September 25 Sunday – In Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam wrote to Bram Stoker in London.
“Mr. Bowyer-Lane thinks that possibly he can place the ‘Bartel Turaser.’ What do you advise? Will you communicate with him? Or will you tell me what to say? Do you know him?” [MTP]. Note: “Lane-Bowen of the Nimrod Club” was the name Sam used in his July 6 to Chatto & Windus. He remains unidentified. “Bartel” is the play Sam had translated. See Mar. 15, Sept. 10 entries.
Sam also wrote to Joe Twichell , including a passage from “The Memorable Assassination” that Livy had edited out: The passage as Sam originally wrote it, followed by the edited version which was published, followed by Sam’s “Private” note about it to Joe:
[As drafted:]Among the inadequate attempts to account for the assassination we must concede high rank to the German Emperor’s. He justly describes it as a “deed unparalleled for ruthlessness,” & then added that it was “ordained from above.” I think this verdict will not be popular “above.”A Man is either a free agent, or he isn’t. If a man is a free agent, this prisoner is responsible for what he has done; but if a man is not a free agent [,] if the deed was ordained from above there is no rational way of making this prisoner even partially responsible for it, & the German court cannot condemn him without manifestly committing a crime. Logic is logic; & by disregarding its laws even Emperors as capable & acute as William II can be beguiled into making charges which should not be ventured upon except in the shelter of plenty of lightning-rods [MTP].
[After Livy’s edits:] Among the inadequate attempts to account for the assassination we must concede high rank to the many which have described it as a “peculiarly brutal crime” and then added that it was “ordained from above.” I think this verdict will not be popular “above.” If the deed was ordained from above, there is no rational way of making this prisoner even partially responsible for it, and the Genevan court cannot condemn him without manifestly committing a crime. Logic is logic, and by disregarding its laws even the most pious and showy theologian may be beguiled into preferring charges which should not be ventured upon except in the shelter of plenty of lightning-rods [Neider, Complete Essays 540-1].
“Private. Livy edited this out, Joe, because the Emperor is a friend & has been hospitable to me; but it is theological & mustn’t be wasted, so I send it to you. The Emperor wouldn’t care a rap. / Mark”
Sam then, with pencil and ink, attempted to translate a sketch from Alfred Baron von Berger’s “recent fairy-drama,” Hapsburg (Sam later edited this to “Habsburg”), which sketched “that first coming of the girlish Empress-Queen.” Sam followed the heavily lined out translation with this:
“P.S. Two hours later, Sept. 25/98.
Perhaps you will like this translation, Joe. I think it is rather neat. But it didn’t flow: it has taken me two full hours to grind it into this perfect state. / Mark”[MTP]. Note: this translated piece was included at the end of “The Memorable Assassination,” and may be seen on p.544 of Neider’s Complete Essays.
Dolmetsch writes: “…to Mark Twain the martyred empress was like the tragic Joan of Arc and like his dear, dead Susy. He closes his eulogy with some saccharine lines (in his own translation) about her from Alfred von Berger’s Habsburg, a festival play he had enjoyed at the Burgtheater the previous season” [87].
Sam’s notebook:
From Lt. Col. Bowyer-Lane: London Sep. 22
“I have tried to see Mr. B. Stoker & have also written him & can hear nothing from him, so I do not know what to say to you re Mr. Mansfied & yr play.”
I have written Stoker, Sept. 25:
[Sam’s letter to Stoker (above) is repeated] [NB 40 TS 46]