登陆注册
5380500000204

第204章

To-morrow (Tuesday) I will add a P.S.if I've any to add; but, whether or no, I must mail this to morrow, for the mail steamer goes next day.

5.30 p.m.Great Scott, this is Tuesday! I must rush this letter into the mail instantly.

Tell that sassy Ben I've got her welcome letter, and I'll write her as soon as I get a daylight chance.I've most time at night, but I'd druther write daytimes.

SAML.

The Reid and Simmons mentioned in the foregoing were Robert Reid and Edward Simmons, distinguished painter--the latter a brilliant, fluent, and industrious talker.The title; "Fire-escape Simmons,"which Clemens gives him, originated when Oliver Herford, whose quaint wit has so long delighted New-Yorkers, one day pinned up by the back door of the Players the notice: "Exit in case of Simmons."Gwen, a popular novel of that day, was written by Blanche Willis Howard.

"Jamie" Dodge, in the next letter, was the son of Mrs.Mary Mapes Dodge, editor of St.Nicholas.

To Clara Clemens, in Paris:

MR.ROGERS'S OFFICE, Feb.5, '94.

Dear Benny--I was intending to answer your letter to-day, but I am away down town, and will simply whirl together a sentence or two for good-fellowship.I have bought photographs of Coquelin and Jane Hading and will ask them to sign them.I shall meet Coquelin tomorrow night, and if Hading is not present I will send her picture to her by somebody.

I am to breakfast with Madame Nordica in a few days, and meantime I hope to get a good picture of her to sign.She was of the breakfast company yesterday, but the picture of herself which she signed and gave me does not do her majestic beauty justice.

I am too busy to attend to the photo-collecting right, because I have to live up to the name which Jamie Dodge has given me--the "Belle of New York"--and it just keeps me rushing.Yesterday I had engagements to breakfast at noon, dine at 3, and dine again at 7.I got away from the long breakfast at 2 p.m., went and excused myself from the 3 o'clock dinner, then lunched with Mrs.Dodge in 58th street, returned to the Players and dressed, dined out at 9, and was back at Mrs.Dodge's at 10 p.m.where we had magic-lantern views of a superb sort, and a lot of yarns until an hour after midnight, and got to bed at 2 this morning --a good deal of a gain on my recent hours.But I don't get tired; Isleep as sound as a dead person, and always wake up fresh and strong--usually at exactly 9.

I was at breakfast lately where people of seven separate nationalities sat and the seven languages were going all the time.At my side sat a charming gentleman who was a delightful and active talker, and interesting.He talked glibly to those folks in all those seven languages and still had a language to spare! I wanted to kill him, for very envy.

I greet you with love and kisses.

PAPA.

To Mrs.Clemens, in Paris:

Feb.--.

Livy dear, last night I played billiards with Mr.Rogers until 11, then went to Robert Reid's studio and had a most delightful time until 4 this morning.No ladies were invited this time.Among the people present were--Coquelin;

Richard Harding Davis;

Harrison, the great out-door painter;

Wm.H.Chase, the artist;

Bettini, inventor of the new phonograph.

Nikola Tesla, the world-wide illustrious electrician; see article about him in Jan.or Feb.Century.

John Drew, actor;

James Barnes, a marvelous mimic; my, you should see him!

Smedley the artist;

Zorn the artist;

Zogbaum the artist;

Reinhart the artist;

Metcalf the artist;

Ancona, head tenor at the Opera;

Oh, a great lot of others.Everybody there had done something and was in his way famous.

Somebody welcomed Coquelin in a nice little French speech; John Drew did the like for me in English, and then the fun began.Coquelin did some excellent French monologues--one of them an ungrammatical Englishman telling a colorless historiette in French.It nearly killed the fifteen or twenty people who understood it.

I told a yarn, Ancona sang half a dozen songs, Barnes did his darling imitations, Harding Davis sang the hanging of Danny Deever, which was of course good, but he followed it with that most fascinating (for what reason I don't know) of all Kipling's poems, "On the Road to Mandalay,"sang it tenderly, and it searched me deeper and charmed me more than the Deever.

Young Gerrit Smith played some ravishing dance music and we all danced about an hour.There couldn't be a pleasanter night than that one was.

Some of those people complained of fatigue but I don't seem to know what the sense of fatigue is.

Coquelin talks quite good English now.He said:

"I have a brother who has the fine mind--ah, a charming and delicate fancy, and he knows your writings so well, and loves them--and that is the same with me.It will stir him so when I write and tell him I have seen you!"Wasn't that nice? We talked a good deal together.He is as winning as his own face.But he wouldn't sign that photograph for Clara."That?

No! She shall have a better one.I will send it to you."He is much driven, and will forget it, but Reid has promised to get the picture for me, and I will try and keep him reminded.

Oh, dear, my time is all used up and your letters are not answered.

Mama, dear, I don't go everywhere--I decline most things.But there are plenty that I can't well get out of.

I will remember what you say and not make my yarning too common.

I am so glad Susy has gone on that trip and that you are trying the electric.May you both prosper.For you are mighty dear to me and in my thoughts always.

SAML.

The affairs of the Webster Publishing Company were by this time getting into a very serious condition indeed.The effects of the panic of the year before could not be overcome.Creditors were pressing their claims and profits were negligible.In the following letter we get a Mark Twain estimate of the great financier who so cheerfully was willing to undertake the solving of Mark Twain's financial problems.

To Mrs.Clemens, in Paris:

THE PLAYERS, Feb.15, '94.11.30 p.m.

Livy darling, Yesterday I talked all my various matters over with Mr.

同类推荐
  • 老子指略

    老子指略

    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。
  • 靖康纪闻

    靖康纪闻

    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。
  • Adventures among Books

    Adventures among Books

    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。
  • Medea

    Medea

    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。
  • 虚静冲和先生徐神翁语录

    虚静冲和先生徐神翁语录

    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
  • 重生影后撩男神

    重生影后撩男神

    安倩对秦朗说:上一世你爱我爱的死去活来。秦朗眼神冰冷:保安,将这个神经病哄出去。安倩不死心。秦朗上下打量一遍:你是我见过的最差的女人。安倩炸毛翻脸:你竟然知道的这么清楚,肯定是睡过其他女人了,秦朗咱俩完了。秦朗眼中闪过慌乱:我眼神一直不好。安倩竖着耳朵听他下文,秦朗抿唇:更差的话我也认了。安倩咆哮:秦朗,你去死!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 切尔诺贝利的回忆:核灾难口述史

    切尔诺贝利的回忆:核灾难口述史

    1986年4月26日,切尔诺贝利核电站的反应堆发生爆炸,邻近的白俄罗斯居民失去了一切一些人当场死亡,更多的人被撤离,被迫放弃一切家产成千上万亩土地被污染,成千上万的人因20吨高辐射核燃料泄漏而感染各种疾病著名记者阿列克谢耶维奇用三年时间采访了这场灾难中的幸存者:有第一批到达灾难现场的救援人员的妻子,有现场摄影师,有教师,有医生,有农夫,有当时的政府官员,有历史学家、科学家,被迫撤离的人,重新安置的人,还有妻子们和祖母们。
  • 梨园十二姊

    梨园十二姊

    正不知在哪里能歇口气的我,颓然地坐在大姐兰霞身边的一把椅子上,我不敢大声说什么,只有喃喃地在心里说,又一个女子为情选择死亡了!我真不知这茫茫大千,这个情字就这么重要吗?我不知道我该怎么做。十二姐兰蔻来到我身边,捏着我的手,小声对我说,你得注意一下你家俊宇了,昨夜他和几个姐夫唠嗑,一直说你是个书痴,上班一整天不见影不说,回家就拿书本看书,说想和你说一句话都难。而据我的可靠消息得知,他可能外头有人了。如果你想见见那个女子,等这边事情一完,我带你去找她。
  • 续城之半生浮图

    续城之半生浮图

    不曾想,有一个人会以横冲直撞之势破入生命。与他争锋相对横眉怒骂,与他一同经历险难,他轻抱着我说:你是个好女孩。但转身他就指着我的鼻子冷扬了语调骂:“小九,你没有心。”如果无心,我不会觉得痛;如果无心,我不会停留原地。嘴角是苦涩的笑,但我只是深深凝看着他,没有说一句话。许久之后,才知陆续爱我。人生的两岸,一个抚我入眠,一个将我唤醒。光阴的两岸,却终究无法以一苇渡杭,我知你心意。曾想与你相忘于江湖,以沧桑为饮,年华果腹,岁月做衣锦华服,于百转千回后,悄然转身,然后,离去。但到底没敌过那强大的命运,把我与你绑在了一起。只是,当多年以后,陆续,你是否还会如最初那般待我?
  • Russia in 1919

    Russia in 1919

    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。
  • 佛说魔逆经

    佛说魔逆经

    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。
  • 唐朝小文豪

    唐朝小文豪

    唐朝皇室后人穿越回到了唐朝建立伊始,武德八年,那个动荡年代。那个时候,初唐四杰还没出生,还没有律诗,还没有词,没有对联。我要成为初唐第一大文豪,归田幽居,挥毫泼墨,吟花赏月。这是他的目标。但这个动荡的年代,不会如他所愿。玄武门之变,抗击突厥,灭梁国……他从旁观,到参与,一路见证大唐的崛起。……qq群:665114328
  • CEO的契约游戏(全本)

    CEO的契约游戏(全本)

    第一次见他,她是为了她的化妆品代言,但是当她半天都等不到他时,有些生气地离去,却不想亲眼目睹他在电梯内上演限制级的画面,让她对他没有一点好感。男人果然是只为下半身思考的沙文主义种猪。她扬起天真无邪的笑脸问身边的秘书:“你确定这里是总裁办公室,而不是动物园么?”“动物园?”“是啊!因为只有动物才会随时随地的表现出自己的本能啊!”这个该死的女人,竟敢说他是动物,他一定要好好惩罚她!就在同一天,他被母亲逼婚,而结婚的对象竟然是她。他答应娶她,只是为了惩罚她;她嫁给他,却是因为母亲的遗愿。新婚之夜,她递给他一份契约书。“以后我们各过各的,谁也别干涉谁的私生活!”耻辱,绝对的奇耻大辱,新婚妻子竟然这样对他,他一定要将她收服,一定要让她爱上他只是这同时,他的一颗心似乎也在渐渐沉沦……芭芘——原名方落雪,是当代著名的偶像歌手,却洁身自好,在污浊不堪的娱乐圈中靠自己的实力赢得了大批歌迷的追捧。可是在遇到那个冷总裁之后,她的人生似乎开始逆转。冷少骅——冷氏集团总裁,身价过亿的黄金单身贵族,却视女人如衣服,只是供他发泄的工具。
  • 中国媒介批评学(上)

    中国媒介批评学(上)

    当今的人类世界已进入高度媒介化的时代。媒介与人、与人的全部生活息息相关。我们如何理解媒介?媒介在我们的身边究竟发挥着怎样的作用?我们应该如何更科学更合理地掌握媒介?如何利用媒介对于真实的世界和事物的真相进行认知和理解?并进而使得人与社会、人与人的精神交往更加通畅和高效。媒介批评学,就是研究和回答这些重要问题的。
  • 豪门罪媳

    豪门罪媳

    “求求你,放开我好不好?”她苦苦哀求。“你做梦,要知道是你害死了我大哥,我会让你生不如死!”男人嗜血般的眼神看着狼狈不堪的女人,嘴角一抹冷笑。“我没有害死你大哥,真的,我没有!”她惊恐的眼神,原来五年前死掉的男人是他的大哥。他没有听她的解释,老天爷没什么要如此对待她,她该如何去面对他。“小溪,是你吗?”婚礼上,她看到了一抹熟悉的背影,新娘竟然是她的妹妹,她该祝福她吗?“我不认识你,你认错人了!”妹妹小溪无情的话将她打入地狱。【如果让我选择,我还是会选择救你;如果爱上你是罪孽,那我们就一起下地狱吧!】【本文慢热,精彩尽在后面,亲们绝对不要错过】