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of it； she using English for light skirmishing and German for
〃business。〃 I kept up my end with vigor； and demolished her
arguments in detail； one after the other； till I judged I had her
about cornered。 She hesitated a moment； then answered up； sharply：
〃Wir werden nichts mehr daruber sprechen！〃 （We won't talk any more
about it。）
It nearly took my breath away； though I thought I might possibly
have misunderstood。 I said：
〃Why； you little rascal！ Was hast du gesagt？〃
But she said the same words over again； and in the same decided way。
I suppose I ought to have been outraged； but I wasn't； I was
charmed。
His own note…books of that summer are as full as usual； but there are
fewer literary ideas and more philosophies。 There was an excitement；
just then； about the trichina germ in pork； and one of his memoranda
says：
I think we are only the microscopic trichina concealed in the blood
of some vast creature's veins； and that it is that vast creature
whom God concerns himself about and not us。
And there is another which says：
People； in trying to justify eternity； say we can put it in by
learning all the knowledge acquired by the inhabitants of the
myriads of stars。 We sha'n't need that。 We could use up two
eternities in learning all that is to be learned about our own
world； and the thousands of nations that have risen； and flourished；
and vanished from it。 Mathematics alone would occupy me eight
million years。
He records an incident which he related more fully in a letter to
Howells：
Before I forget it I must tell you that Mrs。 Clemens has said a
bright thing。 A drop…letter came to me asking me to lecture here
for a church debt。 I began to rage over the exceedingly cool
wording of the request； when Mrs。 Clemens said： 〃I think I know that
church； and； if so； this preacher is a colored man； he doesn't know
how to write a polished letter。 How should he？〃
My manner changed so suddenly and so radically that Mrs。 C。 said： 〃I
will give you a motto； and it will be useful to you if you will
adopt it： 'Consider every man colored till he is proved white。'〃
It is dern good； I think。
One of the note…books contains these entries：
Talking last night about home matters； I said； 〃I wish I had said to
George when we were leaving home； 'Now； George； I wish you would
take advantage of these three or four months' idle time while I am
away'〃
〃To learn to let my matches alone；〃 interrupted Livy。 The very
words I was going to use。 Yet George had not been mentioned before；
nor his peculiarities。
Several years ago I said：
〃Suppose I should live to be ninety…two； and just as I was dying a
messenger should enter and say〃
〃You are become Earl of Durham；〃 interrupted Livy。 The very words I
was going to utter。 Yet there had not been a word said about the
earl； or any other person； nor had there been any conversation
calculated to suggest any such subject。
CLI
MARK TWAIN MUGWUMPS
The Republican Presidential nomination of James G。 Blaine resulted in a
political revolt such as the nation had not known。 Blaine was immensely
popular； but he had many enemies in his own party。 There were strong
suspicions of his being connected with doubtful financiering…enterprises；
more or less sensitive to official influence； and while these scandals
had become quieted a very large portion of the Republican constituency
refused to believe them unjustified。 What might be termed the
intellectual element of Republicanism was against Blame： George William
Curtis； Charles Dudley Warner； James Russell Lowell； Henry Ward Beecher；
Thomas Nast； the firm of Harper & Brothers； Joseph W。 Hawley； Joseph
Twichell； Mark Twainin fact the majority of thinking men who held
principle above party in their choice。
On the day of the Chicago nomination； Henry C。 Robinson； Charles E。
Perkins； Edward M。 Bunce； F。 G。 Whitmore； and Samuel C。 Dunham were
collected with Mark Twain in his billiard…room； taking turns at the game
and discussing the political situation； with George； the colored butler；
at the telephone down…stairs to report the returns as they came in。 As
fast as the ballot was received at the political headquarters down…town；
it was telephoned up to the house and George reported it through the
speaking…tube。
The opposition to Blaine in the convention was so strong that no one of
the assembled players seriously expected his nomination。 What was their
amazement； then； when about mid…afternoon George suddenly announced
through the speaking…tube that Blaine was the nominee。 The butts of the
billiard cues came down on the floor with a bump； and for a moment the
players were speechless。 Then Henry Robinson said：
〃It's hard luck to have to vote for that man。〃
Clemens looked at him under his heavy brows。
〃Butwe don'thave to vote for him；〃 he said。
〃Do you mean to say that you're not going to vote for him？〃
〃Yes； that is what I mean to say。 I am not going to vote for him。〃
There was a general protest。 Most of those assembled declared that when
a party's representatives chose a man one must stand by him。 They might
choose unwisely； but the party support must be maintained。 Clemens said：
〃No party holds the privilege of dictating to me how I shall vote。 If
loyalty to party is a form of patriotism； I am no patriot。 If there is
any valuable difference between a monarchist and an American； it lies in
the theory that the American can decide for himself what is patriotic and
what isn't。 I claim that difference。 I am the only person in the sixty
millions that is privileged to dictate my patriotism。〃
There was a good deal of talk back and forth； and； in the end； most of
those there present remained loyal to Blaine。 General Hawley and his
paper stood by Blaine。 Warner withdrew from his editorship of the
Courant and remained neutral。 Twichell stood with Clemens and came near
losing his pulpit by it。 Open letters were published in the newspapers
about him。 It was a campaign when politics divided neighbors； families；
and congregations。 If we except the Civil War period； there never had
been a more rancorous political warfare than that waged between the
parties of James G。 Blaine and Grover Cleveland in 1884。
That Howells remained true to Blaine was a grief to Clemens。 He had gone
to the farm with Howells on his political conscience and had written
fervent and imploring letters on the subject。 As late as September 17th；
he said：
Somehow I can't seem to rest quiet under the idea of your voting for
Blaine。 I believe you said something about the country and the
party。 Certainly allegiance to these is well； but certainly a man's
first duty is to his own conscience and honor； the party and country
come second to that； and never first。 I don't ask you to vote at
all。 I only urge you not to soil yourself by voting for Blaine。。。。
Don't be offended； I