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〃I find it gross； coarsewell； I needn't go on with particulars。 I
don't like any part of it； from the beginning to the end。 I find it
always offensive and detestable。 How do I account for this change of
view？ I don't know。〃
But almost immediately afterward he gave it another consideration and
reversed his opinion completely。 All the spirit and delight of his old
first conception returned； and preparing it for publication； he wrote：
＇North American Review； December； 1907； now with comment included in
the volume of 〃Speeches。〃 Also see Appendix O； at the end of last
volume。＇ I have read it twice； and unless I am an idiot it hasn't a
single defect in it； from the first word to the last。 It is just as good
as good can be。 It is smart； it is saturated with humor。 There isn't a
suggestion of coarseness or vulgarity in it anywhere。＇
It was altogether like Mark Twain to have those two absolutely opposing
opinions in that brief time； for； after all； it was only a question of
the human point of view； and Mark Twain's points of view were likely to
be as extremely human as they were varied。
Of course the first of these impressions； the verdict of the fresh mind
uninfluenced by the old conception； was the more correct one。 The speech
was decidedly out of place in that company。 The skit was harmless
enough； but it was of the Comstock grain。 It lacked refinement； and；
what was still worse； it lacked humor； at least the humor of a kind
suited to that long…ago company of listeners。 It was another of those
grievous mistakes which genius （and not talent） can make； for genius is a
sort of possession。 The individual is pervaded； dominated for a time by
an angel or an imp； and he seldom； of himself； is able to discriminate
between his controls。 A literary imp was always lying in wait for Mark
Twain； the imp of the burlesque； tempting him to do the 'outre'； the
outlandish； the shocking thing。 It was this that Olivia Clemens had to
labor hardest against： the cheapening of his own high purpose with an
extravagant false note； at which sincerity； conviction； and artistic
harmony took wings and fled away。 Notably he did a good burlesque now
and then； but his fame would not have suffered if he had been delivered
altogether from his besetting temptation。
CXV
HARTFORD AND BILLIARDS
Clemens was never much inclined to work； away from his Elmira study。
〃Magnanimous Incident Literature〃 （for the Atlantic） was about his only
completed work of the winter of 1877…78。 He was always tinkering with
the 〃Visit to Heaven；〃 and after one reconstruction Howells suggested
that he bring it out as a book； in England； with Dean Stanley's
indorsement； though this may have been only semi…serious counsel。 The
story continued to lie in seclusion。
Clemens had one new book in the fielda small book； but profitable。 Dan
Slote's firm issued for him the Mark Twain Scrap…book； and at the end of
the first royalty period rendered a statement of twenty…five thousand
copies sold； which was well enough for a book that did not contain a
single word that critics could praise or condemn。 Slote issued another
little book for him soon after Punch； Brothers； Punch！which； besides
that lively sketch； contained the 〃Random Notes〃 and seven other
selections。
Mark Twain was tempted to go into the lecture field that winter； not by
any of the offers； though these were numerous enough； but by the idea of
a combination which he thought night be not only profitable but pleasant。
Thomas Nast had made a great success of his caricature lectures； and
Clemens； recalling Nast's long…ago proposal； found it newly attractive。
He wrote characteristically：
MY DEAR NAST； I did not think I should ever stand on a platform
again until the time was come for me to say； 〃I die innocent。〃 But
the same old offers keep arriving。 I have declined them all； just
as usual； though sorely tempted； as usual。
Now； I do not decline because I mind talking to an audience； but
because （1） traveling alone is so heartbreakingly dreary； and （2）
shouldering the whole show is such a cheer…killing responsibility。
Therefore； I now propose to you what you proposed to me in 1867； ten
years ago （when I was unknown）viz。； that you stand on the platform
and make pictures； and I stand by you and blackguard the audience。
I should enormously enjoy meandering around （to big townsdon't
want to go to the little ones）； with you for company。
My idea is not to fatten the lecture agents and lyceums on the
spoils； but to put all the ducats religiously into two equal piles；
and say to the artist and lecturer； 〃absorb these。〃
For instance； ＇here follows a plan and a possible list of the cities
to be visited＇。 The letter continues：
Call the gross receipts 100；00 for four months and a half； and the
profit from 60；000 to 75；000 （I try to make the figures large
enough； and leave it to the public to reduce them）。
I did not put in Philadelphia because Pugh owns that town； and last
winter； when I made a little reading…trip； he only paid me 300； and
pretended his concert （I read fifteen minutes in the midst of a
concert） cost him a vast sum； and so he couldn't afford any more。
I could get up a better concert with a barrel of cats。
I have imagined two or three pictures and concocted the accompanying
remarks； to see how the thing would go。 I was charmed。
Well； you think it over； Nast； and drop me a line。 We should have
some fun。
Undoubtedly this would have been a profitable combination； but Nast had a
distaste for platforminghad given it up； as he thought； for life。 So
Clemens settled down to the fireside days； that afforded him always the
larger comfort。 The children were at an age 〃to be entertaining； and to
be entertained。 In either case they furnished him plenty of diversion
when he did not care to write。 They had learned his gift as a romancer；
and with this audience he might be as extravagant as he liked。 They
sometimes assisted by furnishing subjects。 They would bring him a
picture； requiring him to invent a story for it without a moment's delay。
Sometimes they suggested the names of certain animals or objects； and
demanded that these be made into a fairy tale。 If they heard the name of
any new creature or occupation they were likely to offer them as
impromptu inspiration。 Once he was suddenly required to make a story out
of a plumber and a 〃bawgunstrictor；〃 but he was equal to it。 On one side
of the library； along the book…shelves that joined the mantelpiece； were
numerous ornaments and pictures。 At one end was the head of a girl； that
they called 〃Emeline；〃 and at the other was an oil…painting of a cat。
When other subjects failed； the romancer was obliged to build a story
impromptu； and without preparation； beginning with the cat； working along
through the bric…a…brac； and ending with〃Emeline。〃 This was the
unvarying program。 He was not allowed to begin with 〃Emeline〃 and end
with the cat； and he was not permitted to introduc