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enjoyment of the first day's overland travel：
It was now just dawn； and as we stretched our cramped legs full
length on the mail…sacks； and gazed out through the windows across
the wide wastes of greensward clad in cool； powdery mist to where
there was an expectant look in the Eastern horizon； our perfect
enjoyment took the form of a tranquil and contented ecstasy。 The
stage whirled along at a spanking gait； the breeze flapping the
curtains and suspended coats in a most exhilarating way； the cradle
swayed and swung luxuriously； the pattering of the horses' hoofs；
the cracking of the driver's whip； and his 〃Hi…yi！ g'lang！〃 were
music； the spinning ground and the waltzing trees appeared to give
us a mute hurrah as we went by； and then slack up and look after us
with interest and envy； or something； and as we lay and smoked the
pipe of peace； and compared all this luxury with the years of
tiresome city life that had gone before it； we felt that there was
only one complete and satisfying happiness in the world； and we had
found it。
Also； there is that lofty presentation of South Pass； and a picture of
the alkali desert； so parching； so withering in its choking realism； that
it makes the throat ache and the tongue dry to read it。 Just a bit of
the desert in passing：
The sun beats down with a dead； blistering； relentless malignity；
the perspiration is welling from every pore in man and beast； but
scarcely a sign of it finds its way to the surfaceit is absorbed
before it gets there； there is not the faintest breath of air
stirring； there is not a merciful shred of cloud in all the
brilliant firmament； there is not a living creature visible in any
direction whither one searches the blank level that stretches its
monotonous miles on every hand； there is not a sound； not a sigh；
not a whisper； not a buzz； or a whir of wings； or distant pipe of
bird； not even a sob from the lost souls that doubtless people that
dead air。
As for the humor of the book； it has been chiefly famous for that。 〃Buck
Fanshaw's Funeral〃 has become a classic； and the purchase of the 〃Mexican
Plug。〃 But it is to no purpose to review the book here in detail。 We
have already reviewed the life and environment out of which it grew。
Without doubt the story would have contained more of the poetic and
contemplative； in which he was always at his best； if the subject itself；
as in the Innocents； had lent itself oftener to this form of writing。 It
was the lack of that halo perhaps which caused the new book never quite
to rank with its great forerunner in public favor。 There could hardly be
any other reason。 It presented a fresher theme； it abounded in humor；
technically； it was better written； seemingly it had all the elements of
popularity and of permanence。 It did； in fact； possess these qualities；
but its sales； except during the earlier months of its canvass； never
quite equaled those of The Innocents Abroad。
'Roughing It' was accepted by the public for just what it was and is； a
great picture of the Overland Pioneer daysa marvelous picture of
frontier aspects at a time when the frontier itself； even with its
hardships and its tragedies； was little more than a vast primal joke；
when all frontiersmen were obliged to be laughing philosophers in order
to survive the stress of its warfares。
A word here about this Western humor： It is a distinct product。 It grew
out of a distinct conditionthe battle with the frontier。 The fight was
so desperate； to take it seriously was to surrender。 Women laughed that
they might not weep； men； when they could no longer swear。 〃Western
humor〃 was the result。 It is the freshest； wildest humor in the world；
but there is tragedy behind it。
'Roughing It' presented the picture of those early conditions with the
startling vividness and truth of a great novel； which； in effect； it was。
It was not accurate history； even of the author's own adventures。 It was
true in its aspects； rather than in its details。 The greater artist
disregards the truth of detail to render more strikingly a phase or a
condition； to produce an atmosphere； to reconstruct a vanished time。
This was what Mark Twain did in 'Roughing It'。 He told the story of
overland travel and the frontier； for his own and future generations； in
what is essentially a picaresque novel； a work of unperishing fiction；
founded on fact。
The sales of 'Roughing It' during the first three months aggregated
nearly forty thousand copies； and the author was lavishly elate
accordingly。 To Orion （who had already closed his career with Bliss； by
exercise of those hereditary eccentricities through which he so often
came to grief） he gave 1；000 out of the first royalty check； in
acknowledgment of the memorandum book and other data which Orion had
supplied。 Clemens believed the new book would sell one hundred thousand
copies within the year； but the sale diminished presently； and at the end
of the first year it was considerably behind the Innocents for the same
period。 As already stated； it required ten years for Roughing It to
reach the one…hundred…thousand mark； which the Innocents reached in
three。
LXXXV
A BIRTH； A DEATH； AND A VOYAGE
The year 1872 was an eventful one in Mark Twain's life。 At Elmira； on
March 19th； his second child； a little girl； whom they named Susan
Olivia； was born。 On June 2d； in the new home in Hartford； to which they
had recently moved； his first child； a little boy； Langdon； died。 He had
never been strong； his wavering life had often been uncertain； always
more of the spirit than the body； and in Elmira he contracted a heavy
cold； or perhaps it was diphtheria from the beginning。 In later years；
whenever Clemens spoke of the little fellow； he never failed to accuse
himself of having been the cause of the child's death。 It was Mrs。
Clemens's custom to drive out each morning with Langdon； and once when
she was unable to go Clemens himself went instead。
〃I should not have been permitted to do it；〃 he said； remembering。
〃I was not qualified for any such responsibility as that。 Some one
should have gone who had at least the rudiments of a mind。 Necessarily
I would lose myself dreaming。 After a while the coachman looked around
and noticed that the carriage…robes had dropped away from the little
fellow； and that he was exposed to the chilly air。 He called my
attention to it； but it was too late。 Tonsilitis or something of the
sort set in； and he did not get any better； so we took him to Hartford。
There it was pronounced diphtheria； and of course he died。〃
So； with or without reason； he added the blame of another tragedy to the
heavy burden of remorse which he would go on piling up while he lived。
The blow was a terrible one to Mrs。 Clemens； even the comfort of the
little new baby on her arm could not ease the ache in her breast。 It
seemed to her that death was pursuing her。 In one of her letters she
says：
〃I feel so often as if my path is to be lined with graves；〃 and she
expresses the wish that she may drop out of life herself before her
sister and her husbanda wish which the years would grant。
They did not return to Elmira； for it was thought that the air of the
shore would be better for the little girl； so they spent the summer at
Saybrook； Connecticut； at Fenwick Hall； leaving Orion and his wife in
charge of the house at Hartford。
Beyond a few sketches； Clemens did very little literary work that summer；
but he planned a trip to Europe； and he invented what is still known and
sold as the 〃Mark Twain Scrap…Book。〃
He wrote to Orion of his proposed trip to England； and dilated upon his
scrap…book with considerable enthusiasm。 The idea had grown out of the
inconvenience of finding a paste…jar； and the general mussiness of scrap…
book keeping。 His new plan was a self…pasting scrap…book with the gum
laid on in narrow strips； requiring only to be dampened with a sponge or
other moist substance to be ready for the clipping。 He states that he
intends to put the invention into the hands of Slote； Woodman & Co。； of
whom Dan Slote； his old Quaker City room…mate； was the senior partner；
and have it manufactured for the trade。
About this time began Mark Twain's long and active interest in copyright。
Previously he had not much considered the subject； he had taken it for
granted there was no step that he could take； while international piracy
was a recognized institution。 On both sides of the water books were
appropriated； often without profit； sometimes even without credit； to the
author。 To tell the truth； Clemens had at first regarded it rather in
the nature of a compliment that his books should be thought worth
pirating in England； but as time passed he realized that he was paying
heavily for this recognition。 Furthermore； he decided that he was
forfeiting a right； rather that he was being deprived of it： something
which it was in his nature to resent。
When 'Roughing It' had been ready for issue he agreed with Bliss that
they should try the experiment of copy