Twains Letters vol 6 1907-1910 | Page 5

out of the
autobiographical chapters then running in the North American Review.

It may be of passing interest to note here that he had the usual
house-builder's fortune. He received thirty thousand dollars for the
chapters; the house cost him nearly double that amount.
To H. H. Rogers, in New York:
TUXEDO PARK, May 29, '07. DEAR ADMIRAL,--Why hang it, I am
not going to see you and Mrs. Rogers at all in England! It is a great
disappointment. I leave there a month from now--June 29. No, I shall
see you; for by your itinerary you are most likely to come to London
June 21st or along there. So that is very good and satisfactory. I have
declined all engagements but two--Whitelaw Reid (dinner) June 21,
and the Pilgrims (lunch), June 25. The Oxford ceremony is June 26. I
have paid my return passage in the Minne- something, but it is just
possible that I may want to stay in England a week or two longer--I
can't tell, yet. I do very much want to meet up with the boys for the last
time.
I have signed the contract for the building of the house on my
Connecticut farm and specified the cost limit, and work has been begun.
The cost has to all come out of a year's instalments of Autobiography in
the N. A. Review.
Clara, is winning her way to success and distinction with sure and
steady strides. By all accounts she is singing like a bird, and is not
afraid on the concert stage any more.
Tuxedo is a charming place; I think it hasn't its equal anywhere.
Very best wishes to you both. S. L. C.
The story of Mark Twain's extraordinary reception and triumph in
England has been told.--[Mark Twain; A Biography, chaps. cclvi-
cclix]--It was, in fact, the crowning glory of his career. Perhaps one of
the most satisfactory incidents of his sojourn was a dinner given to him
by the staff of Punch, in the historic offices at 10 Bouverie Street where
no other foreign visitor had been thus honored--a notable distinction.
When the dinner ended, little joy Agnew, daughter of the chief editor,
entered and presented to the chief guest the original drawing of a
cartoon by Bernard Partridge, which had appeared on the front page of
Punch. In this picture the presiding genius of the paper is offering to
Mark Twain health, long life, and happiness from "The Punch Bowl."
A short time after his return to America he received a pretty childish
letter from little Miss Agnew acknowledging a photograph he had sent

her, and giving a list of her pets and occupations. Such a letter always
delighted Mark Twain, and his pleasure in this one is reflected in his
reply.
To Miss Joy Agnew, in London:
TUXEDO PARK, NEW YORK. Unto you greetings and salutation and
worship, you dear, sweet little rightly-named Joy! I can see you now
almost as vividly as I saw you that night when you sat flashing and
beaming upon those sombre swallow-tails.
"Fair as a star when only one Is shining in the sky."
Oh, you were indeed the only one--there wasn't even the remotest
chance of competition with you, dear! Ah, you are a decoration, you
little witch!
The idea of your house going to the wanton expense of a flower
garden!-- aren't you enough? And what do you want to go and
discourage the other flowers for? Is that the right spirit? is it
considerate? is it kind? How do you suppose they feel when you come
around--looking the way you look? And you so pink and sweet and
dainty and lovely and supernatural? Why, it makes them feel
embarrassed and artificial, of course; and in my opinion it is just as
pathetic as it can be. Now then you want to reform--dear--and do right.
Well certainly you are well off, Joy:
3 bantams; 3 goldfish; 3 doves; 6 canaries; 2 dogs; 1 cat;
All you need, now, to be permanently beyond the reach of want, is one
more dog--just one more good, gentle, high principled, affectionate,
loyal dog who wouldn't want any nobler service than the golden
privilege of lying at your door, nights, and biting everything that came
along--and I am that very one, and ready to come at the dropping of a
hat.
Do you think you could convey my love and thanks to your "daddy"
and Owen Seaman and those other oppressed and down-trodden
subjects of yours, you darling small tyrant?
On my knees! These--with the kiss of fealty from your other subject--
MARK TWAIN
Elinor Glyn, author of Three Weeks and other erotic tales, was in
America that winter and asked permission to call on Mark Twain. An
appointment was made and Clemens discussed with her, for