River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-04-28

But while the great humorist was
meeting with well-deserved success
from a literary standpoint, the imps
of misfortune seemed to dog his very
footsteps.
In 1884, he conceived the idea Of
reaping the publishers as well as the
authors profits from some of his
works. Accordingly he organized a
stock company known as G. L. Web
ster & Co., in which he was the
largest stakeholder, to publish his
works. He had accumulated consider
able wealth and was rated as mil
lionaire.
His 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 60 years of age, he started
out on a tour of the globe, delivering
| lectures and writing articles in order
to pay the debts of the defunct firm.
He had 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 S. Clemens, who died
in August, 1896. at the age of "a. Bro
ken in spirit, he continued his great
task and in two years he had paid off
his debts
1t was during this dark period that
the veteran humorist was reported
destitute and dying in London. A
public appeal was sent out through
a 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 If 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 it proved of no
avail, and on November 6. 1904, she
died in that far off 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 COM
Portable income.
| Although the future took on a
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
! $32, 500 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, unfit 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 farm in Redding, Conn.
and erected $4,000 villa, which he
called "Stormfield." 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 a lawsuit
over a farm which he had presented
to his former secretary, Mrs. Ralph
| Ashcroft, on her wedding day, and
WHICH, u0 1dISI dCCdChOu Oh IAO oO'A~S
of his daughter.
The facts regarding this disagree
able affair were aired in the press,
much to the humiliation of the veter-
an humorist.
In the early part of 1909 his staunch
friend and adviser, H. H. 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 fnancier's
sudden death.
Daughter Dies Suddenly.
In the latter part of 1909, "Twain"
made another trip to Bermuda, and
on his return his feeble appearance at
tracted a great deal of attention. Then
the last crushing blow came the day
before Christmas, when his youngest
daughter, Jean, was found dead in the
bath tub at his Redding home. The
young woman had been victim of
epileptic fits, and had been seized with
one while in the bath tub. which re-
suited in her death.
Real Liberal.
mamma" said little Ostend as he