DEAR JOE,--Pond sends me a Cleveland paper with a cablegram from here in it which says that when the police invaded the parliament and expelled the 11 members I waved my handkerchief and shouted 'Hoch die Deutschen!'
and got hustled out.Oh dear, what a pity it is that one's adventures never happen! When the Ordner (sergeant-at-arms) came up to our gallery and was hurrying the people out, a friend tried to get leave for me to stay, by saying, "But this gentleman is a foreigner--you don't need to turn him out--he won't do any harm.""Oh, I know him very well--I recognize him by his pictures; and I should be very glad to let him stay, but I haven't any choice, because of the strictness of the orders."And so we all went out, and no one was hustled.Below, I ran across the London Times correspondent, and he showed me the way into the first gallery and I lost none of the show.The first gallery had not misbehaved, and was not disturbed.
...We cannot persuade Livy to go out in society yet, but all the lovely people come to see her; and Clara and I go to dinner parties, and around here and there, and we all have a most hospitable good time.
Jean's woodcarving flourishes, and her other studies.
Good-bye Joe--and we all love all of you.
MARK.
Clemens made an article of the Austrian troubles, one of the best things he ever wrote, and certainly one of the clearest elucidations of the Austro-Hungarian confusions.It was published in Harper's Magazine, and is now included in his complete works.
Thus far none of the Webster Company debts had been paid--at least, none of importance.The money had been accumulating in Mr.Rogers's hands, but Clemens was beginning to be depressed by the heavy burden.He wrote asking for relief.
Part of a letter to H.H.Rogers, in New York:
DEAR MR.ROGERS,--I throw up the sponge.I pull down the flag.Let us begin on the debts.I cannot bear the weight any longer.It totally unfits me for work.I have lost three entire months now.In that time Ihave begun twenty magazine articles and books--and flung every one of them aside in turn.The debts interfered every time, and took the spirit out of any work.And yet I have worked like a bond slave and wasted no time and spared no effort----Rogers wrote, proposing a plan for beginning immediately upon the debts.
Clemens replied enthusiastically, and during the next few weeks wrote every few days, expressing his delight in liquidation.
Extracts from letters to H.H.Rogers, in New York:
We all delighted with your plan.Only don't leave B-- out.
Apparently that claim has been inherited by some women--daughters, no doubt.We don't want to see them lose any thing.B-- is an ass, and disgruntled, but I don't care for that.I am responsible for the money and must do the best I can to pay it.....I am writing hard--writing for the creditors.
Dec.29.
Land we are glad to see those debts diminishing.For the first time in my life I am getting more pleasure out of paying money out than pulling it in.
Jan.2.
Since we have begun to pay off the debts I have abundant peace of mind again--no sense of burden.Work is become a pleasure again--it is not labor any longer.
March 7.
Mrs.Clemens has been reading the creditors' letters over and over again and thanks you deeply for sending them, and says it is the only really happy day she has had since Susy died.