登陆注册
5380500000153

第153章

I bored through Middlemarch during the past week, with its labored and tedious analyses of feelings and motives, its paltry and tiresome people, its unexciting and uninteresting story, and its frequent blinding flashes of single-sentence poetry, philosophy, wit, and what not, and nearly died from the overwork.I wouldn't read another of those books for a farm.

I did try to read one other--Daniel Deronda.I dragged through three chapters, losing flesh all the time, and then was honest enough to quit, and confess to myself that I haven't any romance literature appetite, as far as I can see, except for your books.

But what I started to say, was, that I have just read Part II of Indian Summer, and to my mind there isn't a waste line in it, or one that could be improved.I read it yesterday, ending with that opinion; and read it again to-day, ending with the same opinion emphasized.I haven't read Part I yet, because that number must have reached Hartford after we left;but we are going to send down town for a copy, and when it comes I am to read both parts aloud to the family.It is a beautiful story, and makes a body laugh all the time, and cry inside, and feel so old and so forlorn; and gives him gracious glimpses of his lost youth that fill him with a measureless regret, and build up in him a cloudy sense of his having been a prince, once, in some enchanted far-off land, and of being an exile now, and desolate--and Lord, no chance ever to get back there again! That is the thing that hurts.Well, you have done it with marvelous facility and you make all the motives and feelings perfectly clear without analyzing the guts out of them, the way George Eliot does.

I can't stand George Eliot and Hawthorne and those people; I see what they are at a hundred years before they get to it and they just tire me to death.And as for "The Bostonians," I would rather be damned to John Bunyan's heaven than read that.

Yrs Ever MARK

It is as easy to understand Mark Twain's enjoyment of Indian Summer as his revolt against Daniel Deronda and The Bostonians.He cared little for writing that did not convey its purpose in the simplest and most direct terms.It is interesting to note that in thanking Clemens for his compliment Howells wrote: "What people cannot see is that I analyze as little as possible; they go on talking about the analytical school, which I am supposed to belong to, and I want to thank you for using your eyes.....Did you ever read De Foe's 'Roxana'? If not, then read it, not merely for some of the deepest insights into the lying, suffering, sinning, well-meaning human soul, but for the best and most natural English that a book was ever written in."General Grant worked steadily on his book, dictating when he could, making brief notes on slips of paper when he could no longer speak.

Clemens visited him at Mt.McGregor and brought the dying soldier the comforting news that enough of his books were already sold to provide generously for his family, and that the sales would aggregate at least twice as much by the end of the year.

This was some time in July.On the 23d of that month General Grant died.Immediately there was a newspaper discussion as to the most suitable place for the great chieftain to lie.Mark Twain's contribution to this debate, though in the form of an open letter, seems worthy of preservation here.

To the New York "Sun," on the proper place for Grant's Tomb:

To THE EDITOR OP' THE SUN:--SIR,--The newspaper atmosphere is charged with objections to New York as a place of sepulchre for General Grant, and the objectors are strenuous that Washington is the right place.They offer good reasons--good temporary reasons--for both of these positions.

But it seems to me that temporary reasons are not mete for the occasion.

We need to consider posterity rather than our own generation.We should select a grave which will not merely be in the right place now, but will still be in the right place 500 years from now.

How does Washington promise as to that? You have only to hit it in one place to kill it.Some day the west will be numerically strong enough to move the seat of government; her past attempts are a fair warning that when the day comes she will do it.Then the city of Washington will lose its consequence and pass out of the public view and public talk.It is quite within the possibilities that, a century hence, people would wonder and say, "How did your predecessors come to bury their great dead in this deserted place?"But as long as American civilisation lasts New York will last.I cannot but think she has been well and wisely chosen as the guardian of a grave which is destined to become almost the most conspicuous in the world's history.Twenty centuries from now New York will still be New York, still a vast city, and the most notable object in it will still be the tomb and monument of General Grant.

I observe that the common and strongest objection to New York is that she is not "national ground." Let us give ourselves no uneasiness about that.Wherever General Grant's body lies, that is national ground.

S.L.CLEMENS.

ELMIRA, July 27.

The letter that follows is very long, but it seems too important and too interesting to be omitted in any part.General Grant's early indulgence in liquors had long been a matter of wide, though not very definite, knowledge.Every one had heard how Lincoln, on being told that Grant drank, remarked something to the effect that he would like to know what kind of whisky Grant used so that he might get some of it for his other generals.Henry Ward Beecher, selected to deliver a eulogy on the dead soldier, and doubtless wishing neither to ignore the matter nor to make too much of it, naturally turned for information to the publisher of Grant's own memoirs, hoping from an advance copy to obtain light.

To Henry Ward Beecher,.Brooklyn:

ELMIRA, N.Y.Sept.11, '85.

MY DEAR MR.BEECHER,--My nephew Webster is in Europe making contracts for the Memoirs.Before he sailed he came to me with a writing, directed to the printers and binders, to this effect:

同类推荐
  • 道德经古本篇

    道德经古本篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金匮翼

    金匮翼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阴证略例

    阴证略例

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 闻蝉寄贾岛

    闻蝉寄贾岛

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 送韦邕少府归钟山

    送韦邕少府归钟山

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 小公司做大做强24招

    小公司做大做强24招

    本书重点介绍小公司做大做强之道,列举出24招制胜秘诀,近400条成功经验,其中包括:创业之道、防败之道、战略之道、执行之道、制度之道、人事之道、生产之道、采购之道、财务之道、薪酬之道、降本之道、文化之道、营销之道、产品之道、定价之道、通路之道、电商之道、品牌之道、推销之道、创新之道、情报之道、关系之道、聚焦之道、竞争之道等,内容全面系统,精简扼要,实践性强,可以说是公司管理者走向成功之路的良师益友。
  • 掌控万虫千兽:极品御妖女

    掌控万虫千兽:极品御妖女

    龙神的出世,引领各自的命运上了轨道。凤凰的重生,一时间谣言四起。皇室莫名的牵扯一时纷争不断,二十年前的真相逐渐清晰。妖典的出现引来无数的野心。鬼神之战,她为他险些坠入魔道,奄奄一息之际,万千的生灵为她咆哮!面对御妖之女那不可磨灭的使命,他愿为她放弃整个天下,而她又何尝不是!四大奇术真正的使命就此拉开,一曲御妖神曲使得魔神再次解开封印,眼看天下即将要陷入万劫不复……
  • 善谋下

    善谋下

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 怪物乐园

    怪物乐园

    八百年前,世界各地的天空开启了三千座虚空大门,宛若三千颗不同颜色的眼瞳悬挂于天穹之上,无数怪物从眼瞳之中汹涌而出。整个世界,成为了怪物的乐园……八百年后,有个叫林煌的男人说:这个世界的所有怪物,只要我想要,都会成为我的召唤兽。【这是一条备注:本书是异界宠物召唤流,不是末世文。】
  • 许你万丈光芒好

    许你万丈光芒好

    “你救了我,我让我爹地以身相许!”宁夕意外救了只小包子,结果被附赠了一只大包子。婚后,陆霆骁宠妻如命千依百顺,虐起狗来连亲儿子都不放过。“老板,公司真给夫人拿去玩?难道夫人要卖公司您也不管?”“卖你家公司了?”“大少爷,不好了!夫人说要把屋顶掀了!”“还不去帮夫人扶梯子。”“粑粑,谢谢你给小宝买的大熊!”“那是买给你妈妈的。”“老公,这个剧本我特别喜欢,我可以接吗?”陆霆骁神色淡定:“可以。”当天晚上,宁夕连滚带爬跑出去。陆霆骁!可以你大爷!!!曾用名《隐婚100分:惹火娇妻嫁一送一》,出版名《君子报恩》。
  • 人类往事之猩球大战

    人类往事之猩球大战

    一场诡异的太空灾难使主角萧羽智等同胞穿越到了一个异星球:古星。古星是个猿统治人的世界,人类的尊严和生命被猿族无情践踏,人类面临灭种的危机。为避免猿族将来为祸地球,萧羽智等人率领本地人类对猿族帝国展开坚决反击,并逐步赢得胜利。可萧羽智不知道的是,古星的战争不过是开始,人类和猿族的战争将会成为波及整个银河的种族存亡大战。文明与野蛮的较量,开始!
  • 我穿成了九千岁

    我穿成了九千岁

    浩淼漠土,盛世行宫,曰玄武行宫,传言行宫主人,残暴嗜血、专横狂狷,诸方枭雄莫不俯首称臣,他是纵横大漠的狼,目空一切,痴守大漠十八年,以锦绣铺路,以金玉做阶,雕梁画柱,建一座不世的盛世宫殿,只为等一人、囚一人。传言那人,是大夏国翻手为云覆手为雨的权阉——东厂九千岁,她阴狠毒辣,自私狡诈,陷害忠良无恶不作,娈童宠妾无数,权势滔天之下,杀人放狗,指鹿为马,无人敢言半句。施醉卿:“前生我活的太清醒,却半生颠覆,为他手染罪恶,换来一场空负,这一世我,我不为情爱、不为正大光明而活,只为惬意,我手染献血,不求救赎,只愿有一人,能与我同坠地狱。”《卿国宠妃》《空间攻略:无良农女发迹史》求支持
  • 仙途遗祸

    仙途遗祸

    五百年前,灵气日渐稀薄的修仙界再遭重创——法则改变,仙路断绝!庸碌众随波逐流,醉生梦死;精英群各展奇谋,博一线仙机。貌似穿越而来的水馨抚剑而笑——与其和无数人一起,在错误的路上越走越远。不如执剑逆行,另开仙路!只是……逆流而行的人,似乎也不只她一个?PS:第一卷算是前传,画风有点不大一样……群号:480560950,欢迎加入沙丁鱼群讨论~
  • 天下无双

    天下无双

    这是一段阴差阳错,还是情有独钟的俗世情怨?一个甲子前,祭神台上的惊鸿一瞥,令源仲从此再不能忘姬谭音的身影,为了找到真正的她,他甘愿化身族内杀神。就在即将放弃希望时,身边突然多了一个居心叵测的姬谭音。他怀疑她,不停用计谋试探她,最后却意外发现她竟然是让自己魂牵梦萦了一个甲子的神女。尚未来得及品味爱之甜美,却先体会到被背叛,原来姬谭音的到来只为了他天生具有神力的左手。痴情难断,源仲愿以刀刃自断一臂,这样是否能够唤回她怜爱一瞥?
  • 敢钓我娘,滚开

    敢钓我娘,滚开

    天哪,这是什么世道?和自家哥哥的一个拥抱,居然引发了哥哥粉丝的不满?她被推下池塘淹死不说,还狗血的穿越了?什么?拖油瓶?为什么她也会有?而且还是她自己亲自生的!这都是什么事啊?宝贝精明能干,帮助妈咪她驱苍蝇,赶老鼠,做的那是一个尽职!美男多多?姐不稀罕!咱追求的可是一生一世一双人,只羡鸳鸯不羡仙!呃?做不到?那就——滚!!!!!片段一:“娘子,你的眼中到底有我吗?居然还敢和别的男人光明正大的在一起!”落铭轩的眼中突然爆发出无名的怒火!他可以爱她,宠她,但是她绝对不可以背叛他!“我就是和别的男人在一起,怎么了?我们还同吃同住同睡呢!”羽悦不满的看向落铭轩,再看看自己旁边不小心撞到的人,他到底在发什么神经啊?“同住…同睡…”落铭轩觉得自己的心好像在窒息,她怎么可以这么对待他?满腔的爱换回来的到底是什么?“咦,妈咪,你是在说和我吗?”一个粉嫩嫩的娃娃突然蹦了出来,疑惑的问道。“…”你出现的真不是时候,羽悦用眼神控诉着自家的儿子。片段二:“悦悦,跟我回去!”落铭轩霸道的看着羽悦,一心想要把自家的亲亲娘子带回家。“老头子,你当我是死的啊?想要带走我妈咪,那就从我的尸体上踏过去!”羽杰毫不示弱,想把人带走?行!打过他再说!“儿子…你…”能打的过他吗?很是怀疑的看着自家儿子那小小的身板,羽悦默然。“妈咪,放心,他输定了!”他刚刚可是说从他的尸体上踏过去,有本事就杀死他!片段三:“你们要怎么样才肯跟我回去?”落铭轩已经感觉到深深的无力了,这娘俩,他是彻底的投降了。“我要你的钱!”羽悦笑眯眯的说道。“我要你的权!”羽杰欢快的笑道。“好!”钱和权能够换回自己的妻子和儿子,值!“妈咪,太好了,这样我们以后出去玩,他就不能让人去捉我们了!”羽杰开心极了。“是啊,而且他也没有钱去找我们了!”羽悦抱起自己的儿子,使劲儿的亲了一下!“你可不许反悔哦!”母子两个异口同声。“…”他现在就已经追悔莫及了。“那我和你们一起去!”反省了半响,落铭轩突然开口。“…”母子两个默然。虽然开始有点小白,但是咱保证,绝对不是小白文哦!亲们看过来,喜欢的话收藏一下哦!推荐友友滴文文~~~相公滴《上校爹地,耍流氓》:汐儿妞滴《魅世至尊》:小骨头滴:《娘子,别逃了》:l落雪吖滴:《师兄,你别跑》:残姐姐滴:《腹黑总裁的律师情人