The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-11
Dan Beard in the June Review of Re


K TR. CLEMENS, in his own drawing
MI room, was not the same man that
' i one met at the club or in the Bo-
hemian society of New York. My personal
acquaintance with him dates back some
q years, and while 1 always found him
courteous, genial and entertaining in the
studio, at the club. and when I visited
him in his bedroom, it was not until
met him socially, surrounded by his own
family. that knew the domestic side of
| his character. AS a host, he was dignified,
courteous and prodigal in his hospitality,
| possessing all the admirable character
istics of the best type of the old-fashioned
southern gentleman.
This was very strongly emphasized at
the musicale, where David Bispham re-
cited and Ossip Gabrilowitsch, the cele-
brated young Russian pianist (now Mr..
| Clemens son-in-law), with Miss Clara
Clemens, contralto, made the entertain
ment a unique one for a rural district.
The affair was gotten up for the benefit
of the Mark Twain library. and the
committee could easily have sold the
| best seats at $25 a ticket. but Mr.. Glenn
ems would allow only such prices
charged as would place the tickets with
in reach of the most humble inhabitants
of Redding. Among the company on
that occasion were people who repre-
sented many millions of dollars, but
their money gave them no precedence
over their poorer neighbors. 1t seemed
to be fixed principle at Storm1eld
that all those to whom the hospitabie
doors were opened stood upon an equal
footing.
/ In a short speech introducing the en-
ltertainers Mr.. Clemens said: Mr..
IGabrilowitsch and Mr.. Bispham l know
you know; nothing more is necessary;
they couldn't be better known II they
had lust discovered the north pole. My
daughter is not so we'll known, but she
is much better looking
| Probably the most startling and pic
turesoue incident during Mr.. Clemens
short time at Redding was when the two
misguided young men from New York
burglarized the house on the hill. This
came very near being a tragic affair,
and our sheriff carries two bullet wounds
to remember it by. The following morn
| ing neighbor Lounsburys stable yard
looked like field hospital in time of war.
The village doctor was busy binding up
the battered head of one of the burglars
and caring for the bullet wounds in the
| leg and thumb of the doughty sheriff. By
great good fortune l happened to be In
the little town clerks office when Mark
Twain himself entered 1t was a small.
narrow room on the west side of the lit
tie one-story building. A safe stood at
the north end, near plain deal table at
which the officials sat.
At the south end of the room there
was, on this occasion, small table, at
which the two prisoners. with the gives
upon their wrists, sat waiting their
fate. One of them had his head swathed
In bandages and the back of his coat
stiff with his own gore. The other, with
an insolent smile. was smoking cigar
ette Some kind neighbor had supplied
them with sandwiches and coffee The
sheriff was limping around. with one
hand done up in bandages, and, as he
said, "a bootful of blood, begob." The
officials were in the clothes they wore
at their teamwork, and the doors were
crowded with rustics. In strong con-
trast with the simple surroundings was
the fashionably dressed Miss Clara
clemens and her feminine companions.
When Mark Twain entered, arrayed In
hi. uhtte flannel suit he STONED at the
table occupied by the two ''yeggmen.'
This was before any of the newspaper
men had arrived, and they missed most
characteristic and interesting heart to
heart talk with live burglar. Said the
white philosopher: $50 you're the two
4 young men who called ct my house last
'aight and forgot to put your names II