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the purpose of writing a book； and for no other reason。 The Innocents
Abroad was written by a man who was reveling in every scene and
experience； every new phase and prospect； whose soul was alive to every
historic association； and to every humor that a gay party of young sight…
seers could find along the way。 The note…books of that trip fairly glow
with the inspiration of it； those of the later wanderings are mainly
filled with brief； terse records； interspersed with satire and
denunciation。 In the 'Innocents' the writer is the enthusiast with a
sense of humor。 In the 'Tramp' he has still the sense of humor； but he
has become a cynic； restrained； but a cynic none the less。 In the
'Innocents' he laughs at delusions and fallaciesand enjoys them。 In
the 'Tramp' he laughs at human foibles and affectationsand wants to
smash them。 Very often he does not laugh heartily and sincerely at all；
but finds his humor in extravagant burlesque。 In later life his gentler
laughter； his old； untroubled enjoyment of human weakness； would return；
but just now he was in that middle period； when the 〃damned human race〃
amused him indeed； though less tenderly。 （It seems proper to explain
that in applying this term to mankind he did not mean that the race was
foredoomed； but rather that it ought to be。）
Reading the 'Innocents'； the conviction grows that； with all its faults；
it is literature from beginning to end。 Reading the 'Tramp'； the
suspicion arises that； regardless of technical improvement； its
percentage of literature is not large。 Yet； as noted in an earlier
volume； so eminent a critic as Brander Matthews has pronounced in its
favor； and he undoubtedly had a numerous following； Howells expressed。
his delight in the book at the time of its issue； though one wonders how
far the personal element entered into his enjoyment； and what would be
his final decision if he read the two books side by side to…day。 He
reviewed 'A Tramp Abroad' adequately and finely in the Atlantic； and
justly； for on the whole it is a vastly entertaining book； and he did not
overpraise it。
'A Tramp Abroad' had an 〃Introduction〃 in the manuscript； a pleasant word
to the reader but not a necessary one； and eventually it was omitted。
Fortunately the appendix remained。 Beyond question it contains some of
the very best things in the book。 The descriptions of the German Portier
and the German newspaper are happy enough； and the essay on the awful
German language is one of Mark Twain's supreme bits of humor。 It is Mark
Twain at his best； Mark Twain in a field where he had no rival； the field
of good…natured； sincere fun…making…ridicule of the manifest absurdities
of some national custom or institution which the nation itself could
enjoy； while the individual suffered no wound。 The present Emperor of
Germany is said to find comfort in this essay on his national speech when
all other amusements fail。 It is delicious beyond words to express； it
is unique。
In the body of the book there are also many delights。 The description of
the ant might rank next to the German language almost in its humor； and
the meeting with the unrecognized girl at Lucerne has a lively charm。
Of the serious matter； some of the word…pictures are flawless in their
beauty； this； for instance； suggested by the view of the Jungfrau from
Interlaken：
There was something subduing in the influence of that silent and
solemn and awful presence； one seemed to meet the immutable； the
indestructible； the eternal； face to face； and to feel the trivial
and fleeting nature of his own existence the more sharply by the
contrast。 One had the sense of being under the brooding
contemplation of a spirit； not an inert mass of rocks and icea
spirit which had looked down； through the slow drift of ages； upon a
million vanished races of men and judged them； and would judge a
million moreand still be there； watching unchanged and
unchangeable； after all life should be gone and the earth have
become a vacant desolation
While I was feeling these things； I was groping； without knowing it；
toward an understanding of what the spell is which people find in
the Alps； and in no other mountains； that strange； deep； nameless
influence which； once felt； cannot be forgotten； once felt； leaves
always behind it a restless longing to feel it againa longing
which is like homesickness； a grieving； haunting yearning； which
will plead； implore； and persecute till it has its will。 I met
dozens of people； imaginative and unimaginative； cultivated and
uncultivated； who had come from far countries and roamed through the
Swiss Alps year after yearthey could not explain why。 They had
come first； they said； out of idle curiosity； because everybody
talked about it； they had come since because they could not help it；
and they should keep on coming； while they lived； for the same
reason； they had tried to break their chains and stay away； but it
was futile； now they had no desire to break them。 Others came
nearer formulating what they felt； they said they could find perfect
rest and peace nowhere else when they were troubled： all frets and
worries and chafings sank to sleep in the presence of the benignant
serenity of the Alps； the Great Spirit of the mountain breathed his
own peace upon their hurt minds and sore hearts； and healed them；
they could not think base thoughts or do mean and sordid things
here； before the visible throne of God。
Indeed； all the serious matter in the book is good。 The reader's chief
regret is likely to be that there is not more of it。 The main difficulty
with the humor is that it seems overdone。 It is likely to be carried too
far； and continued too long。 The ascent of Riffelberg is an example。
Though spotted with delights it seems； to one reader at least； less
admirable than other of the book's important features； striking； as it
does； more emphatically the chief note of the book's humorthat is to
say； exaggeration。
Without doubt there must be manyvery manywho agree in finding a
fuller enjoyment in 'A Tramp Abroad' than in the 'Innocents'； only； the
burden of the world's opinion lies the other way。 The world has a
weakness for its illusions： the splendor that falls on castle walls； the
glory of the hills at evening； the pathos of the days that are no more。
It answers to tenderness； even on the page of humor； and to genuine
enthusiasm； sharply sensing the lack of these things； instinctively
resenting； even when most amused by it； extravagance and burlesque。 The
Innocents Abroad is more soul…satisfying than its successor； more poetic；
more sentimental； if you will。 The Tramp contains better English usage；
without doubt； but it is less full of happiness and bloom and the halo of
romance。 The heart of the world has felt this； and has demanded the book
in fewer numbers。 ＇The sales of the Innocents during the earlier years
more than doubled those of the Tramp during a similar period。 The later
ratio of popularity is more nearly thre