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from the swamp。 We said there warn't no home like a raft； after
all。 Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery； but a raft
don't； you feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft。
It was Huck Finn's morality that caused the book to be excluded from the
Concord Library； and from other libraries here and there at a later day。
The orthodox mental attitude of certain directors of juvenile literature
could not condone Huck's looseness in the matter of statement and
property rights； and in spite of New England traditions； Massachusetts
librarians did not take any too kindly to his uttered principle that；
after thinking it over and taking due thought on the deadly sin of
abolition； he had decided that he'd go to hell rather than give Jim over
to slavery。 Poor vagrant Ben Blankenship； hiding his runaway negro in an
Illinois swamp； could not dream that his humanity would one day supply
the moral episode of an immortal book。
Able critics have declared that the psychology of Huck Finn is the book's
large feature： Huck's moral point of viewthe struggle between his heart
and his conscience concerning the sin of Jim's concealment； and his final
decision of self…sacrifice。 Time may show that as an epic of the river；
the picture of a vanished day； it will rank even greater。 The problems
of conscience we have always with us； but periods once passed are gone
forever。 Certainly Huck's loyalty to that lovely soul Nigger Jim was
beautiful； though after all it may not have been so hard for Huck； who
could be loyal to anything。 Huck was loyal to his father； loyal to Tom
Sawyer of course； loyal even to those two river tramps and frauds； the
King and the Duke； for whom he lied prodigiously； only weakening when a
new and livelier loyalty came into viewloyalty to Mary Wilks。
The King and the Duke； by the way； are not elsewhere matched in fiction。
The Duke was patterned after a journeyman…printer Clemens had known in
Virginia City； but the King was created out of refuse from the whole
human family〃all tears and flapdoodle；〃 the very ultimate of disrepute
and hypocrisyso perfect a specimen that one must admire； almost love；
him。 〃Hain't we all the fools in town on our side？ and ain't that a big
enough majority in any town？〃 he asks in a critical momenta remark
which stamps him as a philosopher of classic rank。 We are full of pity
at last when this pair of rapscallions ride out of the history on a rail；
and feel some of Huck's inclusive loyalty and all the sorrowful truth of
his comment： 〃Human beings can be awful cruel to one another。〃
The 〃poor old king〃 Huck calls him； and confesses how he felt 〃ornery and
humble and to blame； somehow；〃 for the old scamp's misfortunes。 〃A
person's conscience ain't got no sense；〃 he says； and Huck is never more
real to us； or more lovable； than in that moment。 Huck is what he is
because； being made so； he cannot well be otherwise。 He is a boy
throughoutsuch a boy as Mark Twain had known and in some degree had
been。 One may pettily pick a flaw here and there in the tale's
construction if so minded； but the moral character of Huck himself is not
open to criticism。 And indeed any criticism of this the greatest of Mark
Twain's tales of modern life would be as the mere scratching of the
granite of an imperishable structure。 Huck Finn is a monument that no
puny pecking will destroy。 It is built of indestructible blocks of human
nature； and if the blocks do not always fit； and the ornaments do not
always agree； we need not fear。 Time will blur the incongruities and
moss over the mistakes。 The edifice will grow more beautiful with the
years。
CLIV
THE MEMOIRS OF GENERAL GRANT
The success of Huck Finn； though sufficiently important in itself；
prepared the way for a publishing venture by the side of which it
dwindled to small proportions。 One night （it was early in November；
1884）； when Cable and Clemens had finished a reading at Chickering Hall；
Clemens； coming out into the wet blackness； happened to hear Richard
Watson Gilder's voice say to some unseen companion：
〃Do you know General Grant has actually determined to write his memoirs
and publish them。 He has said so to…day； in so many words。〃
Of course Clemens was immediately interested。 It was the thing he had
proposed to Grant some three years previously； during his call that day
with Howells concerning the Toronto consulship。
With Mrs。 Clemens； he promptly overtook Gilder and accompanied him to his
house； where they discussed the matter in its various particulars。
Gilder said that the Century Editors had endeavored to get Grant to
contribute to their war series； but that not until his financial
disaster； as a member of the firm of Grant & Ward； had he been willing to
consider the matter。 He said that Grant now welcomed the idea of
contributing three papers to the series； and that the promised payment of
five hundred dollars each for these articles had gladdened his heart and
relieved him of immediate anxiety。＇Somewhat later the Century Company；
voluntarily； added liberally to this sum。＇
Gilder added that General Grant seemed now determined to continue his
work until he had completed a book； though this at present was only a
prospect。
Clemens was in the habit of calling on Grant； now and then； to smoke a
cigar with him； and he dropped in next morning to find out just how far
the book idea had developed； and what were the plans of publication。 He
found the General and his son； Colonel Fred Grant； discussing some
memoranda； which turned out to be a proposition from the Century Company
for the book publication of his memoirs。 Clemens asked to be allowed to
look over the proposed terms； and when he had done so he said：
〃General； it is clear that the Century people do not realize the
importancethe commercial magnitude of your book。 It is not strange
that this is true； for they are comparatively new publishers and have had
little or no experience with books of this class。 The terms they propose
indicate that they expect to sell five； possibly ten thousand copies。 A
book from your hand； telling the story of your life and battles； should
sell not less than a quarter of a million； perhaps twice that sum。 It
should be sold only by subscription； and you are entitled to double the
royalty here proposed。 I do not believe it is to your interest to
conclude this contract without careful thought and investigation。 Write
to the American Publishing Company at Hartford and see what they will do
for you。〃
But Grant demurred。 He said that； while no arrangements had been made
with the Century Company； he thought it only fair and right that they
should have the book on reasonable terms； certainly on terms no greater
than he could obtain elsewhere。 He said that； all things being equal；
the book ought to go to the man who had first suggested it to him。
Clemens spoke up： 〃General； if that is so； it belongs to me。〃
Grant did not understand until Clemens recalled to him how he had urged
him； in that former time； to write his memoirs； had pleaded with him；
agreeing to superintend the book's publication。 T