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phrase of the period。 The result was Fireside Conversation in the Time
of Queen Elizabeth； or； as he later called it； 1601。 The 〃conversation；〃
recorded by a supposed Pepys of that period； was written with all the
outspoken coarseness and nakedness of that rank day； when fireside
sociabilities were limited only by the range of loosened fancy；
vocabulary； and physical performance； and not by any bounds of
convention。 Howells has spoken of Mark Twain's 〃Elizabethan breadth of
parlance；〃 and how he； Howells； was always hiding away in discreet holes
and corners the letters in which Clemens had 〃loosed his bold fancy to
stoop on rank suggestion。〃 〃 I could not bear to burn them；〃 he
declares； 〃and I could not； after the first reading； quite bear to look
at them。〃
In the 1601 Mark Twain outdid himself in the Elizabethan field。 It was
written as a letter to that robust divine； Rev。 Joseph Twichell； who had
no special scruples concerning Shakespearian parlance and customs。
Before it was mailed it was shown to David Gray； who was spending a
Sunday at Elmira。 Gray said：
〃Print it and put your name to it； Mark。 You have never done a greater
piece of work than that。〃
John Hay； whom it also reached in due time； pronounce it a classica
〃most exquisite bit of old English morality。〃 Hay surreptitiously
permitted some proofs to be made of it； and it has been circulated
privately； though sparingly； ever since。 At one time a special font of
antique type was made for it and one hundred copies were taken on hand…
made paper。 They would easily bring a hundred dollars each to…day。
1601 is a genuine classic； as classics of that sort go。 It is better
than the gross obscenities of Rabelais； and perhaps； in some day to come；
the taste that justified Gargantua and the Decameron will give this
literary refugee shelter and setting among the more conventional writings
of Mark Twain。 Human taste is a curious thing； delicacy is purely a
matter of environment and point of view。 ＇In a note…book of a later
period Clemens himself wrote： 〃It depends on who writes a thing whether
it is coarse or not。 I once wrote a conversation between Elizabeth；
Shakespeare； Ben Jonson； Beaumont； Sir W。 Raleigh； Lord Bacon； Sir
Nicholas Throckmorton； and a stupid old noblemanthis latter being cup…
bearer to the queen and ostensible reporter of the talk。
〃There were four maids of honor present and a sweet young girl two years
younger than the boy Beaumont。 I built a conversation which could have
happenedI used words such as were used at that time1601。 I sent it
anonymously to a magazine； and how the editor abused it and the sender！
But that man was a praiser of Rabelais； and had been saying； 'O that we
had a Rabelais！' I judged that I could furnish him one。〃＇
Eighteen hundred and seventy…six was a Presidential yearthe year of the
Hayes…Tilden campaign。 Clemens and Howells were both warm Republicans
and actively interested in the outcome； Clemens； as he confessed； for the
first time in his life。 Before his return to Hartford he announced
himself publicly as a Hayes man； made so by Governor Hayes's letter of
acceptance； which； he said； 〃expresses my own political convictions。〃
His politics had not been generally known up to that time； and a Tilden
and Hendricks club in Jersey City had invited him to be present and give
them some political counsel； at a flag…raising。 He wrote； declining
pleasantly enough； then added：
〃You have asked me for some political counsel or advice： In view of Mr。
Tilden's Civil War record my advice is not to raise the flag。〃
He wrote Howells： 〃If Tilden is elected I think the entire country will
go pretty straight toMrs。 Howells's bad place。〃
Howells was writing a campaign biography of Hayes； which he hoped would
have a large sale； and Clemens urged him to get it out quickly and save
the country。 Howells； working like a beaver； in turn urged Clemens to
take the field in the cause。 Returning to Hartford； Clemens presided at
a political rally and made a speech； the most widely quoted of the
campaign。 All papers； without distinction as to party； quoted it； and
all readers； regardless of politics； read it with joy。
Yet conditions did not improve。 When Howells's book had been out a
reasonable length of time he wrote that it had sold only two thousand
copies。
〃There's success for you；〃 he said。 〃It makes me despair of the
Republic； I can tell you。〃
Clemens； however； did not lose faith； and went on shouting for Hayes and
damning Tilden till the final vote was cast。 In later life he changed
his mind about Tilden （as did many others） through sympathy。 Sympathy
could makeMark Twain change his mind any time。 He stood for the right；
but； above all； for justice。 He stood for the wronged； regardless of all
other things。
CIX
THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE OF 〃TOM SAWYER〃
Clemens gave a few readings in Boston and Philadelphia； but when urged to
go elsewhere made the excuse that he was having his portrait painted and
could not leave home。
As a matter of fact； he was enjoying himself with Frank Millet； who had
been invited to the house to do the portrait and had captured the fervent
admiration of the whole family。 Millet was young； handsome； and lively；
Clemens couldn't see enough of him； the children adored him and added his
name to the prayer which included each member of the householdthe 〃Holy
Family；〃 Clemens called it。
Millet had brought with him but one piece of canvas for the portrait； and
when the first sketch was finished Mrs。 Clemens was so delighted with it
that she did not wish him to touch it again。 She was afraid of losing
some particular feeling in it which she valued。 Millet went to the city。
for another canvas and Clemens accompanied him。 While Millet was doing
his shopping it happened to occur to Clemens that it would be well to
fill in the time by having his hair cut。 He left word with a clerk to
tell Millet that he had gone across the street。 By and by the artist
came over； and nearly wept with despair when he saw his subject sheared
of the auburn； gray…sprinkled aureola that had made his first sketch a
success。 He tried it again； and the result was an excellent likeness；
but it never satisfied Millet。
The 'Adventures of Tom Sawyer' appeared late in December （1876）； and
immediately took its place as foremost of American stories of boy life；
a place which it unquestionably holds to this day。 We have already
considered the personal details of this story； for they were essentially
nothing more than the various aspects of Mark Twain's own boyhood。 It is
only necessary to add a word concerning the elaboration of this period in
literary form。
》From every point it is a masterpiece； this picture of boy life in a
little lazy； drowsy town； with all the irresponsibility and general
disreputability of boy character coupled with that indefinable； formless；
elusive something we call boy conscience； which is more likely to be boy
terror and a latent instinct of manliness。 These things are so truly
portrayed that every boy and man reader finds the tale fitting into his
own remembered years