登陆注册
5380500000229

第229章

DEAR HOWELLS,--Get your lecture by heart--it will pay you.I learned a trick in Vienna--by accident--which I wish I had learned years ago.Imeant to read from a Tauchnitz, because I knew I hadn't well memorized the pieces; and I came on with the book and read a few sentences, then remembered that the sketch needed a few words of explanatory introduction; and so, lowering the book and now and then unconsciously using it to gesture with, I talked the introduction, and it happened to carry me into the sketch itself, and then I went on, pretending that Iwas merely talking extraneous matter and would come to the sketch presently.It was a beautiful success.I knew the substance of the sketch and the telling phrases of it; and so, the throwing of the rest of it into informal talk as I went along limbered it up and gave it the snap and go and freshness of an impromptu.I was to read several pieces, and I played the same game with all of them, and always the audience thought I was being reminded of outside things and throwing them in, and was going to hold up the book and begin on the sketch presently--and so Ialways got through the sketch before they were entirely sure that it had begun.I did the same thing in Budapest and had the same good time over again.It's a new dodge, and the best one that was ever invented.Try it.You'll never lose your audience--not even for a moment.Their attention is fixed, and never wavers.And that is not the case where one reads from book or MS., or where he stands up without a note and frankly exposes the fact, by his confident manner and smooth phrasing, that he is not improvising, but reciting from memory.And in the heat of telling a thing that is memorised in substance only, one flashes out the happiest suddenly-begotten phrases every now and then! Try it.Such a phrase has a life and sparkle about it that twice as good a one could not exhibit if prepared beforehand, and it "fetches" an audience in such an enthusing and inspiring and uplifting way that that lucky phrase breeds another one, sure.

Your September instalment--["Their Silver Wedding journey."]-- was delicious--every word of it.You haven't lost any of your splendid art.

Callers have arrived.

With love MARK.

"Yes," wrote Howells, "if I were a great histrionic artist like you I would get my poor essays by heart, and recite them, but being what I am I should do the thing so lifelessly that I had better recognise their deadness frankly and read them."From Vienna Clemens had contributed to the Cosmopolitan, then owned by John Brisben Walker, his first article on Christian Science.It was a delicious bit of humor and found such enthusiastic appreciation that Walker was moved to send an additional $200 check in payment for it.This brought prompt acknowledgment.

To John Brisben Walker, in Irvington, N.Y.:

LONDON, Oct.19, '99

DEAR MR.WALKER,--By gracious but you have a talent for making a man feel proud and good! To say a compliment well is a high art--and few possess it.You know how to do it, and when you confirm its sincerity with a handsome cheque the limit is reached and compliment can no higher go.

I like to work for you: when you don't approve an article you say so, recognizing that I am not a child and can stand it; and when you approve an article I don't have to dicker with you as if I raised peanuts and you kept a stand; I know I shall get every penny the article is worth.

You have given me very great pleasure, and I thank you for it.

Sincerely Yours S.L.CLEMENS.

On the same day he sent word to Howells of the good luck which now seemed to be coming his way.The Joan of Arc introduction was the same that today appears in his collected works under the title of Saint Joan of Arc.

To W.D.Howells, in New York:

LONDON, Oct.19, '99.

同类推荐
  • 颐园论画

    颐园论画

    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。
  • 过贾谊旧居

    过贾谊旧居

    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。
  • 十七史百将传

    十七史百将传

    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。
  • Some Reminiscences

    Some Reminiscences

    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。
  • 学治臆说

    学治臆说

    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
  • 快穿之宠炮灰

    快穿之宠炮灰

    没喜欢就追,不喜欢就x她被坑来去做任务,而它被蒙的选了一个随时随地想掐死它的宿主,,力量比它还大的大佬“宿主放手……有话好说……”豆十六面无表情的掐着白团“在坑我,我可以当场吃掉你”白团落泪
  • 圜中秋韵

    圜中秋韵

    这些诗作,穿越时空,畅游高山大川,七彩般之意境,悲欢离合之缠绵,爱恨情仇之纠结,一起涌向字里行间,无论是对“友谊”的赞美,对“爱情”的歌颂,对“人生”的顿悟,对“历史”的思考,对“怆然”的探究,还是对“五蕴皆空”的低吟,巧妙地引典入诗,借力发力,用语清新,不落俗套,语言精练,字少意丰,风骨峥嵘,寓意深远,苍劲有力,进步、充实的思想内容,质朴、刚健的语言风格,宛如一幅幅如诗如歌的自然美景,使人流连忘返,情不自禁地击案而虎啸龙吟!
  • 满目星辰不如你

    满目星辰不如你

    【原名《倒追36计:老公,要抱抱》,全文免费,好结局放心入坑~】她来到S城的目的就是为了为母亲报仇,不料却钟情上了仇家的儿子。她抛下各种包袱,不管三七二十一,分分钟开启倒追模式。谁知只是见色起意,某人却强势地吻住她,霸道告白:“我喜欢你,就这样,懂了么?”这是什么鬼操作?!她莫名其妙就被某人占为己有,亲亲抱抱举高高一样不少。“你以后不许再打架了。”某人满脸委屈:“可我是为了你啊……”
  • 家有妙招(珍藏版)

    家有妙招(珍藏版)

    本书是一本方便有效的现代家庭生活指导手册。辑录了大量的实用性与科学性非常强的小妙招,涉及美食、服饰、家居、日常应用、出行及家族理财等方面。
  • 阅梦师

    阅梦师

    夜晚是诡怪的世界,当人类世界陷入沉睡。它们就将苏醒,穿梭于人类的梦境,种下未知,不可预算的“果实”。
  • 穿越之医仙神妃

    穿越之医仙神妃

    女主角慕琳儿因为十年没见的爷爷被绑架,她答应绑匪刘老去异世拿到刘老家里的老祖宗所说的长寿石。穿越到异世之后,成为了同名同姓的慕琳儿,多了一个哥哥,兄妹两人都是废材,被家族遗弃到了一个偏远的小村子……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 痴颜

    痴颜

    "风吹大地,他执起她的手,温柔地说道:“你是我今生的唯一!”此时星河黯淡,日月无光。她回眸浅笑,这一刻她是那样的愉快。静静地看着他琥珀色的眸子,那里倒映着清波,正是一个自己。可是奈何在自己身怀有孕的时候,却纳了侧妃,从此她一直想与他决绝。难道权利真的比她重要?如若此,她决定远走天涯,开始自己新的生活。和青梅竹马相处的日子是那样的愉快,以至于忘了时间的流逝。但是尽管愉快,还是掩饰不了想你的寂寞。你依旧在我心里,只是相思刻骨。忘不了你痴笑时的容颜,忘不了你轻声的昵语。如果有来生,我一定会把你找回,不让你一个人远走天涯……"
  • 别靠我太近

    别靠我太近

    又起雾了。每当起雾的时候,母亲总在我面前念叨:“以前你父亲总会在这个时候说,我去透透气。”我不知道父亲所说“透气”的真正含义,直到上学之后才多少对这个词有了些了解。但让我不解的是,偌大一个周庄,竟然让父亲透不过气来。真不知道他怎么会憋得这么厉害,因为父亲不是走出屋子去透气,而是一个人沿着村路走出周庄,到雾霭缭绕的村外去透气。看上去村里的雾并不很大,空气湿漉漉的,连地上也蒙了一层潮湿气,这样的潮湿气常常让我产生错觉,泥路看上去没那么硬,踩上去却硬邦邦的硌脚。雾不浓,一缕一缕的,或浓或淡,像挂起的轻纱,在风的轻抚下,起起落落。
  • 小子,我是你妈

    小子,我是你妈

    倒霉了二十二年,终于幸运了一回.人生多了二十年的青春?乐啊......还能更加变得美美的.喜啊......可是二十年后呢?不能象现在一样潦倒了.要培养个全才的儿子来养我.IQ要达到250.恩,这个可以.可是这个男孩子好丑啊......将来老婆都成了问题了.算了,再为他收留一个小美女.将来好个他俩配对对.可是...可是...怎麽越来越不对了呢?是他和她,不是他和我啦......不要,我这麽美.......虽然他很有钱啦......8888推荐好友的同类作品.大家可以去看看.不予:<这个奶爸有点酷>http://m.wkkk.net?info/m.wkkk.net紫树叶子:<包养老婆>伊图草希:《『禁』爱》野人乙:<我的天王老公>海源蒙儿:<爱我,请将我禁锢>殷紫[狼爱上羊]冰冰七月:<暴君,邪妃>99999999999999999999999QQ群:54410779(空)24646525(快满)51567756(满)88888888888888888888888欢迎大家来踩新坑<爱奴>带点伤感,带点搞笑.谢谢.
  • 我与白起走过杀神岁月

    我与白起走过杀神岁月

    一只染血的古董酒杯,竟是数千年前武安君白起饮下毒酒的那一杯。握住酒杯的那一刻我竟回到了秦国统一之前!一段庙堂,一段江湖,就此展开。 新书《青阳长歌》已经在起点中文网连载,还支持的老朋友来看新书吧,别等了。