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characterized it as 〃a feeble imitation of Bret Harte's 'Heathen
Chinee。'〃 Clemens； in a letter； had mildly protested as to the charge of
authorship； and Aldrich had promptly printed the letter with apologetic
explanation。 A playful exchange of personal letters followed； and the
beginning of a lifelong friendship。
One of the letters has a special interest here。 Clemens had followed his
protest with an apology for it； asking that no further notice be taken of
the matter。 Aldrich replied that it was too late to prevent 〃doing him
justice；〃 as his explanation was already on the press； but that if
Clemens insisted he would withdraw it in the next issue。 Clemens then
wrote that he did not want it withdrawn； and explained that he hated to
be accused of plagiarizing Bret Harte； to whom he was deeply indebted for
literary schooling in the California days。 Continuing he said：
Do you know the prettiest fancy and the neatest that ever shot
through Harte's brain？ It was this。 When they were trying to
decide upon a vignette cover for the Overland a grizzly bear （of the
arms of the State of California） was chosen。 Nahl Bros。 carved him
and the page was printed with him in it。
As a bear he was a success。 He was a good bear； but then； it was
objected； he was an objectless beara bear that meant nothing；
signified nothing； simply stood there； snarling over his shoulder at
nothing； and was painfully and manifestly a boorish and ill…natured
intruder upon the fair page。 All hands said that none were
satisfied； they hated badly to give him up； and yet they hated as
much to have him there when there was no point to him。 But
presently Harte took a pencil and drew two simple lines under his
feet； and behold he was a magnificent success！the ancient symbol
of California savagery； snarling at the approaching type of high and
progressive civilization； the first Overland locomotive！ I just
think that was nothing less than an inspiration。 ＇The 〃bear〃 was
that which has always appeared on the Overland cover； the 〃two
lines〃 formed a railway track under his feet。 Clemens's original
letter contained crude sketches illustrating these things。＇
Among the Boston group was another Californian； Ralph Keeler； an
eccentric； gifted； and altogether charming fellow； whom Clemens had known
on the Pacific slope。 Keeler had been adopted by the Boston writers； and
was grateful and happy accordingly。 He was poor of purse； but
inexhaustibly rich in the happier gifts of fortune。 He was unfailingly
buoyant； light…hearted； and hopeful。 On an infinitesimal capital he had
made a tour of many lands； and had written of it for the Atlantic。 In
that charmed circle he was as overflowingly happy as if he had been
admitted to the company of the gods。 Keeler was affectionately regarded
by all who knew him； and he offered a sort of worship in return。 He
often accompanied Mark Twain on his lecture engagements to the various
outlying towns； and Clemens brought him back to his hotel for breakfast；
where they had good； enjoyable talks together。 Once Keeler came eagerly
to the hotel and made his way up to Clemens's room。
〃Come with me；〃 he said。 〃Quick！〃
〃What is it？ What's happened？〃
〃Don't wait to talk。 Come with me。〃
They tramped briskly through the streets till they reached the public
library； entered； Keeler leading the way； not stopping till he faced a
row of shelves filled with books。 He pointed at one of them； his face
radiant with joy。
〃Look；〃 he said。 〃Do you see it？〃
Clemens looked carefully now and identified one of the books as a still…
born novel which Keeler had published。
〃This is a library；〃 said Keeler； eagerly； 〃and they've got it！〃
His whole being was aglow with the wonder of it。 He had been
investigating； the library records showed that in the two years the book
had been there it had been taken out and read three times！ It never
occurred to Clemens even to smile。 Knowing Mark Twain； one would guess
that his eyes were likely to be filled with tears。
In his book about Mark Twain； Howells tells of a luncheon which Keeler
gave to his more famous associatesAldrich； Fields； Harte； Clemens； and
Howells himselfa merry informal occasion。 Says Howells：
Nothing remains to me of the happy time but a sense of idle and
aimless and joyful talkplay； beginning and ending nowhere； of
eager laughter； of countless good stories from Fields； of a heat…
lightning shimmer of wit from Aldrich； of an occasional
concentration of our joint mockeries upon our host； who took it
gladly； and amid the discourse； so little improving； but so full of
good…fellowship； Bret Harte's （leering dramatization of Clemens's
mental attitude toward a symposium of Boston illuminates。 〃Why；
fellows；〃 he spluttered； 〃this is the dream of Mark's life；〃 and I
remember the glance from under Clemens's feathery eyebrows which
betrayed his enjoyment of the fun。
Very likely Keeler gave that luncheon in celebration of his book's
triumph； it would be like him。
Keeler's end was a mystery。 The New York Tribune commissioned him to go
to Cuba to report the facts of some Spanish outrages。 He sailed from New
York in the steamer； and was last seen alive the night before the vessel
reached Havana。 He had made no secret of his mission； but had discussed
it in his frank； innocent way。 There were some Spanish military men on
the ship。
Clemens； commenting on the matter； once said：
〃It may be that he was not flung into the sea； still the belief was
general that that was what had happened。〃
In his book Howells refers to the doubt with which Mark Twain was then
received by the polite culture of Boston； which； on the other hand；
accepted Bret Harte as one of its own； forgiving even social
shortcomings。
The reason is not difficult to understand。 Harte had made his appeal
with legitimate fiction of the kind which； however fresh in flavor and
environment； was of a sort to be measured and classified。 Harte spoke a
language they could understand； his humor； his pathos； his point of view
were all recognizable。 It was an art already standardized by a master。
It is no reflection on the genius of Bret Harte to liken his splendid
achievements to those of Charles Dickens。 Much of Harte's work is in no
way inferior to that of his great English prototype。 Dickens never wrote
a better short story than 〃The Outcasts of Poker Flats。〃 He never wrote
as good a short story as 〃The Luck of Roaring Camp。〃 Boston critics
promptly realized these things and gave Harte his correct rating。 That
they failed to do this with Mark Twain； lay chiefly in the fact that he
spoke to them in new and startling tongues。 His gospels were likely to
be heresies； his literary eccentricities were all unclassified。 Of the
ultrafastidious set Howells tells us that Charles Eliot Norton and Prof。
Francis J。 Child were about the only ones who accorded him unqualified
approval。 The others smiled and enjoyed him； but with that condescension
which the courtier is likely to accord to motley and the cap and bells。
Only the great； simple…hearted； unbiased multitude； the public； which had
no standards but the direct appeal from one human heart to another； could
recognize immediately his mightier heritage； could exalt and place him on
the throne。
LXXXIV
〃ROUGHING IT〃
Telegram to Redpath：
How in the name of God does a man find his way from here to Amherst；
and when must he start？ Give me full particulars； and send a man
with me。 If I had another engagement I would rot before I would
fill it。 S。 L。 CLEMENS。
This was at the end of February； and he believed that he was standing on
the platform for the last time。 He loathed the drudgery of the work； and
he considered there was no further need。 He was no longer in debt； and
his income he accounted ample。 His new book； 'Roughing It'；＇It was
Bliss who had given the new book the tle of Roughing It。 Innocents at
Home had been its provision title； certainly a misleading one； though it
has been retained in England for the second volume； for what reason it
would be difficult to explain。＇had had a large advance sale； and its
earnings promised to rival those of the 'Innocents'。 He resolved in the
future to confine himself to the trade and profits of authorship。
The new book had advantages in its favor。 Issued early in the year； it
was offered at the best canvassing season； particularly so； as the
author's lectures had prepared the public for its reception。
Furthermore； it dealt with the most picturesque phases of American life；
scenes and episodes vastly interesting at that time； and peculiarly
adapted to Mark Twain's literary expression。 In a different way
'Roughing It' is quite as remarkable as 'The Innocents Abroad。' If it
has less charm； it has greater interest； and it is by no means without
charm。 There is something delicious； for instance； in this bit of pure
enjoyment of the first day's overland travel：
It was now just