按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
would go。 I would let somebody else do the oration； but as for me I
would talkjust talk。 I would renew my youth； and talkand talkand
talkand have the time of my life！ I would march the unforgotten and
unforgetable antiques by； and name their names； and give them reverent
hail and farewell as they passedGoodman； McCarthy； Gillis； Curry；
Baldwin； Winters； Howard； Nye； Stewart； Neely Johnson； Hal Clayton；
North； Rootand my brother； upon whom be peace！and then the
desperadoes； who made life a joy； and the 〃slaughter…house；〃 a precious
possession： Sam Brown； Farmer Pete； Bill Mayfield； Six…fingered Jake；
Jack Williams； and the rest of the crimson discipleship； and so on； and
so on。 Believe me； I would start a resurrection it would do you more
good to look at than the next one will； if you go on the way you are
going now。
Those were the days！those old ones。 They will come no more； youth will
come no more。 They were so full to the brim with the wine of life； there
have been no others like them。 It chokes me up to think of them。 Would
you like me to come out there and cry？ It would not beseem my white
head。
Good…by。 I drink to you all。 Have a good time…and take an old man's
blessing。
In reply to another invitation from H。 H。 Bancroft； of San Francisco； he
wrote that his wandering days were over； and that it was his purpose to
sit by the fire for the rest of his 〃remnant of life。〃
A man who； like me； is going to strike 70 on the 30th of next
November has no business to be flitting around the way Howells does
that shameless old fictitious butterfly。 （But if he comes don't
tell him I said it； for it would hurt him & I wouldn't brush a flake
of powder from his wing for anything。 I only say it in envy of his
indestructible youth anyway。 Howells will be 88 in October。）
And it was either then or on a similar occasion that he replied after
this fashion：
I have done more for San Francisco than any other of its old
residents。 Since I left there it has increased in population fully
300；000。 I could have done moreI could have gone earlierit was
suggested。
Which； by the way； is a perfect example of Mark Twain's humorous manner；
the delicately timed pause； and the afterthought。 Most humorists would
have been contented to end with the statement； 〃 I could have gone
earlier。〃 Only Mark Twain could have added that final exquisite touch
〃it was suggested。〃
CCXXXVI
AT PIER 7O
Mark Twain was nearing seventy； the scriptural limitation of life； and
the returns were coming in。 Some one of the old group was dying all the
time。 The roll…call returned only a scattering answer。 Of his oldest
friends； Charles Henry Webb； John Hay； and Sir Henry Irving； all died
that year。 When Hay died Clemens gave this message to the press：
I am deeply grieved； & I mourn with the nation this loss which is
irreparable。 My friendship with Mr。 Hay & my admiration of him
endured 38 years without impairment。
It was only a little earlier that he had written Hay an anonymous letter；
a copy of which he preserved。 It here follows：
DEAR & HONORED SIR；I never hear any one speak of you & of your
long roll of illustrious services in other than terms of pride &
praise& out of the heart。 I think I am right in believing you to
be the only man in the civil service of the country the cleanness of
whose motives is never questioned by any citizen； & whose acts
proceed always upon a broad & high plane； never by accident or
pressure of circumstance upon a narrow or low one。 There are
majorities that are proud of more than one of the nation's great
servants； but I believe； & I think I know； that you are the only one
of whom the entire nation is proud。 Proud & thankful。
Name & address are lacking here； & for a purpose： to leave you no
chance to make my words a burden to you and a reproach to me； who
would lighten your burdens if I could； not add to them。
Irving died in October； and Clemens ordered a wreath for his funeral。 To
MacAlister he wrote：
I profoundly grieve over Irving's death。 It is another reminder。
My section of the procession has but a little way to go。 I could
not be very sorry if I tried。
Mark Twain； nearing seventy； felt that there was not much left for him to
celebrate； and when Colonel Harvey proposed a birthday gathering in his
honor； Clemens suggested a bohemian assembly over beer and sandwiches in
some snug place； with Howells； Henry Rogers； Twichell； Dr。 Rice； Dr。
Edward Quintard； Augustus Thomas； and such other kindred souls as were
still left to answer the call。 But Harvey had something different in
view： something more splendid even than the sixty…seventh birthday feast；
more pretentious； indeed； than any former literary gathering。 He felt
that the attainment of seventy years by America's most distinguished man
of letters and private citizen was a circumstance which could not be
moderately or even modestly observed。 The date was set five days later
than the actual birthdaythat is to say； on December 5th； in order that
it might not conflict with the various Thanksgiving holidays and
occasions。 Delmonico's great room was chosen for the celebration of it；
and invitations were sent out to practically every writer of any
distinction in America； and to many abroad。 Of these nearly two hundred
accepted； while such as could not come sent pathetic regrets。
What an occasion it was！ The flower of American literature gathered to
do honor to its chief。 The whole atmosphere of the place seemed
permeated with his presence； and when Colonel Harvey presented William
Dean Howells； and when Howells had read another double…barreled sonnet；
and introduced the guest of the evening with the words； 〃I will not say；
'O King； live forever；' but； 'O King； live as long as you like！'〃 and
Mark Twain rose； his snow…white hair gleaming above that brilliant
assembly； it seemed that a world was speaking out in a voice of applause
and welcome。 With a great tumult the throng rose； a billow of life； the
white handkerchiefs flying foam…like on its crest。 Those who had
gathered there realized that it was a mighty moment； not only in his life
but in theirs。 They were there to see this supreme embodiment of the
American spirit as he scaled the mountain…top。 He； too； realized the
drama of that momentthe marvel of itand he must have flashed a swift
panoramic view backward over the long way he had come； to stand； as he
had himself once expressed it； 〃for a single； splendid moment on the Alps
of fame outlined against the sun。〃 He must have remembered； for when he
came to speak he went back to the very beginning； to his very first
banquet； as he called it； when； as he said； 〃I hadn't any hair； I hadn't
any teeth； I hadn't any clothes。〃 He sketched the meagerness of that
little hamlet which had seen his birth； sketched it playfully；
delightfully； so that his hearers laughed and shouted； but there was
always a tenderness under it all； and often the tears were not far
beneath the surface。 He told of his habits of life； how he had attained
seventy years by simply sticking to a scheme of living which would kill
anybody else； how he smoked constantly； loathed exercise； and had no
other regularity of habits。 Then； at last； he reached that wonderful；
unforgetable close：
Threescore years and ten！
It is the scriptural statute of limitations。 After that you owe no
active duties； for you the strenuous life is over。 You are a time…
expired man； to use Kipling's military phrase： You have served your
term； well or less well； and you are mustered out。 You are become
an honorary member of the republic； you are emancipated； compulsions
are not for you； nor any bugle…call but 〃lights out。〃 You pay the
time…worn duty bills if you choose； or decline if you preferand
without prejudicefor they are not legally collectable。
The previous…engagement plea； which in forty years has cost you so
many twinges； you can lay aside forever； on this side of the grave
you will never need it again。 If you shrink at thought of night；
and winter； and the late homecomings from the banquet and the lights
and laughter through the deserted streetsa desolation which would
not remind you now； as for a generation it did； that your friends
are sleeping and you must creep in a…tiptoe and not disturb them；
but would only remind you that you need not tiptoe； you can never
disturb them moreif you shrink at the thought of these things you
need only reply； 〃Your invitation honors me and pleases me because
you still keep me in your remembrance； but I am seventy； seventy；
and would nestle in the chinmey…corner； and smoke my pipe； and read
my book； and take my rest； wishing you well in all affection； and
that when you in your turn shall arrive at Pier 70 you may step
aboard your waiting ship with a reconciled spirit； and lay your
course toward the sinking sun with a contented heart。〃
The