mark twain, a biography, 1866-1875-第39节
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going back oftener to Edinburgh than to any other haven of those first
wanderings。 August 24th she wrote to her sister：
We leave Edinburgh to…morrow with sincere regret； we have had such a
delightful stay herewe do so regret leaving Dr。 Brown and his
sister； thinking that we shall probably never see them again ＇as
indeed they never did＇。
They spent a day or two at Glasgow and sailed for Ireland； where they put
in a fortnight； and early in September were back in England again； at
Chester； that queer old city where； from a tower on the wall； Charles I。
read the story of his doom。 Reginald Cholmondeley had invited them to
visit his country seat； beautiful Condover Hall； near Shrewsbury； and in
that lovely retreat they spent some happy； restful days。 Then they were
in the whirl of London once more； but escaped for a fortnight to Paris；
sight…seeing and making purchases for the new home。
Mrs。 Clemens was quite ready to return to America； by this time。
I am blue and cross and homesick ＇she wrote＇。 I suppose what makes
me feel the latter is because we are contemplating to stay in London
another month。 There has not one sheet of Mr。 Clemens's proof come
yet； and if he goes home before the book is published here he will
lose his copyright。 And then his friends feel that it will be
better for him to lecture in London before his book is published；
not only that it will give him a larger but a more enviable
reputation。 I would not hesitate one moment if it were simply for
the money that his copyright will bring him； but if his reputation
will be better for his staying and lecturing； of course he ought to
stay。。。。 The truth is； I can't bear the thought of postponing going
home。
It is rather gratifying to find Olivia Clemens human； like that； now and
then。 Otherwise； on general testimony； one might well be tempted to
regard her as altogether of another race and kind。
XCI
A LONDON LECTURE
Clemens concluded to hasten the homeward journey； but to lecture a few
nights in London before starting。 He would then accompany his little
family home； and return at once to continue the lecture series and
protect his copyright。 This plan was carried out。 In a communication to
the Standard； October 7th； he said：
SIR；In view of the prevailing frenzy concerning the Sandwich
Islands； and the inflamed desire of the public to acquire
information concerning them； I have thought it well to tarry yet
another week in England and deliver a lecture upon this absorbing
subject。 And lest it should be thought unbecoming in me； a
stranger； to come to the public rescue at such a time； instead of
leaving to abler hands a matter of so much moment； I desire to
explain that I do it with the best motives and the most honorable
intentions。 I do it because I am convinced that no one can allay
this unwholesome excitement as effectually as I can； and to allay
it； and allay it as quickly as possible； is surely one thing that is
absolutely necessary at this juncture。 I feel and know that I am
equal to this task； for I can allay any kind of an excitement by
lecturing upon it。 I have saved many communities in this way。 I
have always been able to paralyze the public interest in any topic
that I chose to take hold of and elucidate with all my strength。
Hoping that this explanation will show that if I am seeming to
intrude I am at least doing it from a high impulse； I am； sir； your
obedient servant；
MARK TWAIN。
A day later the following announcement appeared：
QUEEN'S CONCERT ROOMS；
HANOVER SQUARE。
MR。 GEORGE DOLBY begs to announce that
MR。 MARK TWAIN
WILL DELIVER A
LECTURE
OF A
HUMOROUS CHARACTER；
AS ABOVE； ON
MONDAY EVENING NEXT； OCTOBER 13th； 1873；
AND REPEAT IT IN THE SAME PLACE； ON
TUESDAY EVENING； OCTOBER 14th；
WEDNESDAY 〃 〃 15th；
THURSDAY 〃 〃 16th；
FRIDAY 〃 〃 17th；
At Eight o'Clock；
AND
SATURDAY AFTERNOON； OCTOBER 18th；
At Three o'Clock。
SUBJECT：
Our Fellow Savages of the Sandwich Islands。〃
As Mr。 TWAIN has spent several months in these Islands； and is well
acquainted with his subject； the Lecture may be expected to furnish
matter of interest。
STALLS； 5s。 UNRESERVED SEATS； 3s。
The prospect of a lecture from Mark Twain interested the London public。
Those who had not seen him were willing to pay even for that privilege。
The papers were encouraging； Punch sounded a characteristic note：
WELCOME TO A LECTURER
〃'Tis time we Twain did show ourselves。〃 'Twas said
By Caesar； when one Mark had lost his head：
By Mark； whose head's quite bright； 'tis said again：
Therefore； 〃go with me； friends； to bless this Twain。〃
…Punch。
Dolby had managed the Dickens lectures； and he proved his sound business
judgment and experience by taking the largest available hall in London
for Mark Twain。
On the evening of October 13th； in the spacious Queen's Concert Rooms；
Hanover Square； Mark Twain delivered his first public address in England。
The subject was 〃Our Fellow Savages of the Sandwich Islands；〃 the old
lecture with which he had made his first great successes。 He was not
introduced。 He appeared on the platform in evening dress； assuming the
character of a manager announcing a disappointment。
Mr。 Clemens； he said； had fully expected to be present。 He paused and
loud murmurs arose from the audience。 He lifted his hand and they
subsided。 Then he added； 〃I am happy to say that Mark Twain is present；
and will now give his lecture。〃 Whereupon the audience roared its
approval。
It would be hardly an exaggeration to say that his triumph that week was
a regal one。 For five successive nights and a Saturday matinee the
culture and fashion of London thronged to hear him discourse of their
〃fellow savages。〃 It was a lecture event wholly without precedent。 The
lectures of Artemus Ward； ＇〃Artemus the delicious；〃 as Charles Reade
called him； came to London in June； 1866； and gave his 〃piece〃 in
Egyptian Hall。 The refined； delicate； intellectual countenance； the
sweet； gave； mouth； from which one might have expected philosophical
lectures retained their seriousness while listeners were convulsed with
laughter。 There was something magical about it。 Every sentence was a
surprise。 He played on his audience as Liszt did on a piano most easily
when most effectively。 Who can ever forget his attempt to stop his
Italian pianist…〃 a count in his own country； but not much account in
this 〃…who went on playing loudly while he was trying to tell us an
〃affecting incident〃 that occurred near a small clump of trees shown on
his panorama of the Far West。 The music stormed on…we could see only
lips and arms pathetically moving till the piano suddenly ceased； and we
heard…it was all we heard 〃and； she fainted in Reginald's arms。〃 His
tricks have been at tempted in many theaters； but Artemus Ward was
inimitable。 And all the time the man was dying。 （Moneure D。 Conway；
Autobiography。）＇who had quickly become a favorite in London； had
prepared the public for American platform humor； while the daily doings
of this new American product； as reported by the press； had aroused
interest； or curiosity； to a high pitch。 On no occasion in his own
country had he won such a complete triumph。 The papers for a week
devoted columns of space to appreciation and editorial comment。 The
Daily News of October 17th published a column…and…a…half editorial on
American humor； with Mark Twain's public appearance as the general text。
The Times referred to the continued popularity of the lectures：
They can't be said to have more than whetted the public appetite； if
we are to take the fact which has been imparted to us； that the
holding capacity of the Hanover Square Rooms has been inadequate to
the demand made upon it every night by Twain's lecturing； as a
criterion。 The last lecture of this too brief course was delivered
yesterday before an audience which crammed to discomfort every part
of the principal apartment of the Hanover Square Rooms。。。。
At the close of yesterday's lecture Mark Twain was so loudly applauded
that he returned to the stage； and； as soon as the audience gave him a
chance of being heard； he said； with much apparent emotion：
〃Ladies and Gentlemen；I won't keep you one single moment in this
