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more than doubled those of the Tramp during a similar period。 The later
ratio of popularity is more nearly three to one。 It has been repeatedly
stated that in England the Tramp has the greater popularity； an assertion
not sustained by the publisher's accountings。＇
CXXVII
LETTERS； TALES； AND PLANS
The reader has not failed to remark the great number of letters which
Samuel Clemens wrote to his friend William Dean Howells； yet
comparatively few can even be mentioned。 He was always writing to
Howells； on every subject under the sun； whatever came into his mind
business； literature； personal affairshe must write about it to
Howells。 Once； when nothing better occurred； he sent him a series of
telegrams； each a stanza from an old hymn； possibly thinking they might
carry comfort。＇〃Clemens had then and for many years the habit of
writing to me about what he was doing； and still more of what he was
experiencing。 Nothing struck his imagination； in or out of the daily
routine； but he wished to write me of it； and he wrote with the greatest
fullness and a lavish dramatization； sometimes to the length of twenty or
forty pages：〃 （My Mark Twain； by W。 D。 Howells。）＇ Whatever of
picturesque happened in the household he immediately set it down for
Howells's entertainment。 Some of these domestic incidents carry the
flavor of his best humor。 Once he wrote：
Last night； when I went to bed； Mrs。 Clemens said； 〃George didn't
take the cat down to the cellar； Rosa says he has left it shut up in
the conservatory。〃 So I went down to attend to Abner （the cat）。
About three in the morning Mrs。 C。 woke me and said； 〃I do believe
I hear that cat in the drawing…room。 What did you do with him？〃 I
answered with the confidence of a man who has managed to do the
right thing for once； and said； 〃I opened the conservatory doors；
took the library off the alarm； and spread everything open； so that
there wasn't any obstruction between him and the cellar。〃 Language
wasn't capable of conveying this woman's disgust。 But the sense of
what she said was； 〃He couldn't have done any harm in the
conservatory； so you must go and make the entire house free to him
and the burglars； imagining that he will prefer the coal…bins to the
drawing…room。 If you had had Mr。 Howells to help you I should have
admired； but not have been astonished； because I should know that
together you would be equal to it； but how you managed to contrive
such a stately blunder all by yourself is what I cannot understand。〃
So； you see； even she knows how to apprecaite our gifts。。。。
I knocked off during these stirring hours； and don't intend to go to
work again till we go away for the summer； four or six weeks hence。
So I am writing to you； not because I have anything to say； but
because you don't have to answer and I need something to do this
afternoon。
The rightful earl has
Friday； 7th。
Well； never mind about the rightful earl； he merely wanted to…borrow
money。 I never knew an American earl that didn't。
After a trip to Boston； during which Mrs。 Clemens did some bric…a…brac
shopping； he wrote：
Mrs。 Clemens has two imperishable topics now： the museum of andirons
which she collected and your dinner。 It is hard to tell which she
admires the most。 Sometimes she leans one way and sometimes the
other； but I lean pretty steadily toward the dinner because I can
appreciate that； whereas I am no prophet in andirons。 There has
been a procession of Adams Express wagons filing before the door all
day delivering andirons。
In a more serious vein he refers to the aged violinist Ole Bull and his
wife； whom they had met during their visit； and their enjoyment of that
gentle…hearted pair。
Clemens did some shorter work that spring； most of which found its way
into the Atlantic。 〃Edward Mills and George Benton；〃 one of the
contributions of this time； is a moral sermon in its presentation of a
pitiful human spectacle and misdirected human zeal。
It brought a pack of letters of approval； not only from laity； but the
church； and in some measure may have helped to destroy the silly
sentimentalism which manifested itself in making heroes of spectacular
criminals。 That fashion has gone out； largely。 Mark Twain wrote
frequently on the subject； though never more effectively than in this
particular instance。 〃Mrs。 McWilliams and the Lightning〃 was another
Atlantic story； a companion piece to 〃Mrs。 McWilliams's Experience with
the Membranous Croup；〃 and in the same delightful veina vein in which
Mark Twain was likely to be at his bestthe transcription of a scene not
so far removed in character from that in the 〃cat〃 letter just quoted：
something which may or may not have happened； but might have happened；
approximately as set down。 Rose Terry Cooke wrote：
Horrid man； how did you know the way I behave in a thunderstorm？
Have you been secreted in the closet or lurking on the shed roof？
I hope you got thoroughly rained on； and worst of all is that you
made me laugh at myself； my real terrors turned round and grimaced
at me： they were sublime； and you have made them ridiculous just
come out here another year and have four houses within a few rods of
you struck and then see if you write an article of such exasperating
levity。 I really hate you； but you are funny。
In addition to his own work； he conceived a plan for Orion。 Clemens
himself had been attempting； from time to time； an absolutely faithful
autobiography； a document in which his deeds and misdeeds； even his moods
and inmost thoughts； should be truly set down。 He had found it an
impossible task。 He confessed freely that he lacked the courage； even
the actual ability； to pen the words that would lay his soul bare； but he
believed Orion equal to the task。 He knew how rigidly honest he was； how
ready to confess his shortcomings； how eager to be employed at some
literary occupation。 It was Mark Twain's belief that if Orion would
record in detail his long； weary struggle； his succession of attempts and
failures； his past dreams and disappointments； along with his sins of
omission and commission； it would make one of those priceless human
documents such as have been left by Benvenuto Cellini； Cazenova； and
Rousseau。
〃Simply tell your story to yourself；〃 he wrote； 〃laying all hideousness
utterly bare； reserving nothing。 Banish the idea of the audience and all
hampering things。〃
Orion； out in Keokuk； had long since abandoned the chicken farm and a
variety of other enterprises。 He had prospected insurance； mining；
journalism； his old trade of printing； and had taken down and hung up his
law shingle between each of these seizures。 Aside from business； too； he
had been having a rather spectacular experience。 He had changed his
politics three times （twice in one day）； and his religion as many more。
Once when he was delivering a political harangue in the street； at night；
a parade of the opposit