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wedded to it as they are。
He declined further engagements on the excuse that he must attend to
getting out his book。 The revised proofs were coming now； and he and
gentle Livy Langdon read them together。 He realized presently that with
her sensitive nature she had also a keen literary perception。 What
he lacked in delicacyand his lack was likely to be large enough in that
directionshe detected； and together they pruned it away。 She became
his editor during those happy courtship daysa position which she held
to her death。 The world owed a large debt of gratitude to Mark Twain's
wife； who from the very beginningand always； so far as in her strength
she was ableinspired him to give only his worthiest to the world；
whether in written or spoken word； in counsel or in deed。 Those early
days of their close companionship； spiritual and mental； were full of
revelation to Samuel Clemens； a revelation that continued from day to
day； and from year to year； even to the very end。
The letter to Bliss and the proofs were full of suggested changes that
would refine and beautify the text。 In one of them he settles the
question of title； which he says is to be：
THE INNOCENTS ABROAD
or
THE NEW PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
and we may be sure that it was Olivia Langdon's voice that gave the
deciding vote for the newly adopted chief title； which would take any
suggestion of irreverence out of the remaining words。
The book was to have been issued in the spring； but during his wanderings
proofs had been delayed； and there was now considerable anxiety about it；
as the agencies had become impatient for the canvass。 At the end of
April Clemens wrote： 〃Your printers are doing well。 I will hurry the
proofs〃； but it was not until the early part of June that the last
chapters were revised and returned。 Then the big book； at last
completed； went to press on an edition of twenty thousand； a large number
for any new book； even to…day。
In later years； through some confusion of circumstance； Mark Twain was
led to believe that the publication of The Innocents Abroad was long and
unnecessarily delayed。 But this was manifestly a mistake。 The book went
to press in June。 It was a big book and a large edition。 The first copy
was delivered July 20 （1869）； and four hundred and seventeen bound
volumes were shipped that month。 Even with the quicker mechanical
processes of to…day a month or more is allowed for a large book between
the final return of proofs and the date of publication。 So it is only
another instance of his remembering； as he once quaintly put it； 〃the
thing that didn't happen。〃 ＇In an article in the North American Review
（September 21； 1906） Mr。 Clemens stated that he found it necessary to
telegraph notice that he would bring suit if the book was not immediately
issued。 In none of the letters covering this period is there any
suggestion of delay on the part of the publishers； and the date of the
final return of proofs； together with the date of publication； preclude
the possibility of such a circumstance。 At some period of his life he
doubtless sent； or contemplated sending； such a message； and this fact；
through some curious psychology； became confused in his mind with the
first edition of The Innocents Abroad。＇
LXXI
THE GREAT BOOK OF TRAVEL
'The Innocents Abroad' was a success from the start。 The machinery for
its sale and delivery was in full swing by August 1； and five thousand
one hundred and seventy copies were disposed of that montha number that
had increased to more than thirty…one thousand by the first of the year。
It was a book of travel； its lowest price was three and a half dollars。
No such record had been made by a book of that description； none has
equaled it since。 ＇One must recall that this was the record only up to
1910。 D。W。＇
If Mark Twain was not already famous； he was unquestionably famous now。
As the author of The New Pilgrim's Progress he was swept into the domain
of letters as one riding at the head of a cavalcadedoors and windows
wide with welcome and jubilant with applause。 Newspapers chorused their
enthusiasm； the public voiced universal approval； only a few of the more
cultured critics seemed hesitant and doubtful。
They applaudedmost of thembut with reservation。 Doctor Holland
regarded Mark Twain as a mere fun maker of ephemeral popularity； and was
not altogether pleasant in his dictum。 Doctor Holmes； in a letter to the
author； speaks of the 〃frequently quaint and amusing conceits；〃 but does
not find it in his heart to refer to the book as literature。 It was
naturally difficult for the East to concede a serious value to one who
approached his subject with such militant aboriginality； and occasionally
wrote 〃those kind。〃 William Dean Howells reviewed the book in the
Atlantic； which was of itself a distinction； whether the review was
favorable or otherwise。 It was favorable on the whole； favorable to the
humor of the book； its 〃delicious impudence；〃 the charm of its good…
natured irony。 The review closed：
It is no business of ours to fix his rank among the humorists
California has given us； but we think he is； in an entirely
different way from all the others； quite worthy of the company of
the best。
This is praise； but not of an intemperate sort； nor very inclusive。 The
descriptive； the poetic； the more pretentious phases of the book did not
receive attention。 Mr。 Howells was perhaps the first critic of eminence
to recognize in Mark Twain not only the humorist； but the supreme genius…
the 〃Lincoln of our literature。〃 This was later。 The publicthe silent
publicwith what Howells calls 〃the inspired knowledge of the simple…
hearted multitude；〃 reached a similar verdict forthwith。 And on
sufficient evidence： let the average unprejudiced person of to…day take
up the old volume and read a few chapters anywhere and decide whether it
is the work of a mere humorist； or also of a philosopher； a poet； and a
seer。 The writer well remembers a little group of 〃the simple…hearted
multitude〃 who during the winter of '69 and '70 gathered each evening to
hear the Innocents read aloud； and their unanimous verdict that it was
the 〃best book of modern times。〃
It was the most daring book of its day。 Passages of it were calculated
to take the breath of the orthodox reader； only； somehow； it made him
smile； too。 It was all so good…natured； so openly sincere。 Without
doubt it preached heresythe heresy of viewing revered landmarks and
relics joyously； rather than lugubriously； reverentially； when they
inspired reverence； satirically； when they invited ridicule； and with
kindliness always。
The Innocents Abroad is Mark Twain's greatest book of travel。 The
critical and the pure in speech may object to this verdict。 Brander
Matthews regards it second to A Tramp Abroad； the natural viewpoint of
the literary technician。 The 'Tramp' contains better usage without
doubt； but it lacks the 〃color〃 which gives the Innocents its perennial
charm。 In the Innocents there is a glow； a fragrance； a romance of
touch； a subtle something which is idyllic； something which is not quite
of reality； in the tale of that little company that so long ago sailed
away to the harbors of their illusions beyond the sea； and； wandered
together through old palaces and galleries； and among the tombs of the
saints； and down through ancient lands。 There is an atmosphere about it
all； a dream…like quality that lies somewhere in the telling； maybe； or
in the tale； at all events it is there； and the world has felt it ever
since。 Perhaps it could be defined in a single word； perhaps that word
would be 〃youth。〃 That the artist； poor True Williams； felt its
inspiration is certain。 We may believe that Williams was not a great
draftsman； but no artist ever caught more perfectly the light and spirit
of the author's text。 Crude some of the pictures are； no doubt； but they
convey the very essence of the story； they belong to it； they are a part
of it； and they ought never to perish。 'A Tramp Abroad' is a rare book；
but it cannot rank with its great predecessor in human charm。 The
public； which in the long run makes mistakes； has rendered that verdict。
The Innocents by far outsells the Tramp； and； for that matter； any other
book of travel。
THE PURCHASE OF A PAPER
It is curious to reflect that Mark Twain still did not regard himself as
a literary man。 He had no literary plans for the future； he scarcely
looked forward to the publication of another book。 He considered himself
a journalist； his ambition lay in the direction of retirement in some
prosperous newspaper enterprise； with the comforts and companionship of a
home。 During his travels he had already been casting about for a
congenial and substantial association in newspaperdom； and had at one
time considered the purchase of an interest in the Cleveland Herald。 But
Buffalo was nearer Elmira； and when an opportunity offered； by which he
could acquire a third interest in the Buffalo Express for 25；000； the
purchase was decided upon。 His lack