Books: Reminiscences*

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The town church rested on five-foot piles, had a log floor through which you saw the hogs that dwelt beneath. There were fleas enough for the whole congregation. On weekdays, the church was a schoolhouse.

Mr. Clemens Sr. kept a store; butter was six cents a pound. A slave-girl could be rented for $12 a year. The Doctor received $25 a year for doctoring an entire family, which meant gallons of castor oil gratis. Grandmothers were adequate physicians in the case of minor ailments. For toothache, you chose between the doctor and his tongs and a woman faith-healer who cured handily by the magic word "Believe!"

Young Samuel's career was varied— typesetter, river pilot, miner, editor, lecturer, writer. He settled in Hartford with a wife whom he affirms was the loveliest person he ever knew. He lost $190,000 on a typesetting machine that failed. Of his lawyer he writes: "He is a great, fat, good-natured, kindhearted, chicken-livered slave; with no more pride than a tramp, no more sand than a rabbit, no more moral sense than a wax figure and no more sex than a tapeworm. He sincerely thinks he is honest; he sincerely thinks he is honorable."

When Mr. Clemens lost his entire fortune, he earned enough lecturing and writing to pay back every cent.

The first time he met Mrs. Cleve land (at the White House), he made her write on his card: "He did not,"and sign it. He sent the card to his wife. She had written him, saying: "Don't wear your arctics in the White House."

Said he : "I do not laugh easily."It is said that there has never been a cheerful humorist. Mark Twain was philosophically and by temperament a pessimist.

Criticism he calls bitterly "the most degraded of all trades."His daughter Susy, aged 12, however, he excepted. She was his chief critic, and with her sisters guided not only his work but his social conduct. From behind a screen they were wont to coach his be havior at the dinner table.

He had a good memory: "When I was younger I could remember any thing whether it happened or not ; but I am getting old and soon I shall re member only the latter."

The Significance. Lovers of Mark Twain will enjoy the book because he wrote it and because it fills out the picture of a kindly, sad and great man. It adds little to the known facts about his life and opinions.

The Author is the creator of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Pudd'nhead Wilson, The Prince and the Pauper, the Yankee who went to King Arthur's Court.

^{* MARK TWAIN's autobiography — with an introduction by
Albert Bigelow Paine (2 Vols.)— Harper ($10.00).}