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！
minutes and then we'll go over。 Take paper and pencil and make a few
headings。〃
There was a couch in the room。 He lay down while I sat at the table with
a pencil； making headings now and then； as he suggested； and presently he
rose and； shoving the notes into his pocket； was ready。 It was half past
three when we entered the committee…room； which was packed with people
and rather dimly lighted； for it was gloomy outside。 Herbert Putnam； the
librarian； led us to seats among the literary group； and Clemens；
removing his overcoat； stood in that dim room clad as in white armor。
There was a perceptible stir。 Howells； startled for a moment； whispered：
〃What in the world did he wear that white suit for？〃 though in his heart
he admired it as much as the others。
I don't remember who was speaking when we came in； but he was saying
nothing important。 Whoever it was； he was followed by Dr。 Edward Everett
Hale； whose age always commanded respect； and whose words always invited
interest。 Then it was Mark Twain's turn。 He did not stand by his chair；
as the others had done； but walked over to the Speaker's table； and；
turning； faced his audience。 I have never seen a more impressive sight
than that snow…white figure in that dim…lit； crowded room。 He never
touched his notes； he didn't even remember them。 He began in that even；
quiet； deliberate voice of his the most even； the most quiet； the most
deliberate voice in the worldand； without a break or a hesitation for a
word； he delivered a copyright argument； full of humor and serious
reasoning； such a speech as no one in that room； I suppose； had ever
heard。 Certainly it was a fine and dramatic bit of impromptu pleading。
The weary committee； which had been tortured all day with dull；
statistical arguments made by the mechanical device fiends； and dreary
platitudes unloaded by men whose chief ambition was to shine as copyright
champions； suddenly realized that they were being rewarded for the long
waiting。 They began to brighten and freshen； and uplift and smile； like
flowers that have been wilted by a drought when comes the refreshing
shower that means renewed life and vigor。 Every listener was as if
standing on tiptoe。 When the last sentence was spoken the applause came
like an explosion。 ＇Howells in his book My Mark Twain speaks of
Clemens's white clothing as 〃an inspiration which few men would have had
the courage to act upon。〃 He adds： 〃The first time I saw him wear it
was at the authors' hearing before the Congressional Committee on
Copyright in Washington。 Nothing could have been more dramatic than the
gesture with which he flung off his long； loose overcoat and stood forth
in white from his feet to the crown of his silvery head。 It was a
magnificent coup； and he dearly loved a coup； but the magnificent speech
which he made； tearing to shreds the venerable farrago of nonsense about
nonproperty in ideas which had formed the basis of all copyright
legislation； made you forget even his spectacularity。〃＇
There came a universal rush of men and women to get near enough for a
word and to shake his hand。 But he was anxious to get away。 We drove to
the Willard and talked and smoked； and got ready for dinner。 He was
elated； and said the occasion required full…dress。 We started down at
last； fronted and frocked like penguins。
I did not realize then the fullness of his love for theatrical effect。
I supposed he would want to go down with as little ostentation as
possible； so took him by the elevator which enters the dining…room
without passing through the long corridor known as 〃Peacock Alley；〃
because of its being a favorite place for handsomely dressed fashionables
of the national capital。 When we reached the entrance of the dining…room
he said：
〃Isn't there another entrance to this place？〃
I said there was； but that it was very conspicuous。 We should have to go
down the long corridor。
〃Oh； well；〃 he said； 〃 I don't mind that。 Let's go back and try it
over。〃
So we went back up the elevator； walked to the other end of the hotel；
and came down to the F Street entrance。 There is a fine； stately flight
of stepsa really royal stairleading from this entrance down into
〃Peacock Alley。〃 To slowly descend that flight is an impressive thing to
do。 It is like descending the steps of a throne…room； or to some royal
landing…place where Cleopatra's barge might lie。 I confess that I was
somewhat nervous at the awfulness of the occasion； but I reflected that I
was powerfully protected； so side by side； both in full…dress； white
ties； white…silk waistcoats； and all； we came down that regal flight。
Of course he was seized upon at once by a lot of feminine admirers； and
the passage along the corridor was a perpetual gantlet。 I realize now
that this gave the dramatic finish to his day； and furnished him with
proper appetite for his dinner。 I did not again make the mistake of
taking him around to the more secluded elevator。 I aided and abetted him
every evening in making that spectacular descent of the royal stairway；
and in running that fair and frivolous gantlet the length of 〃Peacock
Alley。〃 The dinner was a continuous reception。 No sooner was he seated
than this Congressman and that Senator came over to shake hands with Mark
Twain。 Governor Francis of Missouri also came。 Eventually Howells
drifted in； and Clemens reviewed the day； its humors and successes。 Back
in the rooms at last he summed up the progress thus farsmoked； laughed
over 〃Uncle Joe's〃 surrender to the 〃copyright bandits；〃 and turned in
for the night。
We were at the Capitol headquarters in Speaker Cannon's private room
about eleven o'clock next morning。 Clemens was not in the best humor
because I had allowed him to oversleep。 He was inclined to be
discouraged at the prospect； and did not believe many of the members
would come down to see him。 He expressed a wish for some person of
influence and wide acquaintance； and walked up and down； smoking
gloomily。 I slipped out and found the Speaker's colored body…guard；
Neal； and suggested that Mr。 Clemens was ready now to receive the
members。
That was enough。 They began to arrive immediately。 John Sharp Williams
came first； then Boutell； from Illinois； Littlefield； of Maine； and after
them a perfect procession； including all the leading lightsDalzell；
Champ Clark； McCallone hundred and eighty or so in all during the next
three or four hours。
Neal announced each name at the door； and in turn I announced it to
Clemens when the press was not too great。 He had provided boxes of
cigars； and the room was presently blue with smoke； Clemens in his white
suit in the midst of it； surrounded by those darker figuresshaking
hands； dealing out copyright gospel and anecdoteshappy and wonderfully
excited。 There were chairs； but usually there was only standing room。
He was on his feet for several hours and talked continually； but when at
last it was over； and Champ Clark； who I believe remained longest and was
most enthusiastic in the movement； had bade him good…by； he declared that
he was not a particle tired； and added：
〃I believe if our bill could be presented now it would pass。〃
He was highly elated； and pronounced everything a perfect success。 Neal；
who was largely responsible for the triumph； received a ten…dollar bill。
We drove to the hotel and dined that night with the Dodges； who had been
neighbors at Riverdale。 Later； the usual crowd of admirers gathered
around him； among them I remember the minister from Costa Rica； the
Italian minister； and others of the diplomatic service； most of whom he
had known during his European residence。 Some one told of traveling in
India and China； and how a certain Hindu 〃god〃 who had exchanged
autographs with Mark Twain during his sojourn there was familiar with
only two other American namesGeorge Washington and Chicago； while the
King of Siam had read but three English booksthe Bible； Bryce's
American Commonwealth； and The Innocents Abroad。
We were at Thomas Nelson Page's for dinner next eveninga wonderfully
beautiful home； full of art treasures。 A number of guests had been
invited。 Clemens naturally led the dinner…talk； which eventually drifted
to reading。 He told of Mrs。 Clemens's embarrassment when Stepniak had
visited them and talked books； and asked her what her husband thought of
Balzac； Thackeray； and the others。 She had been obliged to say that he
had not read them。
〃'How interesting！' said Stepniak。 But it wasn't interesting to Mrs。
Clemens。 It was torture。〃
He was light…spirited and gay； but recalling Mrs。 Clemens saddened him；
perhaps； for he was silent as we drove to the hotel； and after he was in
bed he said； with a weary despair which even the words do not convey：
〃If I had been there a minute earlier； it is possibleit is possible
that she might have died in my arms。 Sometimes I think that perhaps
there was an instanta single instantwhen she realized that she was
dying and that I was not there。〃
In New York I had once brought him a print of the superb 〃Adams
Memorial；〃 by Saint…Gaudensthe bronze woman who sits in the still court
in the Rock Creek Cem