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Clemens sand to him：
〃Cable； why do you sit in here？ You don't smoke； and you know I always
smoke； and sometimes swear。〃
Cable said； 〃I know； Mark； I don't do these things； but I can't help
admiring the way you do them。〃
When Sunday came it was Mark Twain's great happiness to stay in bed all
day； resting after his week of labor； but Cable would rise； bright and
chipper； dress himself in neat and suitable attire； and visit the various
churches and Sunday…schools in town； usually making a brief address at
each； being always invited to do so。
It seems worth while to include one of the Clemens…Cable programs here
a most satisfactory one。 They varied it on occasion； and when they were
two nights in a place changed it completely； but the program here given
was the one they were likely to use after they had proved its worth：
PROGRAM
Richling's visit to Kate Riley
GEO。 W。 CABLE
King Sollermun
MARK TWAIN
（a） Kate Riley and Ristofolo
（b） Narcisse in mourning for 〃Lady Byron〃
（c） Mary's Night Ride
GEO。 W。 CABLE
（a） Tragic Tale of the Fishwife
（b） A Trying Situation
（c） A Ghost Story
MARK TWAIN
At a Mark Twain memorial meeting （November 30； 1910）； where the few who
were left of his old companions told over quaint and tender memories；
George Cable recalled their reading days together and told of Mark
Twain's conscientious effort to do his best； to be worthy of himself；
regardless of all other concerns。 He told how when they had been
traveling for a while Clemens seemed to realize that he was only giving
the audience nonsense； making them laugh at trivialities which they would
forget before they had left the entertainment hall。 Cable said that up
to that time he had supposed Clemens's chief thought was the
entertainment of the moment； and that if the audience laughed he was
satisfied。 He told how he had sat in the wings； waiting his turn； and
heard the tides of laughter gather and roll forward and break against the
footlights； time and time again； and how he had believed his colleague to
be glorying in that triumph。 What was his surprise； then； on the way to
the hotel in the carriage； when Clemens groaned and seemed writhing in
spirit and said：
〃Oh； Cable； I am demeaning myself。 I am allowing myself to be a mere
buffoon。 It's ghastly。 I can't endure it any longer。〃
Cable added that all that night and the next day Mark Twain devoted
himself to the study and rehearsal of selections which were justified not
only as humor； but as literature and art。
A good many interesting and amusing things would happen on such a tour。
Many of these are entirely forgotten； of course； but of others certain
memoranda have been preserved。 Grover Cleveland had been elected when
they set out on their travels； but was still holding his position in
Albany as Governor of New York。 When they reached Albany Cable and
Clemens decided to call on him。 They drove to the Capitol and were shown
into the Governor's private office。 Cleveland made them welcome； and；
after greetings； said to Clemens：
〃Mr。 Clemens； I was a fellow…citizen of yours in Buffalo a good many
months some years ago； but you never called on me then。 How do you
explain this？〃
Clemens said： 〃Oh； that is very simple to answer； your Excellency。 In
Buffalo you were a sheriff。 I kept away from the sheriff as much as
possible； but you're Governor now； and on the way to the Presidency。
It's worth while coming to see you。〃
Clemens meantime had been resting； half sitting； on the corner of the
Executive desk。 He leaned back a little； and suddenly about a dozen
young men opened various doors； filed in and stood at attention； as if
waiting for orders。
No one spoke for a moment； then the Governor said to this collection of
attendants：
〃You are dismissed； young gentlemen。 Your services are not required。
Mr。 Clemens is sitting on the bells。〃
In Buffalo； when Clemens appeared on the stage； he leisurely considered
the audience for a moment； then he said：
〃I miss a good many faces。 They have gonegone to the tomb； to the
gallows； or to the White House。 All of us are entitled to at least one
of these distinctions； and it behooves us to be wise and prepare for
all。〃
On Thanksgiving Eve the readers were in Morristown； New Jersey； where
they were entertained by Thomas Nast。 The cartoonist prepared a quiet
supper for them and they remained overnight in the Nast home。 They were
to leave next morning by an early train； and Mrs。 Nast had agreed to see
that they were up in due season。 When she woke next morning there seemed
a strange silence in the house and she grew suspicious。 Going to the
servants' room； she found them sleeping soundly。 The alarm…clock in the
back hall had stopped at about the hour the guests retired。 The studio
clock was also found stopped； in fact； every timepiece on the premises
had retired from business。 Clemens had found that the clocks interfered
with his getting to sleep； and he had quieted them regardless of early
trains and reading engagements。 On being accused of duplicity he said：
〃Well； those clocks were all overworked； anyway。 They will feel much
better for a night's rest。〃
A few days later Nast sent him a caricature drawinga picture which
showed Mark Twain getting rid of the offending clocks。
At Christmas…time they took a fortnight's holiday and Clemens went home
to Hartford。 A surprise was awaiting him there。 Mrs。 Clemens had made
an adaptation of 'The Prince and the Pauper' play； and the children of
the neighborhood had prepared a presentation of it for his special
delectation。 He knew； on his arrival home； that something mysterious was
in progress； for certain rooms were forbidden him； but he had no inkling
of their plan until just before the performancewhen he was led across
the grounds to George Warner's home； into the large room there where it
was to be given； and placed in a seat directly in front of the stage。
Gerhardt had painted the drop…curtain； and assisted in the general
construction of scenery and effects。 The result was really imposing； but
presently； when the curtain rose and the guest of honor realized what it
was all about； and what they had undertaken for his pleasure； he was
deeply moved and supremely gratified。
There was but one hitch in the performance。 There is a place where the
Prince says； 〃Fathers be alike； mayhap； mine hath not a doll's temper。〃
This was Susy's part； and as she said it the audience did not fail to
remember its literal appropriateness。 There was a moment's silence； then
a titter； followed by a roar of laughter； in which everybody but the
little actors joined。 They did not see the humor and were disturbed and
grieved。 Curiously enough； Mrs Clemens herself； in arranging and casting
the pla