mark twain, a biography, 1866-1875-第37节

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for　attempted　vote…buying）　was　familiar　enough。　　That　winter　in
Washington　had　acquainted　Clemens　with　the　life　there；　its　political
intrigues；　and　the　disrepute　of　Congress。　　Warner　was　equally　well
qualified　for　his　share　of　the　undertaking；　and　the　chief　criticism　that
one　may　offer　is　the　one　stated　by　Clemens　himselfthat　the　divisions　of
the　tale　remain　divisions　rather　than　unity。

As　for　the　story　itselfthe　romance　and　tragedy　of　itthe　character　of
Laura　in　the　hands　of　either　author　is　one　not　easy　to　forget。　　Whether
this　means　that　the　work　is　well　done；　or　only　strikingly　done；　the
reader　himself　must　judge。　　Morally；　the　character　is　not　justified。
Laura　was　a　victim　of　circumstance　from　the　beginning。　　There　could　be　no
poetic　justice　in　her　doom。　　To　drag　her　out　of　a　steamer　wreck；　only　to
make　her　the　victim　of　a　scoundrel；　later　an　adventuress；　and　finally　a
murderess；　all　may　be　good　art；　but　of　a　very　bad　kind。　　Laura　is　a　sort
of　American　Becky　Sharp；　but　there　is　retributive　justice　in　Becky's
fate；　whereas　Laura's　doom　is　warranted　only　by　the　author's　whim。　　As
for　her　end；　whatever　the　virtuous　public　of　that　day　might　have　done；　a
present…day　audience　would　not　have　pelted　her　from　the　stage；　destroyed
her　future；　taken　away　her　life。

The　authors　regarded　their　work　highly　when　it　was　finished；　but　that　is
nothing。　　Any　author　regards　his　work　highly　at　the　moment　of　its
completion。　　In　later　years　neither　of　them　thought　very　well　of　their
production；　but　that　also　is　nothing。　　The　author　seldom　cares　very
deeply　for　his　offspring　once　it　is　turned　over　to　the　public　charge。
The　fact　that　the　story　is　still　popular；　still　delights　thousands　of
readers；　when　a　myriad　of　novels　that　have　been　written　since　it　was
completed　have　lived　their　little　day　and　died　so　utterly　that　even　their
names　have　passed　out　of　memory；　is　the　best　verdict　as　to　its　worth。




LXXXIX

PLANNING　A　NEW　HOME

Clemens　and　his　wife　bought　a　lot　for　the　new　home　that　winter；　a　fine；
sightly　piece　of　land　on　Farmington　Avenuetable…land；　slopingdown　to　a
pretty　stream　that　wound　through　the　willows　and　among　the　trees。　　They
were　as　delighted　as　children　with　their　new　purchase　and　the　prospect　of
building。　　To　her　sister　Mrs。　Clemens　wrote：

　　　　　Mr。　Clemens　seems　to　glory　in　his　sense　of　possession；　he　goes　daily
　　　　　into　the　lot；　has　had　several　falls　trying　to　lay　off　the　land　by
　　　　　sliding　around　on　his　feet。。。。

　　　　　For　three　days　the　ice　has　covered　the　trees；　and　they　have　been
　　　　　glorious。　　We　could　do　nothing　but　watch　the　beauty　outside；　if　you
　　　　　looked　at　the　trees　as　the　sun　struck　them；　with　your　back　toward
　　　　　the　sun；　they　were　covered　with　jewels。　　If　you　looked　toward　the
　　　　　sun　it　was　all　crystal　whiteness；　a　perfect　fairy…land。　　Then　the
　　　　　nights　were　moonlight；　and　that　was　a　great　beauty；　the　moon　giving
　　　　　us　the　same　prismatic　effect。

This　was　the　storm　of　which　Mark　Twain　wrote　his　matchless　description；
given　first　in　his　speech　on　New　England　weather；　and　later　preserved　in
'Following　the　Equator'；　in　more　extended　form。　　In　that　book　he　likens
an　ice…storm　to　his　impressions　derived　from　reading　descriptions　of　the
Taj　Mahal；　that　wonderful　tomb　of　a　fair　East　Indian　queen。　　It　is　a
marvelous　bit　of　word…paintinghis　description　of　that　majestic　vision：
〃When　every　bough　and　twig　is　strung　with　ice…beads；　frozen　dewdrops；　and
the　whole　tree　sparkles　cold　and　white；　like　the　Shah　of　Persia's　diamond
plume。〃　　It　will　pay　any　one　to　look　up　that　description　and　read　it　all；
though　it　has　been　said；　by　the　fortunate　one　or　two　who　heard　him　first
give　it　utterance　as　an　impromptu　outburst；　that　in　the　subsequent
process　of　writing　the　bloom　of　its　original　magnificence　was　lost。

The　plans　for　the　new　house　were　drawn　forthwith　by　that　gentle　architect
Edward　Potter；　whose　art　to…day　may　be　considered　open　to　criticism；　but
not　because　of　any　lack　of　originality。　　Hartford　houses　of　that　period
were　mainly　of　the　goods…box　form　of　architecture；　perfectly　square；
typifying　the　commercial　pursuits　of　many　of　their　owners。　　Potter　agreed
to　get　away　from　this　idea；　and　a　radical　and　even　frenzied　departure　was
the　result。　　Certainly　his　plans　presented　beautiful　pictures；　and　all
who　saw　them　were　filled　with　wonder　and　delight。　　Architecture　has
lavished　itself　in　many　florescent　forms　since　then；　but　we　may　imagine
that　Potter's　〃English　violet〃　order　of　design；　as　he　himself　designated
it；　startled；　dazzled；　and　captivated　in　a　day；　when　most　houses　were
mere　habitations；　built　with　a　view　to　economy　and　the　largest　possible
amount　of　room。

Workmen　were　put　on　the　ground　without　delay；　to　prepare　for　the
builders；　and　work　was　rapidly　pushed　along。　　Then　in　May　the　whole
matter　was　left　in　the　hands　of　the　architect　and　the　carpenters　（with
Lawyer　Charles　E。　Perkins　to　stand　between　Potter　and　the　violent
builder；　who　roared　at　Potter　and　frightened　him　when　he　wanted　changes）；
while　the　Clemens　household；　with　Clara　Spaulding；　a　girlhood　friend　of
Mrs。　Clemens；　sailed　away　to　England　for　a　half…year　holiday。




XC

A　LONG　ENGLISH　HOLIDAY

They　sailed　on　the　Batavia；　and　with　them　went　a　young　man　named
Thompson；　a　theological　student　whom　Clemens　had　consented　to　take　as　an
amanuensis。　　There　is　a　pathetic　incident　connected　with　this　young　man；
and　it　may　as　well　be　set　down　here。　　Clemens　found；　a　few　weeks　after
his　arrival　in　England；　that　so　great　was　the　tax　upon　his　time　that　he
could　make　no　use　of　Thompson's　services。　　He　gave　Thompson　fifty
dollars；　and　upon　the　possibility　of　the　young　man's　desiring　to　return
to　America；　advanced　him　another　fifty　dollars；　saying　that　he　could
return　it　some　day；　and　never　thought　of　it　again。　　But　the　young　man
remembered　it；　and　one　day；　thirty…six　years　later；　after　a　life　of
hardship　and　struggle；　such　as　the　life　of　a　country　minister　is　apt　to
be；　he　wrote　and　inclosed　a　money…order；　a　payment　on　his　debt。　　That
letter　and　its　inclosure　brought　only　sorrow　to　Mark　Twain。　　He　felt　that
it　laid　upon　him　the　accumulated　burden　of　the　weary　thirty…six　years'
struggle　with　ill…fortune。　　He　returned　the　money；　of　course；　and　in　a
biographical　note　commented：

　　　　　How　pale　painted　heroisms　of　romance　look　beside　it！　　Thompson's
　　　　　heroism；　which　is　real；　which　is　colossal；　which　is　sublime；　and
　　　　　which　is　costly　beyond　all　estimate；　is　achieved　in　profound
　　　　　obscurity；　and　its　hero　walks　in　rags　to　the　end　of　his　days。　　I　had
　　　　　forgotten　Thompson　completely；　but　he　flashes　before　me　as　vividly
　　　　　as　lightning。　　I　can　see　him　now。　　It　was　on　the　deck　of　the
　　　　　Batavia；　in　the　dock。　　The　ship　was　casting　off；　with　that　hubbub
　　　　　and　confusion　and　rushing　of　sailors；　and　shouting　of　orders　and
　　　　　shrieking　of　boatswain　whistles；　which　marked　the　departure
　　　　　preparations　in　those　daysan　impressive　contrast　with　the　solemn
　　　　　silence　which　marks　the　departure　preparations　of　the　giant　ships　of
　　　　　the　present　day。　　Mrs。　Clemens；　Clara　Spaulding；　little　Susy；　and
　　　　　the　nurse…maid　were　all　properly　garbed　for　the　occasion。　　We　all
　　　　　had　on　our　storm…rig；　heavy　clothes　of　somber　hue；　but　new　and
　　　　　designed　and　constructed　for　the　purpose；　strictly　in　accordance
　　　　　with　sea…going　etiquette；　anything　wearable　on　land　being　distinctly
　　　　　and　odiously　out　of　the　question。

　　　　　Very　well。　　On　that　deck；　and　gliding　placidly　among　those　honorable
　　　　　and　properly　upholstered　groups；　appeared　Thompson；　young；　grave；
　　　　　long；　slim；　with　an　aged　fuzzy　plug　hat　towering　high　on　the　upper
　　　　　end　of　him　and　followed　by　a　gray　duster；　which　flowed　down；　without
　　　　　break　or　wrinkle；　to　his　ankles。　　He　came　straight　to　us；　and　shook
　　　　　hands　and　compromised　us。　　Everybody　could　see　that　we　knew　him。　　A
　　　　　nigger　in　heaven　could　not　have　created　a　profounder　astonishment。

　　　　　However；　Thompson　didn't　know　that　anything　was　happening。　　He　had
　　　　　no　prejudices　about　clothes。　　I　can　still　see　him　as　he　looked　when
　　　　　we　passed　Sandy　Hook　and　the　winds　of　the　big　ocean　smote　us。
　　　　　Erect；　lofty；　and　grand　he　stood　facing　the　blast；　holding　his　plug
　　　　　on　with　both　hands　and　his　generous　duster　blowing　out　behind；　level
　　　　　with　his　neck。　　There　were　scoffers　observing；　but　he　didn't　know
　　　　　it；　he　wasn't　disturbed。

　　　　　In　my　mind；　I　see　him　once　afterward；　clothed　as　before；　taking　me
　　　　　down　in　shorthand。　　The　Shah　of　Persia　had　come　to　England　and　Dr。
　　　　　Hosmer；　of　the　Herald；　had　sent　me　to　Ostend；　to　view　his　Majesty's
　　　　　progress　across　the　Channel　and　write　an　account　of　it。　　I　can't
　　　　　recall　Thompson　after　that；　and　I　wish　his　memory　had　been　as　poor
　　　　　as　mine。

They　had　been　a　month　in　London；　when　the　final　incident　referred　to　took
placethe　arrival　of　the　Shah　of　Persiaand　were　comfortably　quartered
at　the　Langham　Hotel。　　To　Twichell　Clemens　wrote：

　　　　　We　have　a　luxuriously　ample　suite　of　apartments　on　the　third　floor；
　　　　　our　bedroom　looking　straight　up　Portland　Place；　our　parlor　having　a
　　　　　noble　array　of　great　windows　looking　o