The Twainian Vol 38 No 3 (1979)
Extract from the editorial page of the Quincy Herald - April 4, 1867.
“The Veritable Individual Himself. We received the honor of a call yesterday from Mr. Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, the inimitable humorist, whose contributions to the California Press have given him a reputation and a name that have become National. He is on his way to Europe, where he goes in June next, to act as correspondent for the Alta Californian. He has called up in these regions to re-visit Hannibal, where he spent a large portion of his early life, and where he delivered one of his peculiar lectures to the largest and most delighted crowd ever gathered in a public hall in that city, on Tuesday evening last. We are happy to announce that the enterprising Encore Club of this city have engaged him to deliver a lecture on Tuesday evening next, the 9th inst., at National Hall, the subject being “The Sandwich Islands”, which is spoken of as interesting and instructive as well as irresistibly droll, as were all of Mark's effusions when “the inspiration commences to gush.”
Newspaper people honor fellow members and it is well known that Mark wrote much of his material used for promoting his appearances, most certainly offering suggestions to promote and maintain his public image. Another newspaper of Quincy, the “Quincy Whig”, was likewise cooperative with the Encore Club and we find their editorial copied the following day by the “Quincy Herald”. The papers later merged and became the “Quincy Herald-Whig”, a meritorious newspaper having a large circulation today, competing quite well with two television stations having network affiliations.
Editorial from
Quincy Daily Herald, April 5, 1867
“Mark Twain - Profiting by the presence of the celebrated Mark Twain in this vicinity, the Encore Club of our city, ever earnest and enterprising in all that concerns the advancement of the interests of the Quincy Library, and determined to close their lecture season in a blaze of triumph and good humor, have formed an engagement with this brilliant California humorist, who so worthily wears the mantle of the lamented John Phoenix. Mark will speak his piece on the “Sandwich Islands” on Tuesday evening next, the 9th inst., for the benefit of the Library fund. As the best introduction of our renowned brother of the quill to the Quincy public, we publish from the Whig of last evening the following excellent tribute from the pen of Major Dallam, who has roughed it in editorial harness, with the “gushing” Mark, in the golden land beyond the mountains.
“We had a call, yesterday, from our old friend “Mark Twain” (Samuel Clemens, Esq.) the California humorist, whom we had not seen since we parted from him on the sunward side of the Sierra Nevadas some three years ago. The aroma of sage brush does not hang around him still. The gentle “Washoe Zephyrs,” which lift a loaded quartz wagon with remarkable ease, have left no rough traces upon his good-humored face. The many “feet” which he once owned in Washoe, “wild cut” claims, out of which he expected to realize untold wealth, have long since been “sold for assessments;” and yet he can still laugh and make others laugh. He is, indeed, “a fellow of infinite jest” - as our friends may learn to their entire satisfaction by attending a lecture which he proposes to give in this city on Tuesday next.
Mark's funny stories and quaint sayings are not so well known here as in California, where they have secured for him a reputation not surpassed by any humorist that ever attempted to amuse that people, who are, perhaps, “more critical than any other community in the Union.
His wit and his style are peculiarly his own - original, racy, and irresistible.
The first time we heard Mark was at Carson City, the capital of the State of Nevada, on the assembling of the Territorial Legislature in the winter of 1863-4. Hon. James W. Nye (now U.S. Senator) was then Governor of the Territory. After the delivery of his Inaugural to the “assembled wisdom” of Silverland, Mark Twain took the Speaker’s stand, and delivered his inaugural as Governor of the Territory, chosen by the “Third House,” to a very large audience of gentlemen, and about all the ladies then in Carson City. It was received with great applause and roars of laughter. Mark gave the Governor some hard hits, in a sly way, but no one enjoyed the fun more than rotund and rubicund Nye.
The lovers of genial humor will find nothing coarse or vulgar in Mark Twain's lecture. He also sometimes (by mistake, he says,) indulges in beautiful flights of fancy and eloquence. But, of his talent as a lecturer, our citizens will soon have an opportunity of judging; and we bespeak for him, in advance, a fair audience.”
From the editorial page of
the Quincy Herald, April 6, 1878
“Eloquent, Genial and Humorous.
The last lecture this season for the benefit of the Quincy Library, under the auspices of the Encore Club, will be delivered at National Hall, on Tuesday evening next, the 9th inst., by the celebrated California writer and lecturer, the eloquent, genial and humorous, Mark Twain. His subject will be “The Sandwich Islands,” of which the San Francisco Bulletin says: “The lecture was superior to Artemus Ward's Babes in the Woods in point of humor. It evinced none of that straining after effect that was manifested by the great showman, and possessed some solid qualities to which the latter made no pretension. As a humorous writer Mark Twain stands in the foremost rank, while his effort of last evening affords reason for the belief that he can establish an equal reputation as a humorous and original lecturer.” Tickets, 50 cents. For sale at J. B. Skinner’s book store, Maine Street, south side of the Square. There will be no reserved seats on the occasion.”
Quincy Daily Herald
Sunday Morn., April 7, 1867
CITY NEWS
“Mark Twain's Lecture. We think the Encore Club have made a decided hit in securing for the last lecture of the season the brilliant humorist, writer and lecturer, Mark Twain, of the California Press. We will go security that Mark will not only instruct and interest his audience by his eloquent description of the Sandwich Islands, which are yet destined to figure conspicuously in American commerce, but by his original, quaint, irresistible humor - refined enough for the most fastidious and pointed enough for the most obtuse - he will dismiss his hearers in exuberant spirits, blessing the lecture season and the enterprising club to whom they are indebted for the glorious closing treat. The lecture will take place at National Hall, on Tuesday next, at 8 o'clock. Tickets 50 cents for sale at J. R. Skinner's book store, and as there are no reserved seats on this occasion, parties should arrange to go early, as we prophesy a crowded house.
A California paper thus gives Mark a parting shot, and explains why it is that we are now enjoying the rare opportunity of hearing this eminent and gentlemanly humorist, who is destined, if he lives, to fill a very conspicuous place in American literature.
Mark Twain goes off on his journey over the world as a Travelling Correspondent on the Alta California, not stinted as to time, place or direction - writing his weekly letters on such subjects and from such places as will best suit him; but we must say that he will first visit the home of his youth - St. Louis - thence through the principal cities to the Atlantic seaboard again, crossing the ocean to visit the “Universal Exposition” at Paris, through Italy, the Mediterranean, India, China, Japan, and back to San Francisco by the China Mail Steamship Line. That his letters will be read with interest needs no assurance from us - his reputation has been made here in California and his great ability is well known; but he has been known principally as a humorist, while he really has no superior as a descriptive writer - a keen observer of men and surroundings - and we feel confident his letters to the Alta, from his new field of observation, will give him a world-wide reputation.”
The Constitution, Keokuk, Ia.,
Sunday Morning, April 7, 1867.
LECTURE - BY MARK TWAIN.
“Mark Twain, the celebrated California humorist, and most extraordinary delineator of human character in America or upon the continent of Europe, will lecture in this city, at Chatham Square M.E. Church, under the auspices of the Library Association, on Monday evening next, April 8th. Tickets fifty cents.
MARK TWAIN -- Major Dallam, of the Quincy Whig, who has roughed it in the editorial harness with the “gushing” Mark, in the golden land beyond the mountains, speaks of him thus:
“He is indeed, ‘a fellow of infinite jest!’ His funny stories and quaint sayings are not so well known here as in California, where they have secured for him a reputation not surpassed by any humorist that ever attempted to amuse the people, who are, perhaps, more critical than any other community in the Union. His wit and his style are peculiarly his own -- original, racy and irresistible.”
Major Dallam also assures us that the lovers of genial humor will find nothing coarse and vulgar in Mark Twain's lecture. He will speak his piece on the “Sandwich Islands,” Monday evening, at the Chatham M.E. Church. Let every body turn out to see him.”
From the issue of the Quincy Herald,
Tuesday morning, April 9, 1867.
Mark Twain and John Smith
The following correspondence contains the reply of the genial Mark to the invitation of his appreciative and omnipresent friend, John Smith, to lecture in this city. Mark declines, it will be perceived, in his own peculiar vein, pleading his prior with the Encore Club at National Hall this evening:
CORRESPONDENCE
Quincy, April 6
Mr. Mark Twain - Dear Sir: Learning that business of importance, connected with your profession as traveling correspondent for New York and San Francisco papers, will necessitate your presence in Quincy for a day or two, we (that is, myself and relations) extend a cordial invitation to you to deliver one of your extraordinary lectures for our instruction and amusement, before you leave. By so doing, you will greatly oblige.
Your Obedient servant,
John Smith
(REPLY)
Quincy, April 6, 1867
John Smith, Exq. - Dear Sir: It gratifies me more than tongue can express to receive this kind attention at your hand, and I hasten to reply to your flattering note. I am filled with astonishment to find you here, John Smith, I am astonished, because I thought you were in San Francisco. I am almost certain I left you there. I am almost certain it was you, and I know if it was not you, it was a man whose name was similar.
I am surprised to find you here, John Smith. And yet I ought not to be, either, because I found you in New York, most unexpectedly; and I stumbled on you in Boston; and was amazed to discover you in New Orleans; and thunder-struck to run across you in St. Louis. You must certainly be of a sort of roving disposition, John Smith. You certainly are, John, and you know that a rolling stone gathers no moss. And a rolling Smith never gathers any moss. There is no real use in anybody's gathering moss, John, because it isn't worth any more in market than sawdust is, and hardly even as much - but then if we want to get along pleasantly with the world, we must respect the world’s little whims and caprices; and you know that the world has a foolish prejudice in favor of a man's gathering moss. So you had better locate, John, and go to gathering some. It is no credit to you, anyhow, John Smith, that. you are always sure to turn up wherever a man goes. It may be - no, it cannot be possible - that there are two John Smiths. The idea is absurd.
However, I always like you, Smith, and I am right glad to come across you again, moss or no moss. I am proud to be asked to lecture for you and shall always treasure the recollection of that compliment with peculiar fondness; but you see I have already agreed to lecture for the Encore Club, and so of course I have to decline your kind offer. But do not let this provoke a coolness, John, on the contrary, let it bind us together more tenderly than ever in the common bonds of our rolling and mossless good fellowship.
Come to National Hall Tuesday night, 9th inst., John, and bring some of your relations. I would say bring all of them, John, and say it with all my heart, too, but the hall only covers one acre of ground, and your Smith family is a large one, John.
Yours tenderly,
Mark Twain”
Short paragraph in the same column, lower down.
“Among other wonderful sleight of hand feats, Mark Twain will attempt to tell the truth occasionally, at National Hall tonight.”
THE CONSTITUTION
Tuesday Morning, April 9, 1867.
MARK TWAIN'S LECTURE
“It has been many a day since our “ribs were tickled” so much as listening to Sam Clemens’ lecture last evening upon the “Sandwich Islands.”
“Tears we shed Till our eyes were red,” at his original, quaint and irresistible humor. As another has truthfully said, “it was refined enough for the most fastidious, and pointed enough for the most obtuse.” The lecture was also instructive, as well as pleasing and interspersed throughout with the most eloquent descriptions. Those of our citizens who did not hear this lecture missed one of the richest treats of their lives. Mr. Clemens goes to Quincy today, where he will lecture in the evening, and we hope will meet with that success which his talent merits.”
From the Quincy Herald,
Thursday, April 11, 1867.
(The paper is dated April 10, however, as the printer forgot to change the date from Wednesday.)
“Mark Twain's Lecture on Tuesday night. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, National Hall was fairly filled on Tuesday night to welcome the celebrated California Humorist, Samuel Clemens, better known to fame by his nom de plume, Mark Twain. Circumstances compelled us to forego the pleasure of being present, but the universal sentiment reported to us is that the lecture was one of the most interesting and amusing ever given in this city, the lecturer being in full gushing vein, and the audience keenly appreciative. Mark fully sustained his reputation as a humorist, irresistibly droll and mirth-provoking, but gentlemanly and refined, and crowning the lecture season of the Encore Club with pleasant mementous, as well as a brilliant success.”
That was the last item of the original nine page “TWAINIANA”, inserted several accounts we have located and copied from the Quincy and Keokuk papers. So far as we have been able to travel and correspond, it appears that no Hannibal paper for the period April 2 through April 12, 1867 has been located. This is an appeal to members and the general public to please inform us if such are discovered, then we will pass on the much needed material to our members.
(To Be Continued)
The Twainian Vol 38 No 4 (1979)
In Keokuk, Iowa the two newspapers, “The Gate City” and “The Constitution" carried announcements of the lecture for Monday, April 8th. The “Gate City” for Saturday, April 6th, 1867, had an editorial urging everyone to attend for the benefit of the proposed Keokuk Public Library, and the issue for Tuesday, April 9th, had their report on the lecture. They read as follows: “We congratulate the people of Keokuk on the return of Mark Twain to the home of his youth. And more especially do we congratulate them, as well as ourself, on the opportunity we shall have of hearing more of his infamously humorous and witty lectures. His wit and his humor, is both rare and rich, and unless we greatly err in our judgement, the Keokuk public will find him more entertaining, with broader humor and fun than ever distinguished Artemus Ward or Alf Burrows in their best forms. Mark chatted away to his audience very comfortably for some little time, making joke after joke, and relating humorous stories in the most amazingly dry manner, and peals of laughter proved how well the audience was pleased.
From the beginning to the end, the interest was never allowed to lag. A volcanic eruption was described in a manner which brought the scene vividly before the imagination of the listeners, and was a really masterly description.
Mark Twain's lecture may be pronounced one of the greatest successes of the season. Occasionally, his voice was rather weak, but a little practice in speaking in large halls would very speadily correct this fault.
Years ago, before the war, Mark Twain that is now, was S. L. Clemens, one of the cleverest, and most popular of “printer boys” in Keokuk. He returns to us now, a famous man, and proverbs or scripture to the contrary, we trust that our citizens will honor him with a rousing house, on occasion of his lecture before the Library Association at the Chatham Square Church Monday night.”
The “Keokuk Gate City” for Tuesday, April 9th, 1867, carried this report after the lecture the night before: “There was a respectable audience in attendance last evening to hear Sam Clemens’ Lecture on the Sandwich Islands.
The matter of his lecture was good, his hits were excellent, and his humor very fine. But his style of speaking, and his manner generally, is too quiet and undemonstrative to please a popular audience. Nevertheless this quiet undemonstrative manner, no doubt gives point and pangency to the wit and humor of many of his sayings; and with a little more voice and with a little more nerve in his general delivery, would not be objectable by way of variety.
Since the death of Artemus Ward, we regard Mark Twain as unrivaled in the peculiar sphere in which he has won distinction, and his fame will yet rival him; his recent death has sealed his world reputation as prince of good fellow, and chief of humorists.”
On the day of Mark's lecture, but before the lecture, on Tuesday, April 9th, 1867, the Quincy “Herald” had this item: “The Sandwich Islands - This is the theme of Mark Twain's lecture at National Hall this evening, for the benefit of the Quincy Library, under the auspices of the Encore Club. “The inspiration will commence to gush” at 8 o'clock precisely, and as there will be no reserved seats, go early if you would be comfortably located. This is the only opportunity to hear the celebrated Californian, whose literary ability is making him a national and cosmopolitan fame, and an hour with the talented, eloquent and humorous Mark is sure of being profitably and enjoyably spent.”
That brings us to reprint something we found in the Keokuk papers within a few years after the lectures in Hannibal, Quincy and Keokuk. Many suppose that we have always had Public Libraries supported by taxation, however such is not the case. As a matter of fact the vast majority of people during Mark Twain's life, and perhaps in many families today, one often finds resentment of books by adults as well as by children. It accordingly follows that the libraries of early days were established and maintained by people who cared. Having the books available on a free basis meant that only certain people carried the financial burden. Certainly not all the people had to pay their rightful share. In 1867 and a few years after, we find the merchants and the working man generally opposed to any form of compulsory support of a Public Library by taxation. There were many comments in the Keokuk “Gate City” newspaper discussing the forthcoming election to levy a tax for the support of a Public Library. This exchange of “letters to the public” illustrates the general attitude in Keokuk where the voting was to be on such a tax. Incidently at that time it failed, however later and of course at the present day Keokuk has a most modern and elegant Public Library supported by general taxation. The following is typical of the attitudes expressed.
“More About the Library
Messrs Editors: I am sorry that my allusion to the Library so angered a “Tax Payer” as to cause him to write unseemly words. He who has a strong cause, does not let his angry passions arise so easily. But this has nothing to do with the merits of the Library question. Let us summarize some ideas as follows:
1. A public library involves the wrong of taxing the many for the benefit of the few - the few whose circumstances are such as to allow them leisure to enjoy it.
2. The average American does not patronize your ponderous unwieldy libraries. The busy merchant, industrious mechanic, hard-worked clerk, or any portion of the class that goes to make up the warp and woof of our live practical community have no time or inclination to delve into your library lore. Newspapers and magazines have superceded the plan of a public library for the masses. One daily paper contains whole volumes condensed into a shape whence in a few minutes can be derived more practical information than a week's study of the “Standard Works.” The papers and other publications are so cheap that no one need have his thirst for knowledge unslaked.
3. A legislative body like the City Council is not caleulated to manage a library. Elected indiscriminately from the live men of the community, a model Alderman might make a very indifferent director of a library.
4. Putting the library under the control of the council will open another source for jobbery, further offices to scramble for. And in all conscience everybody feels that office jobbery has become so extensive all over the land that it threatens to overwhelm our system of government. Put your library into the hands of the Council and it degenerates into an instrument of the politicians to be used to further their own ends.
5. Libraries properly belong to the student, and should be connected with the public schools for the use of the scholars. In Ohio the high schools are provided with libraries, which are under the management of the school board and the principal, and the teachers are “exofficio” librarians in detail.
I know that I run the risk of being set down as among the “unintelligent” by a certain class for opposing this thing, but the attitude of this community toward the Library as evinced by the meagre support it has received, is sufficient to convince any observant person that a Library can't be made a popular public institution.
A Sovereign”
“About the Library.
Editor Gate City - Dear Sir: I observe in your paper of Sunday morning a communication signed “A Sovereign”, in which the writer chooses an article on the propriety of building a Market House, with a mean insinuation concerning the present library, now the property of the Keokuk Library Association. The question for the qualified voters of this city to determine is; Shall we have a free public library? If yes, then negotiations will be in order to obtain the collection of books and property now owned by the above mentioned Association. If the voters say No, that settles the question, and I could truly say to the lasting disgrace of all concerned. I suppose no intelligent man needs to be told that a free public library can be made as useful to a community as a free public school, and the same arguments can be adduced in support of both institutions. The present library is without endowment, and being unable to sustain itself by the subscriber system, must soon fail and be broken up.
It is an insult to the intelligence and public spirit of this community to believe the voters will say No on the proposition to establish a free public library for the city of Keokuk.
Respectfully Yours,
A Tax Payer”