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sake； and so indeed am I； but more because it has drawn the sting of my
fiftieth year； taken away the pain of it； the grief of it； the somehow
shame of it； and made me glad and proud it happened。
With reverence and affection；
Sincerely yours；
S。 L。 CLEMENS。
So Samuel Clemens had reached the half…century mark； reached it in what
seemed the fullness of success from every viewpoint。 If he was not yet
the foremost American man of letters； he was at least the most widely
known he sat upon the highest mountain…top。 Furthermore； it seemed to
him that fortune was showering her gifts into his lap。 His unfortunate
investments were now only as the necessary experiments that had led him
to larger successes。 As a publisher； he was already the most conspicuous
in the world； and he contemplated still larger ventures： a type…setting
machine patent； in which he had invested； and now largely controlled； he
regarded as the chief invention of the age； absolutely certain to yield
incalculable wealth。 His connection with the Grant family had associated
him with an enterprise looking to the building of a railway from
Constantinople to the Persian Gulf。 Charles A。 Dana； of the Sun； had
put him in the way of obtaining for publication the life of the Pope； Leo
XIII； officially authorized by the Pope himself； and this he regarded as
a certain fortune。
Now that the tide had turned he felt no hesitancy in reckoning a fortune
from almost any venture。 The Grant book； even on the liberal terms
allowed to the author； would yield a net profit of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars to its publishers。 Huck Finn would yield fifty thousand
dollars more。 The sales of his other books had considerably increased。
Certainly； at fifty； Mark Twain's fortunes were at flood…tide； buoyant
and jubilant； he was floating on the topmost wave。 If there were
undercurrents and undertow they were down somewhere out of sight。 If
there were breakers ahead； they were too far distant to be heard。 So
sure was he of the triumphant consummation of every venture that to a
friend at his home one night he said：
〃I am frightened at the proportions of my prosperity。 It seems to me
that whatever I touch turns to gold。〃
CLIX
THE LIFE OF THE POPE
As Mark Twain in the earlier days of his marriage had temporarily put
aside authorship to join in a newspaper venture； so now again literature
had dropped into the background； had become an avocation； while financial
interests prevailed。 There were two chief venturesthe business of
Charles L。 Webster & Co。 and the promotion of the Paige type…setting
machine。 They were closely identified in fortunes； so closely that in
time the very existence of each depended upon the success of the other；
yet they were quite distinct； and must be so treated in this story。
The success of the Grant Life had given the Webster business an immense
prestige。 It was no longer necessary to seek desirable features for
publication。 They came uninvited。 Other war generals preparing their
memoirs naturally hoped to appear with their great commander。
McClellan's Own Story was arranged for without difficulty。 A Genesis of
the Civil War； by Gen。 Samuel Wylie Crawford； was offered and accepted。
General Sheridan's Memoirs were in preparation； and negotiations with
Webster & Co。 for their appearance were not delayed。 Probably neither
Webster nor Clemens believed that the sale of any of these books would
approach those of the Grant Life； but they expected them to be large； for
the Grant book had stimulated the public taste for war literature； and
anything bearing the stamp of personal battle experience was considered
literary legal…tender。
Moreover； these features； and even the Grant book itself； seemed likely
to dwindle in importance by the side of The Life of Pope Leo XIII。； who
in his old and enfeebled age had consented to the preparation of a
memoir； to be published with his sanction and blessing。 ＇By Bernard
O'Reilly； D。D。； LL。D。 〃Written with the Encouragement； Approbation； and
Blessings of His Holiness the Pope。〃＇ Clemens and Websterevery one；
in fact； who heard of the projectunited in the belief that no book；
with the exception of the Holy Scripture itself or the Koran； would have
a wider acceptance than the biography of the Pope。 It was agreed by good
judgesand they included Howells and Twichell and even the shrewd
general agents throughout the countrythat every good Catholic would
regard such a book not only as desirable； but as absolutely necessary to
his salvation。 Howells； recalling Clemens's emotions of this time；
writes：
He had no words in which to paint the magnificence of the project or
to forecast its colossal success。 It would have a currency bounded
only by the number of Catholics in Christendom。 It would be
translated into every language which was anywhere written or
printed； it would be circulated literally in every country of the
globe。
The formal contract for this great undertaking was signed in Rome in
April； 1886； and Webster immediately prepared to go over to consult with
his Holiness in person as to certain details； also； no doubt； for the
newspaper advertising which must result from such an interview。
It was decided to carry a handsome present to the Pope in the form of a
specially made edition of the Grant Memoirs in a rich…casket； and it was
Clemens's idea that the binding of the book should be solid goldthis to
be done by Tiffany at an estimated cost of about three thousand dollars。
In the end； however； the binding was not gold； but the handsomest that
could be designed of less precious and more appropriate materials。
Webster sailed toward the end of June； and was warmly received and highly
honored in Rome。 The great figures of the Grant success had astonished
Europe even more than America； where spectacular achievements were more
common。 That any single publication should pay a profit to author and
publisher of six hundred thousand dollars was a thing which belonged with
the wonders of Aladdin's garden。 It was natural； therefore； that
Webster； who had rubbed the magic lamp with this result； who was Mark
Twain's partner； and who had now traveled across the seas to confer with
the Pope himself； should be received with royal honors。 In letters
written at the time； Webster relates how he found it necessary to have an
imposing carriage and a footman to maintain the dignity of his mission；
and how； after various impressive formalities； he was granted a private
audience； a very special honor indeed。 Webster's letter gives us a
picture of his Holiness which is worth preserving。
We＇Mrs。 Webster； who； the reader will remember； was Annie Moffett；
a daughter of Pamela Clemens； was included in the invitation to the
Presence Chamber。＇found ourselves in a room perhaps twenty…five by
thirty…five feet； the furniture was gilt； upholstered in light…red
silk； and the side…walls were hung with the same material。 Against
the wall by which we entered and in the midd