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Brevoort House； where Murat Halstead； Mark Twain； and himself were
present。 A reporter sent in a card for Colonel Watterson； who was about
to deny himself when Clemens said：
〃Give it to me； I'll fix it。〃 And left the table。 He came back in a
moment and beckoned to Watterson。
〃He is young and as innocent as a lamb；〃 he said。 〃I represented myself
as your secretary。 I said that you were not here； but if Mr。 Halstead
would do as well I would fetch him out。 I'll introduce you as Halstead；
and we'll have some fun。〃
Now； while Watterson and Halstead were always good friends； they were
political enemies。 It was a political season and the reporter wanted
that kind of an interview。 Watterson gave it to him； repudiating every
principle that Halstead stood for； reversing him in every expressed
opinion。 Halstead was for hard money and given to flying the 〃bloody
shirt〃 of sectional prejudice； Watterson lowered the bloody shirt and
declared for greenbacks in Halstead's name。 Then he and Clemens returned
to the table and told frankly what they had done。 Of course； nobody
believed it。 The report passed the World night…editor； and appeared；
next morning。 Halstead woke up； then； and wrote a note to the World；
denying the interview throughout。 The World printed his note with the
added line：
〃When Mr。 Halstead saw our reporter he had dined。〃
It required John Hay （then on the Tribune） to place the joke where it
belonged。
There is a Lotos Club anecdote of Mark Twain that carries the internal
evidence of truth。 Saturday evening at the Lotos always brought a
gathering of the 〃wits；〃 and on certain evenings〃Hens and chickens〃
nightseach man had to tell a story； make a speech； or sing a song。 On
one evening a young man； an invited guest； was called upon and recited a
very long poem。
One by one those who sat within easy reach of the various exits melted
away； until no one remained but Mark Twain。 Perhaps he saw the
earnestness of the young man； and sympathized with it。 He may have
remembered a time when he would have been grateful for one such attentive
auditor。 At all events； he sat perfectly still； never taking his eyes
from the reader； never showing the least inclination toward discomfort or
impatience； but listening； as with rapt attention； to the very last line。
Douglas Taylor； one of the faithful Saturday…night members； said to him
later：
〃Mark； how did you manage to sit through that dreary； interminable poem？〃
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃that young man thought he had a divine message to
deliver； and I thought he was entitled to at least one auditor； so I
stayed with him。〃
We may believe that for that one auditor the young author was willing to
sacrifice all the others。
One might continue these anecdotes for as long as the young man's poem
lasted； and perhaps hold as large an audience。 But anecdotes are not all
of history。 These are set down because they reflect a phase of the man
and an aspect of his life at this period。 For at the most we can only
present an angle here and there； and tell a little of the story； letting
each reader from his fancy construct the rest。
CVI
HIS FIRST STAGE APPEARANCE
Once that winter the Monday Evening Club met at Mark Twain's home； and
instead of the usual essay he read them a story： 〃The Facts Concerning
the Recent Carnival of Crime in Connecticut。〃 It was the story of a
man's warfare with a personified consciencea； sort of 〃William Wilson〃
idea； though less weird； less somber； and with more actuality； more
verisimilitude。 It was； in fact； autobiographical； a setting…down of the
author's daily self…chidings。 The climax； where conscience is slain； is
a startling picture which appeals to most of humanity。 So vivid is it
all； that it is difficult in places not to believe in the reality of the
tale； though the allegory is always present。
The club was deeply impressed by the little fictional sermon。 One of its
ministerial members offered his pulpit for the next Sunday if Mark Twain
would deliver it to his congregation。 Howells welcomed it for the
Atlantic； and published it in June。 It was immensely successful at the
time； though for some reason it seems to be little known or remembered
to…day。 Now and then a reader mentions it； always with enthusiasm。
Howells referred to it repeatedly in his letters； and finally persuaded
Clemens to let Osgood bring it out； with 〃A True Story；〃 in dainty；
booklet form。 If the reader does not already know the tale； it will pay
him to look it up and read it； and then to read it again。
Meantime Tom Sawyer remained unpublished。
〃Get Bliss to hurry it up！〃 wrote Howells。 〃That boy is going to make a
prodigious hit。〃
But Clemens delayed the book； to find some means to outwit the Canadian
pirates； who thus far had laid hands on everything； and now were
clamoring at the Atlantic because there was no more to steal。
Moncure D。 Conway was in America； and agreed to take the manuscript of
Sawyer to London and arrange for its publication and copyright。 In
Conway's Memoirs he speaks of Mark Twain's beautiful home； comparing it
and its surroundings with the homes of Surrey； England。 He tells of an
entertainment given to Harriet Beecher Stowe； a sort of animated jarley
wax…works。 Clemens and Conway went over as if to pay a call； when
presently the old lady was rather startled by an invasion of costumed。
figures。 Clemens rose and began introducing them in his gay； fanciful
fashion。 He began with a knight in full armor； saying； as if in an
aside； 〃Bring along that tinshop；〃 and went on to tell the romance of the
knight's achievements。
Conway read Tom Sawyer on the ship and was greatly excited over it。
Later； in London； he lectured on it； arranging meantime for its
publication with Chatto & Windus； thus establishing a friendly business
relation with that firm which Mark Twain continued during his lifetime。
Clemens lent himself to a number of institutional amusements that year；
and on the 26th of April； 1876； made his first public appearance on the
dramatic stage。
It was an amateur performance； but not of the usual kind。 There was
genuine dramatic talent in Hartford； and the old play of the 〃Loan of the
Lover； 〃 with Mark Twain as Peter Spuyk and Miss Helen Smith＇Now Mrs。
William W。 Ellsworth。＇as Gertrude； with a support sufficient for their
needs； gave a performance that probably furnished as much entertainment
as that pleasant old play is capable of providing。 Mark Twain had in him
the making of a great actor。 Henry Irving once said to him：
〃You made a mistake by not adopting the stage as a profession。 You would
have made even a greater actor than a writer。〃
Yet it is unlikely that he would ever have been satisfied with the stage。
He had too many original literary ideas。 He would never have been
satisfied to repeat the same part over and over again； night after night
from week to month； and from month to year。 He could not stick to the
author's lines even for one night。 In his performance of the easy…going；
thick…headed Peter Spuyk his impromptu additions to the lines made it
hard on the company； who fo