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new patents； new methods of ameliorating the ills of mankind。
Howells came down to Hartford from Boston full of enthusiasm。 He found
Clemens with some ideas of the plan jotted down： certain effects and
situations which seemed to him amusing； but there was no general scheme
of action。 Howells； telling of it； says：
I felt authorized to make him observe that his scheme was as nearly
nothing as chaos could be。 He agreed hilariously with me； and was
willing to let it stand in proof of his entire dramatic inability。
Howells； in turn； proposed a plan which Clemens approved； and they set to
work。 Howells could imitate Clemens's literary manner； and they had a
riotously jubilant fortnight working out their humors。 Howells has told
about it in his book； and he once related it to the writer of this
memoir。 He said：
〃Clemens took one scene and I another。 We had loads and loads of fun
about it。 We cracked our sides laughing over it as it went along。 We
thought it mighty good； and I think to this day that it was mighty good。
We called the play 'Colonel Sellers。' We revived him。 Clemens had a
notion of Sellers as a spiritual medium…there was a good deal of
excitement about spiritualism then； he also had a notion of Sellers
leading a women's temperance crusade。 We conceived the idea of Sellers
wanting to try； in the presence of the audience； how a man felt who had
fallen； through drink。 Sellers was to end with a sort of corkscrew
performance on the stage。 He always wore a marvelous fire extinguisher；
one of his inventions； strapped on his back； so in any sudden emergency；
he could give proof of its effectiveness。〃
In connection with the extinguisher； Howells provided Sellers with a pair
of wings； which Sellers declared would enable him to float around in any
altitude where the flames might break out。 The extinguisher； was not to
be charged with water or any sort of liquid； but with Greek fire； on the
principle that like cures like； in other words； the building was to be
inoculated with Greek fire against the ordinary conflagration。 Of course
the whole thing was as absurd as possible； and； reading the old
manuscript to…day； one is impressed with the roaring humor of some of the
scenes； and with the wild extravagance of the farce motive； not wholly
warranted by the previous character of Sellers； unless； indeed； he had
gone stark mad。 It is； in fact； Sellers caricatured。 The gentle； tender
side of Sellersthe best sidethe side which Clemens and Howells
themselves cared for most； is not there。 Chapter III of Mark Twain's
novel； The American Claimant； contains a scene between Colonel Sellers
and Washington Hawkins which presents the extravagance of the Colonel's
materialization scheme。 It is a modified version of one of the scenes in
the play； and is as amusing and unoffending as any。
The authors' rollicking joy in their work convinced them that they had
produced a masterpiece for which the public in general； and the actors in
particular； were waiting。 Howells went back to Boston tired out； but
elate in the prospect of imminent fortune。
CXLVI
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
Meantime； while Howells had been in Hartford working at the play with
Clemens； Matthew Arnold had arrived in Boston。 On inquiring for Howells；
at his home； the visitor was told that he had gone to see Mark Twain。
Arnold was perhaps the only literary Englishman left who had not accepted
Mark Twain at his larger value。 He seemed surprised and said：
〃Oh； but he doesn't like that sort of thing； does he？〃
To which Mrs。 Howells replied：
〃He likes Mr。 Clemens very much； and he thinks him one of the greatest
men he ever knew。〃
Arnold proceeded to Hartford to lecture； and one night Howells and
Clemens went to meet him at a reception。 Says Howells：
While his hand laxly held mine in greeting I saw his eyes fixed
intensely on the other side of the room。 〃Whowho in the world is
that？〃 I looked and said； 〃Oh； that is Mark Twain。〃 I do not
remember just how their instant encounter was contrived by Arnold's
wish； but I have the impression that they were not parted for long
during the evening； and the next night Arnold； as if still under the
glamour of that potent presence； was at Clemens's house。
He came there to dine with the Twichells and the Rev。 Dr。 Edwin P。
Parker。 Dr。 Parker and Arnold left together； and； walking quietly
homeward； discussed the remarkable creature whose presence they had just
left。 Clemens had been at his best that nightat his humorous best。 He
had kept a perpetual gale of laughter going； with a string of comment and
anecdote of a kind which Twichell once declared the world had never
before seen and would never see again。 Arnold seemed dazed by it； unable
to come out from under its influence。 He repeated some of the things
Mark Twain had said； thoughtfully； as if trying to analyze their magic。
Then he asked solemnly：
〃And is he never serious？〃
And Dr。 Parker as solemnly answered：
〃Mr。 Arnold； he is the most serious man in the world。〃 Dr。 Parker；
recalling this incident； remembered also that Protap Chunder Mazoomdar； a
Hindoo Christian prelate of high rank； visited Hartford in 1883； and that
his one desire was to meet Mark Twain。 In some memoranda of this visit
Dr。 Parker has written：
I said that Mark Twain was a friend of mine； and we would
immediately go to his house。 He was all eagerness； and I perceived
that I had risen greatly in this most refined and cultivated
gentleman's estimation。 Arriving at Mr。 Clemens's residence； I
promptly sought a brief private interview with my friend for his
enlightenment concerning the distinguished visitor； after which they
were introduced and spent a long while together。 In due time
Mazoomdar came forth with Mark's likeness and autograph； and as we
walked away his whole air and manner seemed to say； with Simeon of
old； 〃Lord； now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace！〃
CXLVII
THE FORTUNES OF A PLAY
Howells is of the impression that the 〃Claimant〃 play had been offered to
other actors before Raymond was made aware of it； but there are letters
（to Webster） which indicate that Raymond was to see the play first；
though Clemens declares； in a letter of instruction； that he hopes
Raymond will not take it。 Then he says：
Why do I offer him the play at all？ For these reasons： he plays
that character well； there are not thirty actors in the country who
can do it better； and； too； he has a sort of sentimental right to be
offered the piece； though no moral； or legal； or other kind of
right。
Therefore we do offer it to him； but only once； not twice。 Let us
have no hemming and hawing； make short； sharp work of the business。
I decline to have any correspondence with R。 myself in any way。
This was at the end of November； 1883； while the play was still being
revised。 Negotiations with Raymond had already begun； though he does not
appear to have actually seen the play during that theatrical season； and
m