The San Francisco call., 1910-07-10
NOBET BARRS VIEW or MARK TWAIN

use or the IeWeSL -numOer or words.
His day was usually from IL until q
or 4:30 o'clock. and he rarely wrote
more than from 1,50O to 1.S0O words
in that time. He wrote on note paper,
tearing off sheet after sheet as he an-
ished them. He worked in an atmos-
phere thick with tobacco smoke, most
trying to the lungs of one coming IN
upon him out of the fresh air. For
years he never ate midday meal. TAX
ing nothing between breakfast and
o'clock dinner.
His 4.S0 limit was purely theoret-
ical. and, if undisturbed. he was apt
to work right on; once or twice In
Florence he did Is hours at a stretch,
having been forgotten, and when some
one at last remembered him Mark was
amazed 10 find how time had slipped
away On these days when he was
mislaid tremendous amount of writ
ing was accomplished.
Mark Twain threw away more manu-
script than the average man has ever
written: pigeonholing some OF 1t on
the chance that it might seem more
workable another time; tearing up what
appeared hopeless. In writing Tom
Sawyer he came to q deadwall at the
five hundredth note paper page. and
could proceed no further. Luckily he
chose the pigeonhole rather than the
waste basket, and when, some years
later, he read again the last few pages,
the story ran right of the nib OF his
pen without further obstruction
A successful writer is a man to be
envied. He may live where he pleases
and it costs him nothing to remove his
factory for his raw material is under
his hat; no government can tax IT.:
his implement can be transported In
his vest pocket. Mark Twain went
everywhere, experienced many phases
of life and saw most OF the men OF his
time who were worth seeing. His often
expressed admiration for General Grant
led me to suspect that he esteemed
this silent man perhaps more than any
other with whom he became ac-
quainted-
Grants amazing memory was a con-
slant marvel to Mark Twain. who err
roneously stated that he himself had
no memory. For two hours every day
Grant used to dictate his memoirs to
a stenographer, and Twain, who was
often present. said he never hesitated
for moment to recall anything and
seldom referred to notes or other doc
uments, yet when afterward a histori-
cal expert went over the manuscript,
by order of General Grant, to verify
the details preparatory to publication.
this expert found practically nothing
to correct. General Grant told Twain,
when the latter spoke OF his wonderful
memory, that he had always been well
served by it. In the - days during
which the battles OF the Wilderness
were fought Grant had not time to
take notes. yet after the fight he wrote
his report to the government from
memory, and no inaccuracy was detect
ed in ii.
TwaiRs first and second meetings
with Grant were erninently character
istic OF the two men. At time when
Mark Twain was unknown east OF the
Rocky mountains and when Grant was
4,r aEr IL
then in Washington. happened to meet
Senator "BiIP' Stewart, who was on
his way to the White House.
Wouldn't you like to come in and
see President Grant? asked the SEN
ator from Nevada.
Yes" said Twain, who thought there
was probably a reception In progress.
and that he would be privileged to
stand in some remote corner and ad-
mire the great general from a distance.
As a matter OF fact Stewart was ex-
ercising his senatorial rights. and on
entering the White House Twain was
somewhat confused to find that they
had come upon the president entirely
alone, humbly clad in a very ordinary
everyday suit, the coat of which was a
thin duster OF black alpaca He was
seated at his desk and looked up as
the two men entered. his impassIve
face bearing no expression either OF
welcome or the reverse.
Mr.. President" said Stewart airi1y,
with wave OF the hand, allow me to
introduce to you Mr.. Samuel Clemens
of Nevada"
General Grant rose slowly, his eyes
fixed on the newcomer, whose name he
now heard for the first time. His face
was as inscrutable as that OF a bronze
statue. He extended his hand DELHI
erately. took the proffered hand 81 his
visitor, held 1T for a moment, released
IT and sat solemnly down again with
out saying word. The young man
felt abashed and knew he was coIoring
up to the roots OF his hair. There
were a few moments OF painful, un-
broken silence. then Clemens suddenly
said:
Mr.. President. feel embarrassed;
do your
For the first time during the inter
view a glimmer OF light came into the
eyes Of General Grant. but whether
he intended TO say anything Mark
never knew. He bolted, leaving presi-
dent and senator alone together.
CARE YOU EMBARRAssEDes
Years after came the second meet
ing. Mark Twain was IN Chicago. and
the G. A r. was giving a reception
to General Grant after his return from
the tour around the world. The streets
were packed. the hotels were packed
In word, Chicago was packed with
human beings. Twain was in one OF
the leading hotels. anxious to find a
spot where he might breathe. He
worked his way along the crowded cor
ridor as well as he could and at last
got into large room that was prac-
tfcally vacant, the guards who stood
at the door recognizing him and al
lowing him to pass through. There
was flag draped balcony over the
seeming street to which the room gave
access, and Mark naturally thought
this would be good, quiet spot from
which to view the procession ff no
one else came He stepped OUT and
was received with cheers so deafenfns
tnat ne stood for moment appalled,,
ike a man who had incautfously
brought an avalanche on himself but
realizing that, soon they would DIS
cover they were barking up the wrong
tree he said nothing about It, but took
one of the vacant chairs in a secluded
corner.
Soon after he saw Carter Harrison
come through the room with General
Grant on his arm, and following two