The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1910-05-05

/ that curious pancsopher 'Pudd'nnesd
wilson" made his bow.
But while the great humorist war
meeting With welldeserved success
from n literary standpoint. the imps
of misfortune seemed 10 dog his very
footsteps.
In 1854. he conceived the idea OF
reaping the publishers as well a. the
authors profits from some Of his
works. Accordingly he organized
stock company known rs G. l.. Web
ster a Co, IN which he was the
largest stakeholder. 20 publish bis
works. lie had accumulated consider
able wealth and was rated a. mil
lionaire.
Hts financial ability. however. was
none Of the best. and In 1894 his en-
tire fortune was swept away BY the
failure Of the publishing house. Mr.
Clemens was abroad at the time. and
although Ga years Of age. he started
out on tour % the globe. delivering
lectures and writing articles In order
10 pay the debts Of the defunct firm.
lie lad scarcely begun his great
task when fate struck him another
hard blow. This was the death OF his
eldest and most accomplished daugh
ter. Miss olivia 3. Clemens. who died
In August. 1896. at the age Of ~. Bro
ken In spirit he continued his great
task and IN two years he had paid on
bis debts
II was during this dark period that
the veteran humorist was reported
destitute and dying In London. a
public appeal was sent out through
New York paper and $4,000 was
raised for him. but although pressed
for funds. he stili retained his dig.
nifty and refused to accept tho money.
Wife Passes Away.
As ~ In sympathy with her hus
bands misfortunes. his wife's health
began to fail. lie moved 10 Florence.
Italy. In the hope that the mild climate
would restore her. but II proved OF no
avail. and on November Q. 1904. she
died In that far OF land.
About this time the humor,s, 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 Glen.
ems was soon In possession OF a com.
Portable income.
Although the future took on =
brighter aspect. his evil spirit was
only siumbering. and one day. without
asking the advice OF his shrewd com
panion. Twain" was lured into anoth.
er disastrous Investment lie placed
So. 800 In the Pleasure Company OF
America" a pure food organization.
and was elected president hut the
company went TO the wall IN 1907. aud
With II the sa2.5oo disappeared,
And now misfortune selected an.
other weapon with which 20 attack tho
white haired author. Heretofore his
books had escaped harsh criticisms.
but In November. 1907. Tom Sawyer
and "Huckleberry Finn his boy mas
terpieces. we're withheld from youths
BY the Brooklyn Public libraries. ne
unit for young minds" Comptroller
Joy OF Detroit. Mich. declared bis
work. "a Double Barreilcd r-stectivs
Story was literary junk. UNIT for q
public library and a Massachusetts,
public library refused to give shell
room TO his Ewes Diary declaring
that the book was "shockifg"
Worn out by his lectures. after din.
ner speeches and misfortunes. Twain
purchased a farm In Redding. Conn.
and erected $4,000 villa. which he
called -stormneid- With his two
daughters. Clara and Jean. he moved
there In 1908. and settled down 10 a
life OF ease
But series OF fresh misfortunes
was In store for him. lie 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 III 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 70
: close through lack OF funds.
J Then the humorist and his daughter
Clara became involved In n lawsuit
over a farm which he had presented
10 his former secretary. Mrs. Ralph
Ashcroft. on her wedding day. and
which he later attached ON the advice
OF his daughter.
The facts regarding this disagree
able AFFAIR were aired In the press
much TO the humiliation OF the vetcr
an humorist
In the early part Of 1909 his staunch
friend and adviser. II. II. Rogers. died
suddenly at his New York home. This
great financier and the white haired
humorist had been inseparable com
panions for a number OF years. They
, had made trips TO Bermuda together
and when Rogers opened his railroad
IN Virginia, Twain" was one Of the
guests OF honor. The author was
, greatly affected by the hnancier's
sudden death.
/ n...ka.. MI. O..Aa-.l..