The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-25
MARK TWAIN AT REST.
Simple Burial Service Is Held at
EImira. ". Y.

Elmira, n. Y. April 25-Under a
tent on the grassy slope of the Lang
don plot in Woodlawn cemetery. with
rain beating fiercely against the can
vas cover. little group of mourners
silently watched as the body of Samuel
Langhorne Clemens was lowered into
an evergreen lined grave beside the
bodies of his wife ana children
The Rev. Samuel E. Eastman, pastor
of Park church. and a close friend of
the late humorist. conducted a brief
and simple service and Mark Twain's
final pilgrimage was at an end. He
lies sleeping in grave piled high with
flowers, the tributes of friends from
far and near.
There were present at the grave only
members of the family party who
came from New York with the body,
a former gOverneSS of the Clemens
family, two of her friends. the sexton
and half a dozen newspaper men. Ser
vices had previously been held at the
residence of Gen. Charles j. Langdon.
where, 40 years ago, Mark Twain mar
ried the generals sister. In keeping
with Mr.. Clemens wish. the ceremony
was simple. There was no music. no
honorary pail bearers-just the brief
address and prayer by DIR. Eastman.
The body lay in state in the very
parlor where the marriage of 40 years
ago took place and some Of these who
attended the wedding were there to
look for the last time upon the face of
their friend. Neither the Rev. Thomas
K. Beecher nor the Rev. Joseph Twit-
chen. who performed the wedding GER
emony. was present however. Mr..
Beecher died several years go and Mr.
TWitchell was called to Hartford by
the serious illness of his wife. who died
Sunday morning.
Among the floral gifts was a beauti-
full wreath bearing this inscription:
From five hundred bows of Louis
Vile male high school in remem-
brance of Mr.: Clemens. who has
Frightened their lives with innocent
laughter and taught them SquareneSS
and grit and compassion to the weak"
The services at the house were pub
lie. but the attendance was not large.
Besides the funeral party that accom-
panied the body from Redding the lit
tie gathering included only a few rela-
tiVes and old friends.
Residents of Elmira cherished fond
memories of Mark Twain. With Mrs.
Clemens and the children he had spent
many happy summers at Quarry farm,
on east hill, overlooking the city the
home of Mrs. Susan L. Crane Mrs.
Clemens sister, who was one of those
who mourned- A path from the Crane
house winds through the wooded
grounds to the summer lodge. which
was Mark Twain's workshop. Here he
wrote "Roughing It" "A Tramp
Abroad and other works.
A short way down in the woods is
another rustic structure with barked
roof which the author built for his
GHllOIeH. mere may SIlll Eo seen many
of the undisturbed playthings of the
little ones.
1t was during the Quaker City expe-
dition in 1867, which Mark Twain has
jnm ortalized in 1.-The Innocents
Abroad that the humorist met Cen
eral Langdon, then a young man. the
son of Jarvis Langdon, distinguished |
and wealthy Elmiran. Langdon took !
kindly to young Clemens and the in
tinacy which grew out of the meeting
led to marriage of the author with |
Olivia L. Langdon.
Il saw her first" wrote Twain of his |
wife in his autobiography in the form |
of an ivory miniature in her brother |
Charles stateroom in the steamer |
City in the Bay of Smyrna in the sum-
mer of 1867, when she was in her 22d |
year.
81 saw her in the flesh for the first |
time in New York in the following |
December. She was slender and beau |
tiful and girlish and she was both girl |
and woman. She remained both girl !
and woman to the last of her life