The National tribune., 1910-08-18


by the weIl-known newspaper man,
Henry Watterson, who, il seems, was
a cousin of Mr. Clemens, and who calls
his article An Intimate Memory" Mr..
Watterson is inclined to think that we
Americans have never really appreciat-
ed either Mark Twain, Bret Harte or
Irving, all of whom wrote of familiar
things with an elegance and originali-
ty, often with power, and yet we would
not think of CHASING them with many
of the French, German and English
writers whom we have been wont to
regard as ''immortals," and where they
really belong. OF these three Ameri-
can writer's, Mr.. WatterSon considers
Mark Twain as the strongest, broadest
and as striking deeper note, as vivid
as Bret Harte, but more sincere; as
simple and conscientious as Irving, but
more convincing, powerful and possess
ing a livelier fancy. Mr.. Watterson
tells the story of his gifted cousins
financial troubles and of the splendid
courage that he displayed in going to
work to receup his fortunes. He was
very fortunate in this, having the ad
vantage of the business Sagacity and
experience of his friend. II. H. Rogers,
and very shortly was quite on his feet
again. His beloved wife was exceed
ingly delicate. and Mr.. Clemens felt
that life in Italy would prolong her
days, so the first thing he did when
out of debt was to take a villa in Flor
ence and begin certain necessary re-
pairs before moving into it He and
Mrs. Clemens We're in London while
these were going on, and during this
time he wrote a letter to Mr.. Waiter
neously with the reception of this let
son, running over with fun and char
acteristic oddities. Almost simulta-
neously with the reception of this let
ter came telegram from Mr.. Clemens
with these pathetic words: Burn let
ter. Blot it from your memory Susie
Is dead" Susie was Mrs. Clemens.
The other article by the Interpret
err tells us. among other characters
tics of the famous humOrist, of Mark
Twain's loyalty to his friends. and of
how terribly wrought up and excited
he would get if any one of them was
criticized at all harshly. Once, when
his great friend, H. H. Rogers, was at
tackled by the newspapers, Mr.. Clemens
was nearly beside himself with indig-
nation. The Interpreter" says he
would pace up and down the room, his
cigar in his lean hand, making circles
in the air, his name of white hair
thrown back, while he freed his mind
in picturesque and emphatic language.
Altho he wrote reams in vindication of
his friend, he sensibly published not
word, knowing full well that Mr.. Ro-
gers would much prefer not TO have
him do so, but this letting off of steam
was apparently a relief to his mind.
1t seems he had the habit when any
thing disturbed him very much or he
felt bitterly on any subject of sitting
down at his desk and just letting him
self 60 He would deluge his copy
paper with wrath, then throw the
whole thing in the fire, and feel much
better, one Of the best and most sensi-
al fnr ,lyfa aar1f
or anger of which we have ever heard.
The Interpreter tells in this article
what everyone knows, that one of Mark
Twain's greatest enjoyments in life was
a good cigar. In the days of prosperity,
before his financial failure, he INDUCED
himself in the very best Of these, but
when his money was gone he bought
the cheapest he could find. He then
pretended Indifference to the quality of
his cigar, arguing that the cheap kind
were as good as any, and smoking them
with the same evident relish he had
formerly displayed when putting the
choicest Havana. He would offer the
dreadful stogies to his friends, insist
ing that they smell and criticize them
before lighting, and in this way sue
ceeded in deceiving many even of those
who knew him well. Tho he was pun
fishing himself in the keenest fashion
by this economy, he was determined
appear heroic
All sorts of opportunities come to
those who really want to help them
gelves. and all sorts of occupations
spring up out of the great unknown for
the bright, enterprising, keen-eyed
locker for job. A little while ago, in
one of the New York papers, such an
one. a young woman, told her story of
how she made very comfortable living
Ynr 1A ha6
She fitted herself to entertain invalids
and blind people by reading all the new
books and magazines and by seeing, as
often as she could afford to do so, the
best plays at the theaters. Finally she
obtained a position to read to blind
man, one who had been made so by a
terrible burning accident, which had
scarred his face in a very disfguring
manner. He didn't seem TO care very
much for the reading but she soon dis
covered that he was passionately fond
Of the theater, and had been a constant
attendant at the many playhouses of
The great Metropolis before his misfor-
tune. She began to tell him of the re-
cent plays she had seen, and, being a
good talker and gifted with dramatic
feeling, she did this so well that she
boon had her patron keenIy interested,
the whole expression of his face chang
Ing from one of detection to cheerful
ness. wen. tIlc uIlSIOt OF IL All was tndt
this man, who was rich, furnished her
with an orchestra chair seat for all the
good plays that were put on the New
York stage, besides paying her well for
the several visits she made him each
week to tell him about them. After
awhile his desire to hear the words of
these plays overcame his repugnace to
Showing himself in public and he at
tended the theater himself, much to
the delight of his wife and his doctor,
who had been trying in vain TO get him
TO leave the house. This did not inter-
fere with the young ladys position,
however, for the blind man still wanted
TO hear from her lips first a synopsis of
the play, description of its setting and
the many little details which added
greatly TO his enjoyment when he final
ly heard il himself In fact, she was
eyes for him, and after this preparation
he found that his intelligent apprecia-
ton was much increased. Other pa
irons appeared as time went on. and the
young lady soon found herself with a
profitable, most agreeable and particu-
larly gratifying occupation on her
hands, for one of the greatest pleasures
in life is TO make some sad heart happy.
and she had the daily evidence of the
magical effect of a little sunlight on a
heart shut away in the darkness of sor-
row and despair
1t requires real strength of character
for man to put on his well-iined coat
over various other articles of clothing
and sally forth to church with wife and
children on hot steamy Sunday morn
nd obi