The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-22
OLD FRIENDS PAY
NEED OF RESPECT
TWAIN'S MEMORY
At Dedication Of Memorial
Library Given to Redding
by Deceased Author
Lines from An Australian
Tombstone Reproduced
Here by Mr.. Clemens.

large as the main room OF the MAJ u
Twain Library building could accom-.
modate. heard with deep interest and
sympathetic attention the addresses
delivered last Saturday afternoon by
Rev. Joseph TwichelI Of Hartford and
Rev. Frederick W. Adams Of schenec-
taty. The occasion was the library's
formal opening in the structure. FOR
the erection of which the late author
gave $4,000 a few days before his
death. and both addresses had the
tone of personal intimacy and affec-
ton due to the warm friendship which
existed between the speakers and their
subject. DR.. Smith. who introduced
the speakers. said that almost as soon
as Mark Twain came to Redding he
formed the plan OF establishing a pub
lie library and enlisted the interest or
ell his visitors In the project. He
wanted the library to be not only
center of instruction but one OF en-
joyment and sociability.
DR.. Twichell began by saving that
the library stood as a memorial or the
neighbor1y love and interest wnlcn It's
founder felt for the people of Red
of entertaining "reminiscences of his
friend whom he said he saw for the
first time at church sociable. A
man with big shock Of hair was
talking to group Of listeners. and on
inquiry DR.. Twicheil learned that the
discourser was Mark Twain. Then
and there began their lifelong friend
ship OF 40 years. The two were at
that time living in Hartford In homes
not far apart. Mark was very socia-
BILE and hospitable. and at his house
DR.. Twichell met about all the dis
iod.
Mark Twain was modest. He had
no grand conceptions Of himself, and
was always more surprised than any
surprised but pleased as a boy over
the Appreciation won by his writings.
Especially elated was he when Lon
don paper reproduced one OF his st0r-
les the beginning OF his recognition
abroad. His writings seemed to have
attractive and his acquaintance eager
ly sought While he was travelling
in Canada the Marquis of Lorne. then
Canada's Governor General. invited
the author to be his guest. They
had never previously met and Lorne
through his writings. The Marchion-
ess. q daughter Of Queen Victoria,
shared her husbands admiration and
liking for the writer through reading
his productions. While a guest Of
their excellencies some important pub
opening Of Parliament. and Mark oc-
cupied a carriage with the Marchion-
ess. the Marquis occupying a carriage
Just ahead. Cheers OF the populace
and salutes of artillery attended the
progress Of the procession and Mark
gravely observed to his companion
that he felt overwhelmed by these at
tentions Never before, he declared.
had such honors been showered upon
him. Very gently and CONSIDERABLY
the Warehouses corrected his appar.
emit misunderstanding. telling him that
these demonstrations were q tribute to
her husband as a public official. Mark
solemnly accepted the correction, never
letting on to the poor lady that he
had not been entirely in earnest.
DR.. Twichell also told Of Marks
subsequent meeting with the Prince Of
Germany. The speaker and Mark
were taking a walk together when a
messenger came UP and said that the
Prince would like to speak with Mr..
the Prince and the pair were directly
walking off by themselves engaged in
earnest conversation. Occasionally
Mark would emphasize his remarks
by energetica1ly waving the dilapidat-
ed umbrella he carried: The prom
enaders gazed in surprise to observe
the Prince and his new friend. but
were especially amused by the shabby
umbrella. Returning to the hotel the
Prince took Mark to his apartments
where they conversed for fully an
hour longer. On rejoining Mr.. Twich-
ell. Mark said that he and the Prince
had talked about almost everything.
But" added Mark 'T forgot to tell
him about that incident with his sis
ter In Canada. and that was a great
pity"
Mark Twain said DR.. Twichell,
twas a man with the bark on, yet
one with great natural refinement of
spirit, great kindness OF heart, great
sympathy for the poor and unfor-
tunate. He thought and p'liiosophiz-
ed a great deal about the problem Of
humanity. the aspirations, trials dis
appointments of life. Once he said to
could. have been guilty of starting all
this?' was obliged to admit that
seeing things as must. with my inn
perfect worldly vision. would have
hesitated.
"In our travels together we always
occupied the same room, often the
same bed. and if I may say 1t here,
we often said our prayers together.
Interesting as he was as a writer he
He never wrote as we'll as he talked.
That with his scant opportunities for
education while a boy he should have
acquired so much knowledge in later
years and finally have won the degree
of Doctor of Literature from Oxford
University, is sufficient proof of his
mental capacity"
While travelling in Australia said
DR.. Twichell, Mark Twain ran across
greatly. These lines he afterwards
hod f,,ucrihad an fho <oy,, hsfooo - ,fc