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the wall by which we entered and in the middle space was a large
gilt throne chair； upholstered in red plush； and upon it sat a man
bowed with age； his hair was silvery white and as pure as the driven
snow。 His head was partly covered with a white skullcap； he was
dressed in a long white cassock which reached to his feet； which
rested upon a red…plush cushion and were inclosed in red embroidered
slippers with a design of a cross。 A golden chain was about his
neck and suspended by it in his lap was a gold cross set in precious
stones。 Upon a finger of his right hand was a gold ring with an
emerald setting nearly an inch in diameter。 His countenance was
smiling； and beamed with benevolence。 His face at once impressed us
as that of a noble； pure man who could not do otherwise than good。
This was the Pope of Rome； and as we advanced； making the three
genuflexions prescribed by etiquette； he smiled benignly upon us。
We advanced and； kneeling at his feet； kissed the seal upon his
ring。 He took us each by the hand repeatedly during the audience
and made us perfectly at our ease。
They remained as much as half an hour in the Presence； and the Pope
conversed on a variety of subjects； including the business failure of
General Grant； his last hours； and the great success of his book。 The
figures seemed to him hardly credible； and when Webster assured him that
already a guaranteed sale of one hundred thousand copies of his own
biography had been pledged by the agents he seemed even more astonished。
〃We in Italy cannot comprehend such things；〃 he said。 〃I know you do
great work in America； I know you have done a great and noble work in
regard to General Grant's book； but that my Life should have such a sale
seems impossible。〃
He asked about their home； their children； and was in every way the
kindly； gentle…hearted man that his pictured face has shown him。 Then he
gave them his final blessing and the audience closed。
We each again kissed the seal on his ring。 As Annie was about to
kiss it he suddenly withdrew his hand and said； 〃And will you； a
little Protestant； kiss the Pope's ring？〃 As he said this； his face
was all smiles； and mischief was clearly delineated upon it。 He
immediately put back his hand and she kissed the ring。 We now
withdrew； backing out and making three genuflexions as before。 Just
as we reached the door he called to Dr。 O'Reilly； 〃Now don't praise
me too much； tell the truth； tell the truth。〃
CLX
A GREAT PUBLISHER AT HOME
Men are likely to be spoiled by prosperity； to be made arrogant； even
harsh。 Success made Samuel Clemens merely elate； more kindly； more
humanly generous。 Every day almost he wrote to Webster； suggesting some
new book or venture； but always considerately； always deferring to
suggestions from other points of view。 Once； when it seemed to him that
matters were not going as well as usual； a visit from Webster showed him
that it was because of his own continued absence from the business that
he did not understand。 Whereupon he wrote：
DEAR CHARLEY；Goodit's all good news。 Everything is on the
pleasantest possible basis now； and is going to stay so。 I blame
myself in not looking in on you oftener in the pastthat would have
prevented all trouble。 I mean to stand to my duty better now。
At another time； realizing the press of responsibility； and that Webster
was not entirely well； he sent a warning from Mrs。 Clemens against
overwork。 He added：
Your letter shows that you need such a warning。 So I warn you
myself to look after that。 Overwork killed Mr。 Langdon and it can
kill you。
Clemens found his own cares greatly multiplied。 His connection with the
firm was widely known； and many authors sent him their manuscripts or
wrote him personal letters concerning them。 Furthermore； he was beset by
all the cranks and beggars in Christendom。 His affairs became so
numerous at length that he employed a business agent； F。 G。 Whitmore； to
relieve him of a part of his burden。 Whitmore lived close by； and was a
good billiard…player。 Almost anything from the morning mail served as an
excuse to send for Whitmore。
Clemens was fond of affairs when they were going well； he liked the game
of business； especially when it was pretentious and showily prosperous。
It is probable that he was never more satisfied with his share of fortune
than just at this time。 Certainly his home life was never happier。
Katie Leary； for thirty years in the family service； has set down some
impressions of that pleasant period。
Mr。 Clemens was a very affectionate father。 He seldom left the
house at night； but would read to the family； first to the children
until bedtime； afterward to Mrs。 Clemens。 He usually read Browning
to her。 They were very fond of it。 The children played charades a
great deal； and he was wonderful at that game and always helped
them。 They were very fond of private theatricals。 Every Saturday
of their lives they had a temporary stage put up in the school…room
and we all had to help。 Gerhardt painted the scenery。 They
frequently played the balcony scene from 〃Romeo and Juliet〃 and
several plays they wrote themselves。 Now and then we had a big
general performance of 〃The Prince and the Pauper。〃 That would be
in the library and the dining…room with the folding…doors open。 The
place just held eighty…four chairs； and the stage was placed back
against the conservatory。 The children were crazy about acting and
we all enjoyed it as much as they did； especially Mr。 Clemens； who
was the best actor of all。 I had a part； too； and George。 I have
never known a happier household than theirs was during those years。
Mr。 Clemens spent most of his time up in the billiard…room； writing
or playing billiards。 One day when I went in； and he was shooting
the balls around the tables； I noticed smoke coming up from the
hearth。 I called Patrick；；and John O'Neill； the gardener； and we
began taking up the hearth to see what was the matter。 Mr。 Clemens
kept on playing billiards right along and paid no attention to what
we were doing。 Finally； when we got the hearth up； a lot of flame
and smoke came out into the room。 The house was on fire。 Mr。
Clemens noticed then what we were about； and went over to the corner
where there were some bottle fire…extinguishers。 He took one down
and threw it into the flames。 This put them out a good deal； and he
took up his cue； went back to the table； and began to shoot the
balls around again as if nothing had happened。 Mrs。 Clemens came in
just then and said； 〃Why； the house is afire！〃
〃Yes； I know it；〃 he said； but went on playing。
We had a telephone and it didn't work very well。 It annoyed him a
good deal and sometimes he'd say：
〃I'll tear it out。〃
One day he tried to call up Mrs。 Dr。 Tafft。 He could