The searchlight., 1910-04-29


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 as well as the
authors profits from some Of his
works. Accordingly he organized a
stock company known as c. L. Web.
ster & Co.. in which he was the
largest stockholder. to publish his
works. He had accumulated consider.
able wealth and was rated as a mil.
lionaire.
His financial ability. however, was
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 GO years Of age, he started
out on tour Of the globe. delivering
lectures and writing articles In order
to pay 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 s. Clemens. who died
in August. 1896. at the age Of "a. Bro
ken In spirit. he continued his great
task and In two years he had paid of
his debts.
It was during this dark period that
the veteran humorist was reported
destitute and dying In London. A
public appeal was sent out through
a 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 II In sympathy with her hus.
bands misfortunes. his wife's health
began to fail. He 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. she
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
$32 500 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 1t the $32.5o0 disappeared.
And now misfortune selected an.
other weapon with which to attack the
white-haired author. Heretofore his
books had escaped harsh criticisms.
but in November. 1907, TON Sawyer"
and "Huckleberry Finn" his boy mas.
terpieces. were withheld from youths
by the Brooklyn Public libraries, as
unfit for young minds" Comptroller
Joy OF Detroit. Mich. declared his
work. "A Double Barrelled Detective
Story" was sliterary junk. unfit for a
public library" and Massachusetts,
public library refused to give shelf
room to his Ewes Diary" declaring
that the book was shocking"
Worn out by his lectures, after din.
ner speeches and misfortunes, Twain"
purchased a farm In Redding. Conn.
and erected a $4,000 villa, which he
called "Stormfield." With his two
daughters. Clara and Jean. he moved
there In 1908. and settled down to
life Of ease.
But series OF fresh misiortunes
was in store for him. He had vigor.
ously denounced the rule OF the late
King Leopold II. In the Kongo Free
State. and Just when the reform move
ment was at its height. his iii health
compelled him to abandon his work
The "Children's Theater." which
was founded by mark Twain" In New
York. and which represented one OF
his lifelong ambitions. was forced to
close through lack Of funds.
Then the humorist and his daughter
Clara became involved In 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-
an humorist.
In the early part OF 1909 his staunch
friend and adviser. II. II. Rogers. died
suddenly at his New York home. This
great financier and the white haired
humorist had been inseparable COM
panions for a number Of years. They
had made trips to Bermuda together.
and when Rogers opened his railroad
in Virginia. Twain" was one of tho
guests of honor. The author was
greatly affected by the financier's
sudden death.