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Court'； it never sacrifices the illusion to the burlesque； while through
it all there runs a delicate vein of humor。 Only here and there is there
the slightest disillusion； and this mainly in the use of some ultra…
modern phrase or word。
Mark Twain never did any better writing than some of the splendid scenes
in 'The Prince and the Pauper'。 The picture of Old London Bridge； the
scene in the vagabond's retreat； with its presentation to the little king
of the wrongs inflicted by the laws of his realm； the episode of the jail
where his revelation reaches a climaxthese are but a few of the
splendid pictures which the chapters portray； while the spectacle of
England acquiring mercy at the hands of two children； a king and a
beggar； is one which only genius could create。 One might quote here； but
to do so without the context would be to sacrifice atmosphere； half the
story's charm。 How breathlessly interesting is the tale of it！ We may
imagine that first little audience at Mark Twain's fireside hanging
expectant on every paragraph； hungry always for more。 Of all Mark
Twain's longer works of fiction it is perhaps the most coherent as to
plot； the most carefully thought out； the most perfect as to workmanship。
This is not to say that it is his greatest story。 Probably time will not
give it that rank； but it comes near to being a perfectly constructed
story； and it has an imperishable charm。
It was well received； though not always understood by the public。 The
reviewer was so accustomed to looking for the joke in Mark Twain's work；
that he found it hard to estimate this new product。 Some even went so
far as to refer to it as one of Mark Twain's big jokes； meaning probably
that he had created a chapter in English history with no foundation
beyond his fancy。 Of course these things pained the author of the book。
At one time； he had been inclined to publish it anonymously； to avert
this sort of misunderstanding； and sometimes now he regretted not having
done so。
Yet there were many gratifying notices。 The New York Herald reviewer
gave the new book two columns of finely intelligent appreciation。 In
part he said：
To those who have followed the career of Mark Twain； his appearance
as the author of a charming and noble romance is really no more of a
surprise than to see a stately structure risen upon sightly ground
owned by an architect of genius； with the resources of abundant
building material and ample training at command。 Of his capacity
they have had no doubt； and they rejoice in his taking a step which
they felt he was able to take。 Through all his publications may be
traced the marks of the path which half led up to this happy height。
His humor has often been the cloak； but not the mask； of a sturdy
purpose。 His work has been characterized by a manly love of truth；
a hatred of humbug； and a scorn for cant。 A genial warmth and
whole…souledness； a beautiful fancy； a fertile imagination； and a
native feeling for the picturesque and a fine eye for color have
afforded the basis of a style which has become more and more plastic
and finished。
And in closing：
The characters of these two boys； twins in spirit； will rank with
the purest and loveliest creations of child…life in the realm of
fiction。
CXXXVII
CERTAIN ATTACKS AND REPRISALS
Beyond the publication of The Prince and the Pauper Clemens was sparingly
represented in print in '81。 A chapter originally intended for the book；
the 〃Whipping Boy's Story；〃 he gave to the Bazaar Budget； a little
special…edition sheet printed in Hartford。 It was the story of the 'Bull
and the Bees' which he later adapted for use in Joan of Arc； the episode
in which Joan's father rides a bull to a funeral。 Howells found that it
interfered with the action in the story of the Prince； and we might have
spared it from the story of Joan； though hardly without regret。
The military story 〃A Curious Episode〃 was published in the Century
Magazine for November。 The fact that Clemens had heard； and not
invented； the story was set forth quite definitely and fully in his
opening paragraphs。 Nevertheless； a 〃Captious Reader〃 thought it
necessary to write to a New York publication concerning its origin：
I am an admirer of the writings of Mr。 Mark Twain； and consequently；
when I saw the table of contents of the November number of the
Century； I bought it and turned at once to the article bearing his
name； and entitled； 〃A Curious Episode。〃 When I began to read it；
it struck me as strangely familiar； and I soon recognized the story
as a true one； told me in the summer of 1878 by an officer of the
United States artillery。 Query： Did Mr。 Twain expect the public to
credit this narrative to his clever brain？
The editor； seeing a chance for Mark Twain 〃copy；〃 forwarded a clipping
to Clemens and asked him if he had anything to say in the matter。
Clemens happened to know the editor very well； and he did have something
to say； not for print； but for the editor's private ear。
The newspaper custom of shooting a man in the back and then calling
upon him to come out in a card and prove that he was not engaged in
any infamy at the time is a good enough custom for those who think
it justifiable。 Your correspondent is not stupid； I judge； but
purely and simply malicious。 He knew there was not the shadow of a
suggestion； from the beginning to the end of 〃A Curious Episode；〃
that the story was an invention； he knew he had no warrant for
trying to persuade the public that I had stolen the narrative and
was endeavoring to palm it off as a piece of literary invention； he
also knew that he was asking his closing question with a base
motive； else he would have asked it of me by letter； not spread it
before the public。
I have never wronged you in any way； and I think you had no right to
print that communication； no right； neither any excuse。 As to
publicly answering that correspondent； I would as soon think of
bandying words in public with any other prostitute。
The editor replied in a manly； frank acknowledgment of error。 He had not
looked up the article itself in the Century before printing the
communication。
〃Your letter has taught me a lesson；〃 he said。 〃The blame belongs
to me for not hunting up the proofs。 Please accept my apology。〃
Mark Twain was likely to be peculiarly sensitive to printed innuendos。
Not always。 Sometimes he would only laugh at them or be wholly
indifferent。 Indeed； in his later years； he seldom cared to read
anything about himself； one way or the other； but at the time of which we
are now writingthe period of the early eightieshe was alive to any
comment of the press。 His strong sense of humor； and still stronger
sense of human weakness； caused him to overlook many things which another
might regard as an affront； but if the thing printed were merely an
uncalled…for slur； an inexcusable imputation； he was inclined to rage and
plan viole