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！
strongly admired him； and had espoused his cause in an article signed
〃S'cat！〃 in the Elmira Advertiser； when he （Beecher） had been assailed by
the more orthodox Elmira clergy。 For the 〃S'cat〃 article see Appendix I；
at the end of last volume。＇
It was the next afternoon when they set out for Buffalo； accompanied by
the bride's parents； the groom's relatives； the Beechers； and perhaps one
or two others of that happy company。 It was nine o'clock at night when
they arrived； and found Mr。 Slee waiting at the station with sleighs to
convey the party to the 〃boarding…house〃 he had selected。 They drove and
drove； and the sleigh containing the bride and groom got behind and
apparently was bound nowhere in particular； which disturbed the groom a
good deal； for he thought it proper that they should arrive first； to
receive their guests。 He commented on Slee's poor judgment in selecting
a house that was so hard to find； and when at length they turned into
fashionable Delaware Avenue； and stopped before one of the most
attractive places in the neighborhood； he was beset with fear concerning
the richness of the locality。
They were on the steps when the doors opened； and a perfect fairyland of
lights and decoration was revealed within。 The friends who had gone
ahead came out with greetings； to lead in the bride and groom。 Servants
hurried forward to take bags and wraps。 They were ushered inside； they
were led through beautiful rooms； all newly appointed and garnished。 The
bridegroom was dazed； unable to understand the meaning of things； the
apparent ownership and completeness of possession。
At last the young wife put her hand upon his arm：
〃Don't you understand； Youth；〃 she said； that was always her name for
him。 〃Don't you understand？ It is ours； all ourseverythinga gift
from father！〃
But even then he could not grasp it； not at first； not until Mr。 Langdon
brought a little box and； opening it； handed them the deeds。
Nobody quite remembers what was the first remark that Samuel Clemens made
then； but either then or a little later he said：
〃Mr。 Langdon； whenever you are in Buffalo； if it's twice a year； come
right here。 Bring your bag and stay overnight if you want to。 It
sha'n't cost you a cent！〃
They went in to supper then； and by and by the guests were gone and the
young wedded pair were alone。
Patrick McAleer； the young coachman； who would grow old in their employ；
and Ellen； the cook； came in for their morning orders； and were full of
Irish delight at the inexperience and novelty of it all。 Then they were
gone； and only the lovers in their new house and their new happiness
remained。
And so it was they entered the enchanted land。
LXXV
AS TO DESTINY
If any reader has followed these chapters thus far； he may have wondered；
even if vaguely； at the seeming fatality of events。 Mark Twain had but
to review his own life for justification of his doctrine of inevitability
an unbroken and immutable sequence of cause and effect from the
beginning。 Once he said：
〃When the first living atom found itself afloat on the great Laurentian
sea the first act of that first atom led to the second act of that first
atom； and so on down through the succeeding ages of all life； until； if
the steps could be traced； it would be shown that the first act of that
first atom has led inevitably to the act of my standing here in my
dressing…gown at this instant talking to you。〃
It seemed the clearest presentment ever offered in the matter of
predestined circumstancepredestined from the instant when that primal
atom felt the vital thrill。 Mark Twain's early life； however imperfectly
recorded； exemplifies this postulate。 If through the years still ahead
of us the course of destiny seems less clearly defined； it is only
because thronging events make the threads less easy to trace。 The web
becomes richer； the pattern more intricate and confusing； but the line of
fate neither breaks nor falters； to the end。
LXXVI
ON THE BUFFALO 〃EXPRESS〃
With the beginning of life in Buffalo； Mark Twain had become already a
world charactera man of large consequence and events。 He had no proper
realization of this； no real sense of the size of his conquest； he still
regarded himself merely as a lecturer and journalist； temporarily
popular； but with no warrant to a permanent seat in the world's literary
congress。 He thought his success something of an accident。 The fact
that he was prepared to settle down as an editorial contributor to a
newspaper in what was then only a big village is the best evidence of a
modest estimate of his talents。
He 〃worked like a horse；〃 is the verdict of those who were closely
associated with him on the Express。 His hours were not regular； but they
were long。 Often he was at his desk at eight in the morning； and
remained there until ten or eleven at night。
His working costume was suited to comfort rather than show。 With coat；
vest； collar； and tie usually removed （sometimes even his shoes）； he
lounged in his chair； in any attitude that afforded the larger ease；
pulling over the exchanges； scribbling paragraphs； editorials； humorous
skits； and what not； as the notion came upon him。 J。 L。 Lamed； his co…
worker （he sat on the opposite side of the same table）； remembers that
Mark Twain enjoyed his work as he went alongthe humor of itand that
he frequently laughed as some whimsicality or new absurdity came into his
mind。
〃I doubt；〃 writes Lamed； 〃if he ever enjoyed anything more than the
jackknife engraving that he did on a piece of board of a military map of
the siege of Paris； which was printed in the Express from his original
plate； with accompanying explanations and comments。 His half…day of
whittling and laughter that went with it are something that I find
pleasant to remember。 Indeed； my whole experience of association with
him is a happy memory； which I am fortunate in having。。。。 What one saw
of him was always the actual Mark Twain； acting out of his own nature
simply； frankly； without pretense； and almost without reserve。 It was
that simplicity and naturalness in the man which carried his greatest
charm。〃
Lamed； like many others； likens Mark Twain to Lincoln in various of his
characteristics。 The two worked harmoniously together： Lamed attending
to the political direction of the journal； Clemens to the literary； and
what might be termed the sentimental side。 There was no friction in the
division of labor； never anything but good feeling between them。 Clemens
had a poor opinion of his own comprehension of politics； and perhaps as
little regard for Lamed's conception of humor。 Once when the latter
attempted something in the way of pleasantry his associate said：
〃Better leave the humor on this paper to me； Lamed〃； and once when Lamed
was away attending the Republican State Convention at Saratoga； and some
editorial comment seemed necessary； Clemens thought it best to sign the
utterance； and to make humor of his shortcomings。
I do not know much about politics； and am not sitting up nights to
learn 。 。 。 。
I am satisfied that these nominations are all right and sound； and
that they are the only ones that can bring peace to our distracted
country （the only political phrase I am perfectly familiar with and
competent to hurl at the public with fearless confidencethe other
editor is full of them）； but being merely satisfied is not enough。
I always like to know before I shout。 But I go for Mr。 Curtis with
all my strength！ Being certain of him； I hereby shout all I know
how。 But the others may be a split ticket； or a scratched ticket；
or whatever you call it。
I will let it alone for the present。 It will keep。 The other young
man will be back to…morrow； and he will shout for it； split or no
split； rest assured of that。 He will prance into this political
ring with his tomahawk and his war…whoop； and then you will hear a
crash and see the scalps fly。 He has none of my diffidence。 He
knows all about these nominees； and if he don't he will let on to in
such a natural way as to deceive the most critical。 He knows
everythinghe knows more than Webster's Unabridged and the American
Encyclopediabut whether he knows anything about a subject or not
he is perfectly willing to discuss it。 When he gets back he will
tell you all about these candidates as serenely as if he had been
acquainted with them a hundred years； though； speaking
confidentially； I doubt if he ever heard of any of them till to…day。
I am right well satisfied it is a good； sound； sensible ticket； and
a ticket to win； but wait till he comes。
In the mean time I go for George William Curtis and take the
chances。
MARK TWAIN。
He had become what Mr。 Howells calls entirely 〃deSouthernized〃 by this
time。 From having been of slaveholding stock； and a Confederate soldier；
he had become a most positive Republican； a rampant abolitionisthad
there been anything left to abolish。 His sympathy had been always wit