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puzzled at its universal acceptance 。 。 。 。 Why； in fine； should
an English chief…justice keep Mark Twain's books always at hand？
Why should Darwin have gone to them for rest and refreshment at
midnight； when spent with scientific research？
I suppose that Mark Twain transcends all other American humorists in
the universal qualities。 He deals very little with the pathetic；
which he nevertheless knows very well how to manage； as he has
shown； notably in the true story of the old slave…mother； but there
is a poetic lift in his work； even when he permits you to recognize
it only as something satirized。 There is always the touch of
nature； the presence of a sincere and frank manliness in what he
says； the companionship of a spirit which is at once delightfully
open and deliciously shrewd。 Elsewhere I have tried to persuade the
reader that his humor is； at its best； the foamy break of the strong
tide of earnestness in him。 But it would be limiting him unjustly
to describe him as a satirist； and it is hardly practicable to
establish him in people's minds as a moralist； he has made them
laugh too long； they will not believe him serious； they think some
joke is always intended。 This is the penalty； as Dr。 Holmes has
pointed out； of making one's first success as a humorist。 There was
a paper of Mark Twain's printed in the Atlantic Monthly some years
ago and called； 〃The Facts Concerning the Late Carnival of Crime in
Connecticut；〃 which ought to have won popular recognition of the
ethical intelligence underlying his humor。 It was； of course；
funny； but under the fun it was an impassioned study of the human
conscience。 Hawthorne or Bunyan might have been proud to imagine
that powerful allegory； which had a grotesque force far beyond
either of them。。。。 Yet it quite failed of the response I had hoped
for it； and I shall not insist here upon Mark Twain as a moralist；
though I warn the reader that if he leaves out of the account an
indignant sense of right and wrong； a scorn of all affectations and
pretense； an ardent hate of meanness and injustice； he will come
infinitely short of knowing Mark Twain。
Howells realized the unwisdom and weakness of dogmatic insistence； and
the strength of understatement。 To him Mark Twain was already the
moralist； the philosopher； and the statesman； he was willing that the
reader should take his time to realize these things。 The article； with
his subject's portrait as a frontispiece； appeared in the Century for
September； 1882。 If it carried no new message to many of its readers； it
at least set the stamp of official approval upon what they had already
established in their hearts。
CXL
DOWN THE RIVER
Osgood was doing no great things with The Prince and the Pauper； but
Clemens gave him another book presently； a collection of sketchesThe
Stolen White Elephant。 It was not an especially important volume； though
some of the features； such as 〃Mrs。 McWilliams and the Lightning〃 and the
〃Carnival of Crime；〃 are among the best of their sort； while the
〃Elephant〃 story is an amazingly good take…off on what might be called
the spectacular detective。 The interview between Inspector Blunt and the
owner of the elephant is typical。 The inspector asks：
〃Now what does this elephant eat； and how much？〃
〃Well； as to what he eatshe will eat anything。 He will eat a man；
he will eat a Bible； he will eat anything between a man and a
Bible。〃
〃Good…very good； indeed； but too general。 Details are necessary；
details are the only valuable thing in our trade。 Very well； as to
men。 At one mealor； if you prefer； during one dayhow many men
will he eat if fresh？〃
〃He would not care whether they were fresh or not； at a single meal
he would eat five ordinary men。〃
〃Very good； five men。 We will put that down。 What nationalities
would he prefer？〃
〃He is indifferent about nationalities。 He prefers acquaintances；
but is not prejudiced against strangers。〃
〃Very good。 Now； as to Bibles。 How many Bibles would he eat at a
meal？〃
〃He would eat an entire edition。〃
Clemens and Osgood had a more important publishing enterprise on hand。
The long…deferred completion of the Mississippi book was to be
accomplished； the long…deferred trip down the river was to be taken。
Howells was going abroad； but the charming Osgood was willing to make the
excursion； and a young man named Roswell Phelps； of Hartford； was engaged
as a stenographer to take the notes。
Clemens made a farewell trip to Boston to see Howells before his
departure； and together they went to Concord to call on Emerson； a
fortunate thing； for he lived but a few weeks longer。 They went again in
the evening； not to see him； but to stand reverently outside and look at
his house。 This was in April。 Longfellow had died in March。 The fact
that Howells was going away indefinitely； made them reminiscent and sad。
Just what breach Clemens committed during this visit is not remembered
now； and it does not matter； but his letter to Howells； after his return
to Hartford； makes it pretty clear that it was memorable enough at the
time。 Half…way in it he breaks out：
But oh； hell； there is no hope for a person that is built like me；
because there is no cure； no cure。
If I could only know when I have committed a crime： then I could
conceal it； and not go stupidly dribbling it out； circumstance by
circumstance； into the ears of a person who will give no sign till
the confession is complete； and then the sudden damnation drops on a
body like the released pile…driver； and he finds himself in the
earth down to his chin。 When he merely supposed he was being
entertaining。
Next day he was off with Osgood and the stenographer for St。 Louis； where
they took the steamer Gold Dust down the river。 He intended to travel
under an assumed name； but was promptly recognized； both at the Southern
Hotel and on the boat。 In 'Life on the Mississippi' he has given us the
atmosphere of his trip； with his new impressions of old scenes； also his
first interview with the pilot； whom he did not remember； but who easily
remembered him。
〃I did not write that story in the book quite as it happened；〃 he
reflected once； many years later。 〃We went on board at night。 Next
morning I was up bright and early and out on deck to see if I could
recognize any of the old landmarks。 I could not remember any。 I did not
know where we were at all。 It was a new river to me entirely。 I climbed
up in the pilot…house and there was a fellow of about forty at the wheel。
I said 'Good morning。' He answered pleasantly enough。 His face was
entirely strange to me。 Then I sat down on the high seat back of the
wheel and looked out at the river and began to ask a few questions； such
as a landsman would ask。 He began； in the old way； to fill me up with
the old lies； and I enjoyed letting him do