInued from pnee 81

Continued from Page -
Lac IND confluence of three forks Of
salt river, a stream Of evil omen 70
candidates upon whose briny bosom
many of them sail into the guh OF
oblivion. 3,
II had read with ayidity every word
he ever wrote and counted him among
the worlds -benefactors; but luck or
fate or fortune so ordered things that
he never bcheld him in the flesh until
he was in the gorgeous sunset days Of
his long useful and glorious life.
.'The way | came to know Mark
Twain personally was when, three or
four years ago, he visited Washington
as a lobbyist. Let not the prudish
and squeemish shudder at the term,
for Mark Twain was not only a lobby
ist, but Il very prince Of lobbyists. He
did honor not only to the lobbyists,
but also to those With whom he lob
Dyed.
$50 it came to pass that on a
memorable day. Mark Twain. lobbyist.
with his worlds wide reputation as
his avant courier. descended upon the
capitol in gorgeous attire and swept
everything before him. Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed as was
this great Missourian, for in the dead
of winter he wore a suit of white flan-,
mel, white as h snow which filled the
air, while all the world wondered.
He created a profound sensation.
as he no doubt intended to do. a sen
sation which, so far as he was con-
cerned. was strictly utilitarian in char
.acter and cunningly planned for effect
upon hard-headed, matter-of-faet
solons.
The subject matter OF his lobbying
was Improvement in the copyright
laws, which were sadly in need of inn
provement. speaker Cannon grace
fully and graciously turned over one
Of his rooms to Mark Twain and i'm il
he held his count somewhat, it must
be confessed, to the Generalization Of
business in congress. for SO long as he
remained in the capital it was almost
remained in the capitol it was almost
the house, SO eager were members to
look into his face, shake his hand.
form his acquaintance and listen To his
conversation. All men and all women
and even little children in the street
with each other to do him honor.
THE great hearted Missourian on
joNed il 90 the limit. He talked with
perfect abandonment on a multitude
of subjects and all the While he lob
byed-lobbyed skilfully-lobbyed in
delightful manner-Iobbyed with side
FllllAtllE NtIlS-lODUAf Win Hllli-
Osophied rcmarks-lohbyed with
wealth of reminiscence-lobbyed with
touching argument for justice-and
accomplished the substance Of what
he sought rich h~enefaction to
American authors,
II think myself happy to have been
able to aid him in his seIf-imposed
task Of aiding the American writer's.
They have in their kindness done me
honor overmuch. The men to whom
gratitude is primarily and in
largest part due are the members of
the committee OF patents, headed on
the republican side by Mr.. Chairman
Currier Of New Hampshire and on the
democratic side by Hon. William sui
Of New York"
Rev. DR.. Henry Van Dyke read the
following original poem, entitled
Mark Twain:
know you well. dear Yorick Of the
west.
The very soul Of large and friendly
jest.
loved and Knocked the broad
grotesque of things,
In this new world where all the folks
are kings.
breezy humor cleared the air
with sport,
or shams that haunt the democratic
court.
For even where the sovereign people
rule
A human monarch needs a royal fool
native drawl lent flavor to your
wit,
arrows fingered. but they always
nit 4
Iomeric mirth round this circle ran
But left no wound upon the heart Of
man.
We knew YOU, kind in trouble. brave /,
In pain.
saw your honor kept without "a
stain,
read this lesson of our Vortex !.
years.
True wisdom with laughter and
with tears. |,