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truth； but I believe he did not even think it。 He listened to any one
for whom he had respect； and was grateful for any effort in his behalf。
One morning he read aloud a lecture given in London by George Bernard
Shaw on religion； commenting as he read。 He said：
〃This letter is a frank breath of expression ＇and his comments were
equally frank＇。 There is no such thing as morality； it is not immoral
for the tiger to eat the wolf； or the wolf the cat； or the cat the bird；
and so on down； that is their business。 There is always enough for each
one to live on。 It is not immoral for one nation to seize another nation
by force of arms； or for one man to seize another man's property or life
if he is strong enough and wants to take it。 It is not immoral to create
the human specieswith or without ceremony； nature intended exactly
these things。〃
At one place in the lecture Shaw had said： 〃No one of good sense can
accept any creed to…day without reservation。〃
〃Certainly not；〃 commented Clemens； 〃the reservation is that he is a dd
fool to accept it at all。〃
He was in one of his somber moods that morning。 I had received a print
of a large picture of Thomas Nastthe last one taken。 The face had a
pathetic expression which told the tragedy of his last years。 Clemens
looked at the picture several moments without speaking。 Then he broke
out：
〃Why can't a man die when he's had his tragedy？ I ought to have died
long ago。〃 And somewhat later： 〃Once Twichell heard me cussing the human
race； and he said； 'Why； Mark； you are the last person in the world to do
thatone selected and set apart as you are。' I said 'Joe； you don't
know what you are talking about。 I am not cussing altogether about my
own little troubles。 Any one can stand his own misfortunes； but when I
read in the papers all about the rascalities and outrages going on I
realize what a creature the human animal is。 Don't you care more about
the wretchedness of others than anything that happens to you？' Joe said
he did； and shut up。〃
It occurred to me to suggest that he should not read the daily papers。
〃No difference；〃 he said。 〃I read books printed two hundred years ago；
and they hurt just the same。〃
〃Those people are all dead and gone；〃 I objected。
〃They hurt just the same；〃 he maintained。
I sometimes thought of his inner consciousness as a pool darkened by his
tragedies； its glassy surface； when calm； reflecting all the joy and
sunlight and merriment of the world； but easilyso easilytroubled and
stirred even to violence。 Once following the dictation； when I came to
the billiard…room he was shooting the balls about the table； apparently
much depressed。 He said：
〃I have been thinking it outif I live two years more I will put an end
to it all。 I will kill myself。〃
〃You have much to live for〃
〃But I am so tired of the eternal round；〃 he interrupted； 〃so tired。〃
And I knew he meant that he was ill of the great loneliness that had come
to him that day in Florence； and would never pass away。
I referred to the pressure of social demands in the city； and the relief
he would find in his country home。 He shook his head。
〃The country home I need；〃 he said； fiercely； 〃is a cemetery。〃
Yet the mood changed quickly enough when the play began。 He was gay and
hilarious presently； full of the humors and complexities of the game。
H。 H。 Rogers came in with a good deal of frequency； seldom making very
long calls； but never seeming to have that air of being hurried which one
might expect to find in a man whose day was only twenty…four hours long；
and whose interests were so vast and innumerable。 He would come in where
we were playing； and sit down and watch the game； or perhaps would pick
up a book and read； exchanging a remark now and then。 More often；
however； he sat in the bedroom； for his visits were likely to be in the
morning。 They were seldom business calls； or if they were； the business
was quickly settled； and then followed gossip； humorous incident； or
perhaps Clemens would read aloud something he had written。 But once；
after greetings； he began：
〃Well； Rogers； I don't know what you think of it； but I think I have had
about enough of this world； and I wish I were out of it。〃
Mr。 Rogers replied； 〃I don't say much about it； but that expresses my
view。〃
This from the foremost man of letters and one of the foremost financiers
of the time was impressive。 Each at the mountain…top of his career； they
agreed that the journey was not worth whilethat what the world had
still to give was not attractive enough to tempt them to prevent a desire
to experiment with the next stage。 One could remember a thousand poor
and obscure men who were perfectly willing to go on struggling and
starving； postponing the day of settlement as long as possible； but
perhaps； when one has had all the world has to give； when there are no
new worlds in sight to conquer； one has a different feeling。
Well； the realization lay not so far ahead for either of them； though at
that moment they both seemed full of life and vigorfull of youth。 One
could not imagine the day when for them it would all be over。
CCLI
A LOBBYING EXPEDITION
Clara Clemens came home now and then to see how matters were progressing；
and very properly； for Clemens was likely to become involved in social
intricacies which required a directing hand。 The daughter inherited no
little of the father's characteristics of thought and phrase； and it was
always a delight to see them together when one could be just out of range
of the crossfire。 I remember soon after her return； when she was making
some searching inquiries concerning the billiard…room sign； and other
suggested or instituted reforms； he said：
〃Oh well； never mind； it doesn't matter。 I'm boss in this house。〃
She replied； quickly： 〃Oh no； you're not。 You're merely owner。 I'm the
captainthe commander…in…chief。〃
One night at dinner she mentioned the possibility of going abroad that
year。 During several previous summers she had planned to visit Vienna to
see her old music…master； Leschetizky； once more before his death。 She
said：
〃Leschetizky is getting so old。 If I don't go soon I'm afraid I sha'n't
be in time for his funeral。〃
〃Yes；〃 said her father； thoughtfully； 〃you keep rushing over to
Leschetizky's funeral； and you'll miss mine。〃
He had made one or two social engagements without careful reflection； and
the situation would require some delicacy of adjustment。 During a moment
between the courses； when he left the table and was taking his exercise
in the farther room； she made some remark which suggested a doubt of her
father's gift for social management。 I said：
〃Oh； well； he is a king； you know； and a king can do no wrong。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 she answered。 〃The king can do no wrong； but he frightens
me almost to death； sometimes； he comes so near it。〃
He came back and began to comment rather critically on some recent
performance of Roosevelt's； which had stirred up a good deal of newspaper
amusementit was the Storer matter and those indiscreet letters which
Roosevelt had written relative to the ambassadorship which Storer so much
desired。 Miss Clemens was inclined to defend the President； and spoke
with considerable enthusiasm concerning his elements of popularity； which
had won him such extraordinary admiration。
〃Certainly he is popular；〃 Clemens admitted； 〃and with the best of
reasons。 If the twelve apostles should call at the White House； he would
say； 'Come in； come in！ I am delighted to see you。 I've been watching
your progress； and I admired it very much。' Then if Satan should come；
he would slap him on the shoulder and say； 'Why； Satan； how do you do？ I
am so glad to meet you。 I've read all your works and enjoyed every one
of them。' Anybody could be popular with a gift like that。〃
It was that evening or the next； perhaps； that he said to her：
〃Ben ＇one of his pet names for her＇； now that you are here to run the
ranch； Paine and I are going to Washington on a vacation。 You don't seem
to admire our society much； anyhow。〃
There were still other reasons for the Washington expedition。 There was
an important bill up for the extension of the book royalty period； and
the forces of copyright were going down in a body to use every possible
means to get the measure through。
Clemens； during Cleveland's first administration； some nineteen years
before； had accompanied such an expedition； and through S。 S。 （〃Sunset〃）
Cox had obtained the 〃privileges of the floor〃 of the House； which had
enabled him to canvass the members individually。 Cox assured the
doorkeeper that Clemens had received the thanks of Congress for national
literary service； and was therefore entitled to that privilege。 This was
not strictly true； but regulations were not very severe in those days；
and the ruse had been regarded as a good joke； which had yielded
excellent results。 Clemens had a similar scheme in mind now； and
believed that his friendship with Speaker Cannon〃 Uncle Joe〃would
obtain for him a similar privilege。 The Copyright Association working in
its regular way was very well； he said； but