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fortunate biographer in the world； as undoubtedly I was； though not just
in the way that I first imagined。
It was not for several weeks that I began to realize that these marvelous
reminiscences bore only an atmospheric relation to history； that they
were aspects of biography rather than its veritable narrative； and built
largelysometimes whollyfrom an imagination that； with age； had
dominated memory； creating details； even reversing them； yet with a
perfect sincerity of purpose on the part of the narrator to set down the
literal and unvarnished truth。 It was his constant effort to be frank
and faithful to fact； to record； to confess； and to condemn without
stint。 If you wanted to know the worst of Mark Twain you had only to ask
him for it。 He would give it； to the last syllableworse than the
worst； for his imagination would magnify it and adorn it with new
iniquities； and if he gave it again； or a dozen times； he would improve
upon it each time； until the thread of history was almost impossible to
trace through the marvel of that fabric； and he would do the same for
another person just as willingly。 Those vividly real personalities that
he marched and countermarched before us were the most convincing
creatures in the world； the most entertaining； the most excruciatingly
humorous； or wicked； or tragic； but； alas； they were not always safe to
include in a record that must bear a certain semblance to history。 They
often disagreed in their performance； and even in their characters； with
the documents in the next room； as I learned by and by when those
records； disentangled； began to rebuild the structure of the years。
His gift of dramatization had been exercised too long to be discarded
now。 The things he told of Mrs。 Clemens and of Susy were true
marvelously and beautifully true； in spirit and in aspectand the actual
detail of these mattered little in such a record。 The rest was history
only as 'Roughing It' is history； or the 'Tramp Abroad'； that is to say；
it was fictional history； with fact as a starting…point。 In a prefatory
note to these volumes we have quoted Mark Twain's own lovely and
whimsical admission； made once when he realized his deviations：
〃When I was younger I could remember anything； whether it happened or
not； but I am getting old； and soon I shall remember only the latter。〃
At another time he paraphrased one of Josh Billings's sayings in the
remark： 〃It isn't so astonishing； the number of things that I can
remember； as the number of things I can remember that aren't so。〃
I do not wish to say； by any means； that his so…called autobiography is a
mere fairy tale。 It is far from that。 It is amazingly truthful in the
character…picture it represents of the man himself。 It is only not
reliableand it is sometimes even unjustas detailed history。 Yet；
curiously enough； there were occasional chapters that were
photographically exact； and fitted precisely with the more positive； if
less picturesque； materials。 It is also true that such chapters were
likely to be episodes intrinsically so perfect as to not require the
touch of art。
In the talks which we usually had； when the dictations were ended and
Miss Hobby had gone； I gathered much that was of still greater value。
Imagination was temporarily dispossessed； as it were； and； whether
expounding some theory or summarizing some event； he cared little for
literary effect； and only for the idea and the moment immediately
present。
It was at such times that he allowed me to make those inquiries we had
planned in the beginning； and which apparently had little place in the
dictations themselves。 Sometimes I led him to speak of the genesis of
his various books； how he had come to write them； and I think there was
not a single case where later I did not find his memory of these matters
almost exactly in accord with the letters of the moment； written to
Howells or Twichell； or to some member of his family。 Such reminiscence
was usually followed by some vigorous burst of human philosophy； often
too vigorous for print； too human； but as dazzling as a search…light in
its revelation。
It was during this earlier association that he propounded； one day； his
theory of circumstance； already set down； that inevitable sequence of
cause and effect； beginning with the first act of the primal atom。 He
had been dictating that morning his story of the clairvoyant dream which
preceded his brother's death； and the talk of foreknowledge had
continued。 I said one might logically conclude from such a circumstance
that the future was a fixed quantity。
〃As absolutely fixed as the past；〃 he said； and added the remark already
quoted。 ＇Chap。 lxxv＇ A little later he continued：
〃Even the Almighty Himself cannot check or change that sequence of events
once it is started。 It is a fixed quantity； and a part of the scheme is
a mental condition during certain moments usually of sleepwhen the mind
may reach out and grasp some of the acts which are still to come。〃
It was a new angle to mea line of logic so simple and so utterly
convincing that I have remained unshaken in it to this day。 I have never
been able to find any answer to it； nor any one who could even attempt to
show that the first act of the first created atom did not strike the key…
note of eternity。
At another time； speaking of the idea that God works through man； he
burst out：
〃Yes； of course； just about as much as a man works through his microbes！〃
He had a startling way of putting things like that； and it left not much
to say。
I was at this period interested a good deal in mental healing； and had
been treated for neurasthenia with gratifying results。 Like most of the
world； I had assumed； from his published articles； that he condemned
Christian Science and its related practices out of hand。 When I
confessed； rather reluctantly； one day； the benefit I had received； he
surprised me by answering：
〃Of course you have been benefited。 Christian Science is humanity's
boon。 Mother Eddy deserves a place in the Trinity as much as any member
of it。 She has organized and made available a healing principle that for
two thousand years has never been employed； except as the merest kind of
guesswork。 She is the benefactor of the age。〃
It seemed strange； at the time； to hear him speak in this way concerning
a practice of which he was generally regarded as the chief public
antagonist。 It was another angle of his many…sided character。
CCXL
THE DEFINITION OF A GENTLEMAN
That was a busy winter for him socially。 He was constantly demanded for
this thing and thatfor public gatherings； dinnerseverywhere he was a
central figure。 Once he presided at a Valentine dinner given by some
Players to David Munro。 He had never presided at a dinner before； he
said； and he did it in his own way； which certainly was a taking one；
suitable to that carefree company and occasiona real Scotch occasion；
with the Munro tartan everywhere； the table banked with heather； and a
wild piper marching up and down in the anteroom； blowing savage airs in
honor of Scotland's gentlest son。
An important meeting of that winter was at Carnegie Halla great
gathering which had assembled for the purpose of aiding Booker T。
Washington in his work for the welfare of his race。 The stage and the
auditorium were thronged with notables。 Joseph H。 Choate and Mark Twain
presided； and both spoke； also Robert C。 Ogden and Booker T。 Washington
himself。 It was all fine and interesting。 Choate's address was ably
given； and Mark Twain was at his best。 He talked of politics and of
moralspublic and privatehow the average American citizen was true to
his Christian principles three hundred and sixty…three days in the year；
and how on the other two days of the year he left those principles at
home and went to the tax…office and the voting…booths； and did his best
to damage and undo his whole year's faithful and righteous work。
I used to be an honest man； but I am crumblingno； I have crumbled。
When they assessed me at 75；000 a fortnight ago I went out and
tried to borrow the money and couldn't。 Then when I found they were
letting a whole crowd of millionaires live in New York at a third of
the price they were charging me I was hurt； I was indignant； and
said； this is the last feather。 I am not going to run this town all
by myself。 In that momentin that memorable moment； I began to
crumble。 In fifteen minutes the disintegration was complete。 In
fifteen minutes I was become just a mere moral sand…pile； and I
lifted up my hand； along with those seasoned and experienced
deacons； and swore off every rag of personal property I've got in
the world。
I had never heard him address a miscellaneous audience。 It was marvelous
to see how he convulsed it； and silenced it； and controlled it at will。
He did not undertake any special pleading for the negro cause； he only
prepared the way with cheerfulness。
Clemens and Choate joined forces again； a few weeks later； at a great
public meeting assembled in aid of the adult blind。 Helen Keller was to
be present； but she