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A number of his engagements were in the central part of New York； at
points not far distant from Elmira。 He had a standing invitation to
visit the Langdon home； and he made it convenient to avail himself of
that happiness。
His was not an unruffled courtship。 When at last he reached the point of
proposing for the daughter of the house； neither the daughter nor the
household offered any noticeable encouragement to his suit。 Many absurd
anecdotes have been told of his first interview with Mr。 Langdon on the
subject； but they are altogether without foundation。 It was a proper and
dignified discussion of a very serious matter。 Mr。 Langdon expressed
deep regard for him and friendship but he was not inclined to add him to
the family； the young lady herself； in a general way； accorded with these
views。 The applicant for favor left sadly enough； but he could not
remain discouraged or sad。 He lectured at Cleveland with vast success；
and the news of it traveled quickly to Elmira。 He was referred to by
Cleveland papers as a 〃lion〃 and 〃the coming man of the age。〃 Two days
later； in Pittsburgh （November 19th）； he 〃played〃 against Fanny Kemble；
the favorite actress of that time； with the result that Miss Kemble had
an audience of two hundred against nearly ten times the number who
gathered to hear Mark Twain。 The news of this went to Elmira； too。 It
was in the papers there next morning； surely this was a conquering hero
a gay Lochinvar from out of the Westand the daughter of the house must
be guarded closely； that he did not bear her away。 It was on the second
morning following the Pittsburgh triumph； when the Langdon family were
gathered at breakfast； that a bushy auburn head poked fearfully in at the
door； and a low； humble voice said：
〃The calf has returned； may the prodigal have some breakfast？〃
No one could be reserved or reprovingly distant； or any of those
unfriendly things with a person like that； certainly not Jervis Langdon；
who delighted in the humor and the tricks and turns and oddities of this
eccentric visitor。 Giving his daughter to him was another matter； but
even that thought was less disturbing than it had been at the start。 In
truth； the Langdon household had somehow grown to feel that he belonged
to them。 The elder sister's husband； Theodore Crane； endorsed him fully。
He had long before read some of the Mark Twain sketches that had traveled
eastward in advance of their author； and had recognized； even in the
crudest of them； a classic charm。 As for Olivia Langdon's mother and
sister； their happiness lay in hers。 Where her heart went theirs went
also； and it would appear that her heart； in spite of herself； had found
its rightful keeper。 Only young Langdon was irreconciled； and eventually
set out for a voyage around the world to escape the situation。
There was only a provisional engagement at first。 Jervis Langdon
suggested； and Samuel Clemens agreed with him； that it was proper to know
something of his past； as well as of his present； before the official
parental sanction should be given。 When Mr。 Langdon inquired as to the
names of persons of standing to whom he might write for credentials；
Clemens pretty confidently gave him the name of the Reverend Stebbins and
others of San Francisco； adding that he might write also to Joe Goodman
if he wanted to； but that he had lied for Goodman a hundred times and
Goodman would lie for him if necessary； so his testimony would be of no
value。 The letters to the clergy were written； and Mr。 Langdon also
wrote one on his own account。
It was a long mail…trip to the Coast and back in those days。 It might be
two months before replies would come from those ministers。 The lecturer
set out again on his travels； and was radiantly and happily busy。 He
went as far west as Illinois； had crowded houses in Chicago； visited
friends and kindred in Hannibal； St。 Louis； and Keokuk； carrying the
great news； and lecturing in old familiar haunts。
LXX
INNOCENTS AT HOMEAND 〃THE INNOCENTS ABROAD〃
He was in Jacksonville； Illinois； at the end of January （1869）； and in a
letter to Bliss states that he will be in Elmira two days later； and asks
that proofs of the book be sent there。 He arrived at the Langdon home；
anxious to hear the reports that would make him； as the novels might say；
〃the happiest or the most miserable of men。〃 Jervis Langdon had a rather
solemn look when they were alone together。 Clemens asked：
〃You've heard from those gentlemen out there？〃
〃Yes； and from another gentleman I wrote concerning you。〃
〃They don't appear to have been very enthusiastic； from your manner。〃
〃Well； yes； some of them were。〃
〃I suppose I may ask what particular form their emotion took？〃
〃Oh yes； yes； they agree unanimously that you are a brilliant； able man；
a man with a future； and that you would make about the worst husband on
record。〃
The applicant for favor had a forlorn look。
〃There's nothing very evasive about that；〃 he said：
There was a period of reflective silence。 It was probably no more than a
few seconds； but it seemed longer。
〃Haven't you any other friend that you could suggest？〃 Langdon said。
〃Apparently none whose testimony would be valuable。〃
Jervis Langdon held out his hand。 〃You have at least one；〃 he said。
〃I believe in you。 I know you better than they do。〃
And so came the crown of happiness。 The engagement of Samuel Langhorne
Clemens and Olivia Lewis Langdon was ratified next day； February 4； 1869。
But if the friends of Mark Twain viewed the idea of the carnage with
scant favor； the friends of Miss Langdon regarded it with genuine alarm。
Elmira was a conservative placea place of pedigree and family
tradition； that a stranger； a former printer； pilot； miner； wandering
journalist and lecturer； was to carry off the daughter of one of the
oldest and wealthiest families； was a thing not to be lightly permitted。
The fact that he had achieved a national fame did not count against other
considerations。 The social protest amounted almost to insurrection； but
it was not availing。 The Langdon family had their doubts too； though of
a different sort。 Their doubts lay in the fear that one； reared as their
daughter had been； might be unable to hold a place as the wife of this
intellectual giant； whom they felt that the world was preparing to honor。
That this delicate； sheltered girl could have the strength of mind and
body for her position seemed hard to believe。 Their faith overbore such
questionings； and the future years proved how fully it was justified。
To his mother Samuel Clemens wrote：
She is only a little body； but she hasn't her peer in Christendom。
I gave her only a plain gold engagement ring； when fashion
imperatively demands a two…hundred…dollar diamond one； and told her
it was typical of her future life…namely； that she would have to
flourish on substance； rather than luxuries （but you see I know the
girlshe don't care anything about luxuries）。。。。 She spends no
money but her astral year's allowance； and spends nearly every cent
of that on other people。 She will be a good； sensible little wife；
without any airs about her。 I don't make intercession for her
beforehand； and ask you to love her； for there isn't any use in
thatyou couldn't help it if you were to try。 I warn you that
whoever comes within the fatal influence of her beautiful nature is
her willing slave forevermore。
To Mrs。 Crane； absent in March； her father wrote：
DEAR SUE；I received your letter yesterday with a great deal of
pleasure； but the letter has gone in pursuit of one S。 L。 Clemens；
who has been giving us a great deal of trouble lately。 We cannot
have a joy in our family without a feeling； on the part of the
little incorrigible in our family； that this wanderer must share it；
so； as soon as read； into her pocket and off upstairs goes your
letter； and in the next two minutes into the mail； so it is
impossible for me now to refer to it； or by reading it over gain an
inspiration in writing you。 。 。
Clemens closed his lecture tour in March； acid went immediately to
Elmira。 He had lectured between fifty and sixty times； with a return of
something more than 8；000； not a bad aggregate for a first season on the
circuit。 He had planned to make a spring tour to California； but the
attraction at Elmira was of a sort that discouraged distant travel。
Furthermore； he disliked the platform； then and always。 It was always a
temptation to him because of its quick and abundant return； but it was
none the less distasteful。 In a letter of that spring he wrote：
I most cordially hate the lecture field。 And after all； I shudder
to think I may never get out of it。 In all conversation with Gough；
and Anna Dickinson； Nasby； Oliver Wendell Holmes； Wendell Phillips；
and the other old stagers； I could not observe that they ever
expected or hoped to get out of the business。 I don't want to get
wedded to it as they are。
He declined further engagements on the excuse that he must attend to