Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-04-28

task ana In TWO years nc nau paiu w
his debts.
II was during this dark period thai
the veteran -humorist/ was reported
destitute ard dying in London. a
public appeal was sent out through
q 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 1t proved OF no
avail, and on November 6, 1904, she
died in that far on land.
About this time the humorist met
H. H. 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 4 COM
Portable income.
Although the future took on q
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" pure food organization.
and was elected president. But the
company went to the wall in 1907. and
with It the $32,500 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, tom 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 literary junk, unit 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 "Stormheld." With his two
daughters, Clara and Jean, he moved
there in 1908, and settled down to a
life of ease
But a series of fresh misfortunes
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 Ill 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
10 ~ LA oraaap+od
over a farm WHICH ~ n"T ~. po,nh
Ashcroft, on her wedding day, and
when ne ister A''a'neu W 10
OF ms uauentT' 49,. .,...,.o
able affair were aired in the press,
mucn 10 the "uN " W
an nulnotst, ,noo N. ..,,.oh
IN sne cary par ~ =, e. - pnSars d,ed
friend ana ae!lser' n, q. N Se.ssa % THIS T
suddenly at ms view tofA u uUnI hoi."S
great nnancier anu .ne 49, ~,
numorist nau Deen lnsspaia D ~ M
panions ior nunloei y yeais ..o.sos
had maze trlps 70 DeIlu"u 20, 'oe s,,ua.s
and wnen Rogers openeu nls ialiV "a.
IN virginia, IVAN was w u ~. ny
guests OF nonor' ing u. aN., "
sreaty aneo'eu ~
sudden death. -
Daughter O'es ouu UOo ,,;,
In the iatter part Oh lsVS, wan
MADE anotner UP u pesmuoa, a." ~
on his return MS reep.e appesra nT ~, az =.
tracted a great ueai u ae.en.ion' sen
the last crushing plow came tne uas
before Christmas wnen ms younses'
daughter Jean, was iounu ueau III III .ne
bath tub at MS heuulns nOue, ~ y
young woman nad peen Ilctim o.
antIonftC fta and had been Bel1eO Wllu