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insured a crowded opening。 Clemens was unable to go over on account of a
sudden attack of bronchitis。 Parsloe was nervous accordingly； and the
presence of Harte does not seem to have added to his happiness。
〃I am not very well myself；〃 he wrote to Clemens。 〃The excitement of the
first night is bad enough； but to have the annoyance with Harte that I
have is too much for a new beginner。〃
Nevertheless； the play seems to have gone well； with Parsloe as Ah Sin
a Chinese laundryman who was also a great number of other diverting
thingswith a fair support and a happy…go…lucky presentation of frontier
life； which included a supposed murder； a false accusation； and a general
clearing…up of mystery by the pleasant and wily and useful and
entertaining Ah Sin。 It was not a great play。 It was neither very
coherent nor convincing； but it had a lot of good fun in it； with
character parts which； if not faithful to life； were faithful enough to
the public conception of it to be amusing and exciting。 At the end of
each act not only Parsloe； but also the principal members of the company；
were called before the curtain for special acknowledgments。 When it was
over there was a general call for Ah Sin； who came before the curtain and
read a telegram。
CHARLES T。 PARSLOE；I am on the sick…list； and therefore cannot come to
Washington； but I have prepared two speechesone to deliver in event of
failure of the play； and the other if successful。 Please tell me which I
shall send。 May be better to put it to vote。
MARK TWAIN。
The house cheered the letter； and when it was put to vote decided
unanimously that the play had been a successa verdict more kindly than
true。
J。 I。 Ford； of the theater management； wrote to Clemens； next morning
after the first performance； urging him to come to Washington in person
and 〃wet nurse〃 the play until 〃it could do for itself。〃
Ford expressed satisfaction with the play and its prospects； and
concludes：
I inclose notices。 Come if you can。 〃Your presence will be worth ten
thousand men。 The king's name is a tower of strength。〃 I have urged the
President to come to…night。
The play made no money in Washington； but Augustin Daly decided to put it
on in New York at the Fifth Avenue Theater； with a company which
included； besides Parsloe； Edmund Collier； P。 A。 Anderson； Dora
Goldthwaite； Henry Crisp； and Mrs。 Wells； a very worthy group of players
indeed。 Clemens was present at the opening； dressed in white； which he
affected only for warm…weather use in those days； and made a speech at
the end of the third act。
〃Ah Sin〃 did not excite much enthusiasm among New York dramatic critics。
The houses were promising for a time； but for some reason the performance
as a whole did not contain the elements of prosperity。 It set out on its
provincial travels with no particular prestige beyond the reputation of
its authors； and it would seem that this was not enough； for it failed to
pay； and all parties concerned presently abandoned it to its fate and it
was heard of no more。 Just why 〃Ah Sin〃 did not prosper it would not
become us to decide at this far remove of time and taste。 Poorer plays
have succeeded and better plays have failed since then； and no one has
ever been able to demonstrate the mystery。 A touch somewhere； a pulling…
about and a readjustment； might have saved 〃Ali Sin；〃 but the pullings
and haulings which they gave it did not。 Perhaps it still lies in some
managerial vault； and some day may be dragged to light and reconstructed
and recast； and come into its reward。 Who knows？ Or it may have drifted
to that harbor of forgotten plays； whence there is no returning。
As between Harte and Clemens； the whole matter was unfortunate。 In the
course of their association there arose a friction and the long…time
friendship disappeared。
CXI
A BERMUDA HOLIDAY
On the 16th of May； 1877； Mark Twain set out on what； in his note…book；
he declared to be 〃the first actual pleasure…trip〃 he had ever taken；
meaning that on every previous trip he had started with a purpose other
than that of mere enjoyment。 He took with him his； friend and pastor；
the Rev。 Joseph H。 Twichell； and they sailed for Bermuda； an island
resort not so well known or so fashionable as to…day。
They did not go to a hotel。 Under assumed names they took up quarters in
a boarding…house； with a Mrs。 Kirkham； and were unmolested and altogether
happy in their wanderings through four golden days。 Mark Twain could not
resist keeping a note…book； setting down bits of scenery and character
and incident； just as he had always done。 He was impressed with the
cheapness of property and living in the Bermuda of that period。 He makes
special mention of some cottages constructed of coral blocks： 〃All as
beautiful and as neat as a pin； at the cost of four hundred and eighty
dollars each。〃 To Twichell he remarked：
〃Joe； this place is like Heaven； and I'm going to make the most of it。〃
〃Mark；〃 said Twichell； 〃that's right； make the most of a place that is
like Heaven while you have a chance。〃
In one of the entriesthe final oneClemens says：
〃Bermuda is free （at present） from the triple curse of railways；
telegraphs； and newspapers； but this will not last the year。 I propose
to spend next year here and no more。〃
When they were ready to leave； and started for the steamer； Twichell made
an excuse to go back； his purpose being to tell their landlady and her
daughter that； without knowing it； they had been entertaining Mark Twain。
〃Did you ever hear of Mark Twain；？〃 asked Twichell。
The daughter answered。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃until I'm tired of the name。 I know a young man who
never talks of anything else。〃
〃Well；〃 said Twichell； 〃that gentleman with me is Mark Twain。〃
The Kirkhams declined to believe it at first； and then were in deep
sorrow that they had not known it earlier。 Twichell promised that he and
Clemens would come back the next year； and they meant to go backwe
always mean to go back to placesbut it was thirty years before they
returned at last； and then their pleasant landlady was dead。
On the home trip they sighted a wandering vessel； manned by blacks；
trying to get to New York。 She had no cargo and was pretty helpless。
Later； when she was reported again； Clemens wrote about it in a Hartford
paper； telling the story as he knew it。 The vessel had shipped the crew；
on a basis of passage to New York； in exchange for labor。 So it was a
〃pleasure…excursion！〃 Clemens dwelt on this fancy：
I have heard of a good many pleasure…excursions； but this heads the
list。 It is monumental； and if ever the tired old tramp is found I
should like to be there and see him in his sorrowful rags and his
venerable head of grass and seaweed； and hear the ancient mariners
tell the story of their mysterious wanderings through the solemn
solitudes of the ocean。
Long afterward this vagrant craft was reported again； still drifting with
the relentless Gulf Stream。 Perhaps she reached New York in time； one
would like to know； but there seems no good way to