The Washington times., 1910-04-22
A LIFE SPENT IN MAKING
OTHERS HAPPY.

How we chucIIed at the drolIery Of
Mark Twain when, a few years ago,
after his sudden death had been ehroni-
cled in the press dispatches, we learned
from the dear old fellow himself that
@the reports OF his demise had been
wildly exaggerated" We were filed
with Cladness when we discovered that
he had not been taken from the world
that loved him, world whose emotions
had been plessurabIy stirred so many.
many times by his quaint, " .lolesome
humor.
Today We cannot look forward to his
Characteristic and whimsical denial
Mark Twain Is dead 40 more viii he
charm Us with his dry witticisms Never
again viii he furnish a hUmoT-lOving
people opportunity 20 smile good ma
tuTedly at his odd and comical Observa-
tons His hand has ceased forever TO
pen those homely pictures o. f,in, OF
frOIic, OF comedy, and of PATH which
have delighted hundreds OF Thousands
for more than a quarter of d century.
He has lived his life He has COM
pleted his labOrs. As his life and his
labors were good. so his reward viii be
all that comes TO one for whom this
simple statement can be made
Mark Twain's life and personality
were Of the picturesque, romantic type
-+
from boyhood 20 old age he seemed TO
be the personifcation Of that devil-mav-
care, generous frank kindly spirit
which Is 50 likely to become the dOmi-
nant influence IN the life Of the intelH-
gent and artistic individual who Is a
victim OF the wanderlust
Mark Twain was broad OF mind.
charitable toward all people of all be.
hefs- deeply sympathetic with the Joys
and sOTTOws of fis fellows. and Won
derfUlly compassionate IN appreciation
of the frailties OF human nature.
Ready at all times TO 90 the length of
his own resources for any cause which
offered an honest appeal OF for any
pursuit which promised pleasure and
profit for himself and those about him.
his life reminds one Of the sentiment
expressed by one Of our modern poets.
TheodOsia Garrison. who thus describes
the ambition which spurs The American
in any undertaking whose outcome pre-
sents an even chance OF success or
failure.
IN a moment 20 end Il all
Die beEEaT or live q king
and pay the score
Be II less or more.
In the hour OF reckoning
And 10 die If die must.
Win heart unSwerved, and then,
Win face 70 the sod
Give thanks to God
That / lived Ike man with men
Ninety million people give testimony,
today. by their sorrow at his death.
that Mark Twain lived like a man with
men He was known as a humorist-
but l. more deserving of the title OF
humanist- Beneath the cloak of comedy
he often-in fact most Of the time dur
ing his later yesrs-caTried heavy bur
den Of sorrow- Loved ones were taken
from him at moments when he most
needed their cOmpani0Hship and help
Financial trouble weighed heavily upon
him after he began the winter Of life. but
he made Jest of what must have been
a crushing blow and went out into the
world with a smile and a merry quip
and rehabilitated his fortunes. at the
same time restoring 10 others money
they had lost in one of his business en-
terprises, even though the courts and
the public acquitted him OF even
moral responsibility for the disaster.
We could not all he humorists. and
1t would not be good for the world for
all Of Us TO attempt TO emulate Mark
Twain IN this respect but we can all
of us take home TO ourselves the lesson
offered by his manly courage. which
made him smile when his heart was
heavy and taught him TO sink his own
grief IN activity for the promotion of
happiness for others There Is no srrer
antidote for soTrOw-