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with the cat； and he was not permitted to introduce an ornament from any
other portion of the room。 He could vary the story as much as he liked。
In fact； he was required to do that。 The trend of its chapters； from the
cat to 〃Emeline；〃 was a well…trodden and ever…entertaining way。
He gave up his luxurious study to the children as a sort of nursery and
playroom； and took up his writing…quarters； first in a room over the
stables； then in the billiard…room； which； on the whole； he preferred to
any other place； for it was a third…story remoteness； and he could knock
the balls about for inspiration。
The billiard…room became his headquarters。 He received his callers there
and impressed them into the game。 If they could play； well and good； if
they could not play； so much the betterhe could beat them
extravagantly； and he took a huge delight in such conquests。 Every
Friday evening； or oftener； a small party of billiard…lovers gathered；
and played until a late hour； told stories； and smoked till the room was
blue； comforting themselves with hot Scotch and general good…fellowship。
Mark Twain always had a genuine passion for billiards。 He was never
tired of the game。 He could play all night。 He would stay till the last
man gave out from sheer weariness； then he would go on knocking the balls
about alone。 He liked to invent new games and new rules for old games；
often inventing a rule on the spur of the moment to fit some particular
shot or position on the table。 It amused him highly to do this； to make
the rule advantage his own play； and to pretend a deep indignation when
his opponents disqualified his rulings and rode him down。 S。 C。 Dunham
was among those who belonged to the 〃Friday Evening Club；〃 as they called
it； and Henry C。 Robinson； long dead； and rare Ned Bunce； and F。 G。
Whitmore； and the old room there at the top of the house； with its little
outside balcony； rang with their voices and their laughter in that day
when life and the world for them was young。 Clemens quoted to them
sometimes：
Come； fill the cup； and in the fire of spring
Your winter garment of repentance fling；
The bird of time has but a little way
To flutter； and the bird is on the wing。
Omar was new then on this side of the Atlantic； and to his serene 〃eat；
drink； and be merry〃 philosophy； in Fitzgerald's rhyme； these were early
converts。 Mark Twain had an impressive； musical delivery of verse； the
players were willing at any moment to listen as he recited：
For some we loved； the loveliest and best
That from his vintage rolling time has prest；
Have drunk their cup a round or two before；
And one by one crept silently to rest。
Ah； make the most of what we yet may spend；
Before we too into the dust descend；
Dust unto dust； and under dust to lie；
Sans wine； sans song； sans singer； andsans End。'
＇The 'Rubaiyat' had made its first appearance； in Hartford； a little
before in a column of extracts published in the Courant。＇ Twichell
immediately wrote Clemens a card：
〃Read （if you haven't） the extracts from Oman Khayyam； on the first page
of this morning's Courant。 I think we'll have to get the book。 I never
yet came across anything that uttered certain thoughts of mine so 。
adequately。 And it's only a translation。 Read it； and we'll talk it
over。 There is something in it very like the passage of Emerson you read
me last night； in fact identical with it in thought。
〃Surely this Omar was a great poet。 Anyhow； he has given me an immense
revelation this morning。
〃Hoping that you are better；
J。 H。 T。〃
Twichell's 〃only a translation〃 has acquired a certain humor with time。
CXVI
OFF FOR GERMANY
The German language became one of the interests of the Clemens home
during the early months of 1878。 The Clemenses had long looked forward
to a sojourn in Europe； and the demand for another Mark Twain book of
travel furnished an added reason for their going。 They planned for the
spring sailing； and to spend a year or more on the Continent； making
their headquarters in Germany。 So they entered into the study of the
language with an enthusiasm and perseverance that insured progress。
There was a German nurse for the children； and the whole atmosphere of
the household presently became lingually Teutonic。 It amused Mark Twain；
as everything amused him； but he was a good student； he acquired a
working knowledge of the language in an extraordinarily brief time； just
as in an earlier day he had picked up piloting。 He would never become a
German scholar； but his vocabulary and use of picturesque phrases；
particularly those that combined English and German words； were often
really startling； not only for their humor； but for their expressiveness。
Necessarily the new study would infect his literature。 He conceived a
plan for making Captain Wakeman （Stormfield） come across a copy of
Ollendorf in Heaven； and proceed to learn the language of a near…lying
district。
They arranged to sail early in April； and； as on their former trip；
persuaded Miss Clara Spaulding； of Elmira； to accompany them。 They wrote
to the Howellses； breaking the news of the journey； urging them to come
to Hartford for a good…by visit。 Howells and his wife came。 The
Twichells； Warners； and other Hartford friends paid repeated farewell
calls。 The furniture was packed； the rooms desolated； the beautiful home
made ready for closing。
They were to have pleasant company on the ship。 Bayard Taylor； then
recently appointed Minister to Germany； wrote that he had planned to sail
on the same vessel； Murat Halstead's wife and daughter were listed among
the passengers。 Clemens made a brief speech at Taylor's 〃farewell
dinner。〃
The 〃Mark Twain〃 party； consisting of Mr。 and Mrs。 Clemens； Miss
Spaulding； little Susy and Clara （〃Bay〃）； and a nurse…maid； Rosa； sailed
on the Holsatia； April 11； 1878。 Bayard Taylor and the Halstead ladies
also sailed； as per program； likewise Murat Halstead himself； for whom no
program had been made。 There was a storm outside； and the Holsatia
anchored down the bay to wait until the worst was over。 As the weather
began to moderate Halstead and others came down in a tug for a final word
of good…by。 When the tug left； Halstead somehow managed to get
overlooked； and was presently on his way across the ocean with only such
wardrobe as he had on； and what Bayard Taylor； a large man like himself；
was willing to lend him。 Halstead was accused of having intentionally
allowed himself to be left behind； and his case did have a suspicious
look； but in any event they were glad to have him along。
In a written word of good…by to Howells； Clemens remembered a debt of
gratitude； and paid it in the full measure that was his habit。
And that reminds me； ungrateful dog that I am； that I owe as much to
your training as the rude country job…printer owes to the city boss
who takes him in hand and teaches him the right way to handle his
art。 I was talking to Mrs。 Clemens about this the other day； and
gr