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thick…headed Peter Spuyk his impromptu additions to the lines made it
hard on the company； who found their cues all at sixes and sevens； but it
delighted the audience beyond measure。 No such impersonation of that。
character was ever given before； or ever will be given again。 It was
repeated with new and astonishing variations on the part of Peter； and it
could have been put on for a long run。 Augustin Daly wrote immediately；
offering the Fifth Avenue Theater for a 〃benefit〃 performance； and again；
a few days later； urging acceptance。 〃Not for one night； but for many。〃
Clemens was tempted； no doubt。 Perhaps； if he had yielded； he would
today have had one more claim on immortality。
CVII
HOWELLS； CLEMENS； AND 〃GEORGE〃
Howells and Clemens were visiting back and forth rather oftener just
then。 Clemens was particularly fond of the Boston crowdAldrich；
Fields； Osgood； and the restdelighting in those luncheons or dinners
which Osgood； that hospitable publisher； was always giving on one pretext
or another。 No man ever loved company more than Osgood； or to play the
part of host and pay for the enjoyment of others。 His dinners were
elaborate affairs； where the sages and poets and wits of that day （and
sometimes their wives） gathered。 They were happy reunions； those fore…
gatherings； though perhaps a more intimate enjoyment was found at the
luncheons； where only two or three were invited； usually Aldrich；
Howells； and Clemens； and the talk continued through the afternoon and
into the deepening twilight； such company and such twilight as somehow
one seems never to find any more。
On one of the visits which Howells made to Hartford that year he took his
son John； then a small boy； with him。 John was about six years old at
the time； with his head full of stories of Aladdin； and of other Arabian
fancies。 On the way over his father said to him：
〃Now； John； you will see a perfect palace。〃
They arrived； and John was awed into silence by the magnificence and
splendors of his surroundings until they went to the bath…room to wash
off the dust of travel。 There he happened to notice a cake of pink soap。
〃Why；〃 he said； 〃they've even got their soap painted！〃 Next morning he
woke earlythey were occupying the mahogany room on the ground floor
and slipping out through the library； and to the door of the dining…room；
he saw the colored butler； Georgethe immortal Georgesetting the
breakfast…table。 He hurriedly tiptoed back and whispered to his father：
〃Come quick！ The slave is setting the table！〃
This being the second mention of George； it seems proper here that he
should be formally presented。 Clemens used to say that George came one
day to wash windows and remained eighteen years。 He was precisely the
sort of character that Mark Twain loved。 He had formerly been the body…
servant of an army general and was typically racially Southern； with
those delightful attributes of wit and policy and gentleness which go
with the best type of negro character。 The children loved him no less
than did their father。 Mrs。 Clemens likewise had a weakness for George；
though she did not approve of him。 George's morals were defective。 He
was an inveterate gambler。 He would bet on anything； though prudently
and with knowledge。 He would investigate before he invested。 If he
placed his money on a horse； he knew the horse's pedigree and the
pedigree of the horses against it； also of their riders。 If he invested
in an election； he knew all about the candidates。 He had agents among
his own race； and among the whites as well； to supply him with
information。 He kept them faithful to him by lending them moneyat
ruinous interest。 He buttonholed Mark Twain's callers while he was
removing their coats concerning the political situation； much to the
chagrin of Mrs。 Clemens； who protested； though vainly； for the men liked
George and his ways； and upheld him in his iniquities。
Mrs。 Clemens's disapproval of George reached the point； now and then；
where she declared he could not remain。
She even discharged him once； but next morning George was at the
breakfast…table； in attendance； as usual。 Mrs。 Clemens looked at him
gravely：
〃George；〃 she said； 〃didn't I discharge you yesterday？〃
〃Yes； Mis' Clemens； but I knew you couldn't get along without me； so I
thought I'd better stay a while。〃
In one of the letters to Howells； Clemens wrote：
When George first came he was one of the most religious of men。 He had
but one faultyoung George Washington's。 But I have trained him； and
now it fairly breaks Mrs。 Clemens's heart to hear him stand at that front
door and lie to an unwelcome visitor。
George was a fine diplomat。 He would come up to the billiard…room with a
card or message from some one waiting below； and Clemens would fling his
soul into a sultry denial which became a soothing and balmy subterfuge
before it reached the front door。
The 〃slave〃 must have been setting the table in good season； for the
Clemens breakfasts were likely to be late。 They usually came along about
nine o'clock； by which time Howells and John were fairly clawing with
hunger。
Clemens did not have an early appetite； but when it came it was a good
one。 Breakfast and dinner were his important meals。 He seldom ate at
all during the middle of the day； though if guests were present he would
join them at luncheon…time and walk up and down while they were eating；
talking and gesticulating in his fervent； fascinating way。 Sometimes
Mrs。 Clemens would say：
〃Oh； Youth； do come and sit down with us。 We can listen so much better。〃
But he seldom did。 At dinner； too； it was his habit； between the
courses； to rise from the table and walk up and down the room； waving his
napkin and talking！talking in a strain and with a charm that he could
never quite equal with his pen。 It's the opinion of most people who knew
Mark Twain personally that his impromptu utterances； delivered with that
ineffable quality of speech； manifested the culmination of his genius。
When Clemens came to Boston the Howells household was regulated； or
rather unregulated； without regard to former routine。 Mark Twain's
personality was of a sort that unconsciously compelled the general
attendance of any household。 The reader may recall Josh Billings's
remark on the subject。 Howells tells how they kept their guest to
themselves when he visited their home in Cambridge； permitting him to
indulge in as many unconventions as he chose； how Clemens would take a
room at the Parker House； leaving the gas burning day and night； and
perhaps arrive at Cambridge； after a dinner or a reading； in evening
dress and slippers； and joyously remain with them for a day or more in
that guise； slipping on an overcoat and a pair of rubbers when they went
for a walk。 Also； how he smoked continuously in every room of the house；
smoked during every waking moment； and how Howells； mindful of his
insurance； sometimes slipped in and removed the still…burning cigar after
he was asleep。
Clemens had difficulty in getting to sleep in that earlier day； and for a
time found it soothing to drink a little champagne on re