The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-02-03
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1911
HIS Girl FRIENDS.
Mark Twain Dearly Loved Chill
dren as Playmates.
THE ANGEL FISH SOCIETY.

A Delightful and Touching Story About
Little Margaret, One of Its Members,
and the Genial Humorist-A Pretty
Compact and Quaint Letter.
Like many another great man, Mark
Twain was fond of children. He never
outgreW childhood, and he always
chose young playmates where they
were to be found. He formed curious
societies of these girl friends. Back
in the nineties, when he was living In
Europe, lie created club which was
TO consist Of one (only one) girl In each
country of the globe. the duty Of said
member being to write occasionally to
the chief officer, who faithfully replied
to these random and far faring mes.
sages. OF course these little girls were
swept into womanhood presently, but
even TO the last yoars of his life the
member who signed herself France"
remained faithful 30 the law.
Another club of girls, little girls, be.
came one of the chief interests during
his fnnl years. II had It's beginning
In Bermuda during one of his frequent
visits TO those happy Islands. 1t was
called the Angel Fish club, after
gorgeous swimmer Of those waters, and
he gave 10 each member an angel fish
pin rs Il society badge. 1t was II sue
cessful club, and ON his return to
America he elected other members
enough to make twelve in all.
His home at Rcdding, Conn, Storm
field, had been originally named In
noccnce Mt Home, and as Angel Fish
headquarters Innocence Mt Home ii
always remained. Members with their
parents visited him there, and the bill.
Hard room. where the fishes" were
likely to spend most of their time
knocking the balls about, under the
chief members instruction, was called
the Aquarium. and gay prints OF
many Bermuda fishes were hung along
the walls TO carry out the idea. Each
member had the privilege Of selecting
one of these rs her patron fish and of
identifying II with her name.
II was in Bermuda one day when he
was walking along the beach with one
of his angel fish members that he pick
cd up small irlacsceut double shell,
delcately hinged together. He sepa-
rated 1t and handed his companion half
"You will be going away from me
pretty soon. Margaret" he said land
growing up. ana | won't know you
any more. shall see great many
Margarets, and now and then one of
them viii say she is my Margaret. but
| will say. NO: you resemble my Mar
Garct. but you are bigger than my
Margaret, and can't he sure Then
will take out this shell and | will say,
III you are really my Margaret you
viii have the other half of this shell,
ana 1t will fit exactly Then If she
has the shell and 1t fits | shall know
that It Is really my Margaret, no mat.
ter how many years have gone by or
how much older she has grown"
All this he said very gravely and
earnestly. and the little girl took the
shell thoughtfully and promised to
keep II always. Next morning when
she came running up to meet him on
the hotel vcranda he looked at her
questloningly.
"You look like Margaret" he said
"hut cant be sure If YOU are really
my Margaret You viii have shell
gave her once-the mate to this one
He got no further. The taisman was
promptly produced, and it fitted eX,
actly. He returned to America, and
.or,or,tot l,to. ,,,,,.,,,,t ,,,,,,t,,a,
-" -" ''''' 80 ''' E"'e' iV'ViN'u
lelter one OF the pretty letters he was
always writing to children. In Il he
soid.
was I'm Nov York six weeks ngo was
on Il corner OF Fifth avenue and saw a
small small sirl-not a big one-start across
cd 70 n,vsplf ioyrn nv, .srh "'' eNs,d,
my MARGARET" so rushed TO meet her.
But as she came nearer began TO doubt
1"u , a0l' 70 nyse,t ~ y Mersare5 that
somebody elsc'a' So when passed her
held my SHELL SO she couldn't help but
see II, poaf' she only gioneed at It and
oycrIoosed =, sce,,o h St I'M W., ', ,,,
so | turned ard followed ana caueht up
with her ard said deferentially, Dear
nus; ! efe.uy snow your hrst name by
telmg me v6or other oncS' She was was
veXed and said pretty sharply: ITS
Douglas. II you're so anxious 20 know.
n n30M Sour hu,3S py your .ooHs, ana Ia
and ink and write s1mo more rubbish /
am surprised thot tsey allow YOU TO run
al larse You are likely TO get run over
now AMI 5o..t ict W. ' So't WI. ~, "n, ,''"e
What an IDEAL There aren't any cows
on Firth avenue. But l didn't smile,
didn I let on 10 Perceive low mcultured
N'' '''N' 'fN''' NV N'N''AN'Ft ~
couVsc' ana H!uh Know what eomieRl