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Howells welcomed this offer as an echo of his own thought。 He had come
from a piloting family himself； and knew the interest that Mark Twain
could put into such a series。
Acting promptly under the new inspiration； Clemens forthwith sent the
first chapter of that monumental； that absolutely unique； series of
papers on Mississippi River life； which to…day constitutes one of his
chief claims to immortality。
His first number was in the nature of an experiment。 Perhaps； after all；
the idea would not suit the Atlantic readers。
〃Cut it； scarify it； reject it； handle it with entire freedom；〃 he wrote；
and awaited the result。
The 〃result〃 was that Howells expressed his delight：
The piece about the Mississippi is capital。 It almost made the
water in our ice…pitcher muddy as I read it。 I don't think I shall
meddle much with it； even in the way of suggestion。 The sketch of
the low…lived little town was so good that I could have wished there
was more of it。 I want the sketches； if you can make them； every
month。
Mark Twain was now really interested in this new literary venture。 He
was fairly saturated with memories。 He was writing on the theme that lay
nearest to his heart。 Within ten days he reported that he had finished
three of the papers； and had begun the fourth。
And yet I have spoken of nothing but piloting as a science so far； and I
doubt if I ever get beyond that portion of my subject。 And I don't care
to。 Any Muggins can write about old days on the Mississippi of five
hundred different kinds； but I am the only man alive that can scribble
about the piloting of that day； and no man has ever tried to scribble
about it yet。 Its newness pleases me all the time； and it is about the
only new subject I know of。
He became so enthusiastic presently that he wanted to take Howells with
him on a trip down the Mississippi； with their wives for company； to go
over the old ground again and obtain added material enough for a book。
Howells was willing enoughagreed to go； in factbut found it hard to
get away。 He began to temporize and finally backed out。 Clemens tried
to inveigle Osgood into the trip； but without success； also John Hay； but
Hay had a new baby at his house just then〃three days old； and with a
voice beyond price；〃 he said； offering it as an excuse for non…
acceptance。 So the plan for revisiting the river and the conclusion of
the book were held in abeyance for nearly seven years。
Those early piloting chapters； as they appeared in the Atlantic；
constituted Mark Twain's best literary exhibit up to that time。 In some
respects they are his best literature of any time。 As pictures of an
intensely interesting phase of life； they are so convincing； so real； and
at the same time of such extraordinary charm and interest； that if the
English language should survive a thousand years； or ten times as long；
they would be as fresh and vivid at the end of that period as the day
they were penned。 In them the atmosphere of； the river and its
environmentits pictures； its thousand aspects of lifeare reproduced
with what is no less than literary necromancy。 Not only does he make you
smell the river you can fairly hear it breathe。 On the appearance of the
first number John Hay wrote：
〃It is perfect； no more nor less。 I don't see how you do it；〃 and added；
〃you know what my opinion is of time not spent with you。〃
Howells wrote：
You are doing the science of piloting splendidly。 Every word
interesting； and don't you drop the series till you've got every bit
of anecdote and reminiscence into it。
He let Clemens write the articles to suit himself。 Once he said：
If I might put in my jaw at this point I should say； stick to actual
fact and character in the thing and give things in detail。 All that
belongs to the old river life is novel； and is now mostly
historical。 Don't write at any supposed Atlantic audience； but yarn
it off as if into my sympathetic ear。
Clemens replied that he had no dread of the Atlantic audience； he
declared it was the only audience that did not require a humorist to
〃paint himself striped and stand on his head to amuse it。〃
The 〃Old Times〃 papers ran through seven numbers of the Atlantic。 They
were reprinted everywhere by the newspapers； who in that day had little
respect for magazine copyrights； and were promptly pirated in book form
in Canada。 They added vastly to Mark Twain's literary capital； though
Howells informs us that the Atlantic circulation did not thrive
proportionately； for the reason that the newspapers gave the articles to
their readers from advanced sheets of the magazine； even before the
latter could be placed on sale。 It so happened that in the January
Atlantic； which contained the first of the Mississippi papers； there
appeared Robert Dale Owen's article on 〃Spiritualism；〃 which brought such
humility both to author and publisher because of the exposure of the
medium Katie King； which came along while the magazine was in press。
Clemens has written this marginal note on the opening page of the copy at
Quarry Farm：
While this number of the Atlantic was being printed the Katie King
manifestations were discovered to be the cheapest； wretchedest shams and
frauds； and were exposed in the newspapers。 The awful humiliation of it
unseated Robert Dale Owen's reason； and he died in the madhouse。
XCIX
A TYPEWRITER； AND A JOKE ON ALDRICH
It was during the trip to Boston with Twichell that Mark Twain saw for
the first time what was thena brand…new invention； a typewriter； or it
may have been during a subsequent visit； a week or two later。 At all
events； he had the machine and was practising on it December 9； 1874； for
he wrote two letters on it that day； one to Howells and the other to
Orion Clemens。 In the latter he says：
I am trying to get the hang of this new…fangled writing…machine； but
am not making a shining success of it。 However； this is the first
attempt I ever have made； and yet I perceive that I shall soon
easily acquire a fine facility in its use。 I saw the thing in
Boston the other day and was greatly taken with it。
He goes on to explain the new wonder； and on the whole his first attempt
is a very creditable performance。 With his usual enthusiasm over an
innovation； he believes it is going to be a great help to him； and
proclaims its advantages。
This is the letter to Howells； with the errors preserved：
You needn't answer this； I am only practicing to get three； anothe
slip…up there； only practici？ng ti get the hang of the thing。 I
notice I miss fire & get in a good many unnecessary letters &
punctuation marks。 I am simply using you for a target to bang at。
Blame my cats； but this thing requires genius in order to work it
just right。
In an article written long after he tells how he was with Nasby when he
first saw the machine in Boston through a window； and how they went in to
see it perform。 In the same article he states that he was the first
person in the world to apply the type…machine to literature； and that he
thinks the story of Tom Sawyer was the first type…copied manuscript。
＇Tom Sawyer was not then complete； and had been laid aside。 The first
type…copied manuscript was probably early chapters of the Mississippi
story； two discarded typewritten pages of which still… exist＇
The new enthusiasm ran its course and died。 Three months later； when the
Remington makers wrote him for a recommendation of the machine； he
replied that he had entirely stopped using it。 The typewriter was not
perfect in those days； and the keys did not always respond readily。
He declared it was ruining his moralsthat it made him 〃want to swear。〃
He offered it to Howells because； he said； Howells had no morals anyway。
Howells hesitated； so Clemens traded the machine to Bliss for a side…
saddle。 But perhaps Bliss also became afraid of its influence； for in
due time he brought it back。 Howells； again tempted； hesitated； and this
time was lost。 What eventually became of the machine is not history。
One of those； happy Atlantic dinners which Howells tells of came about
the end of that year。 It was at the Parker House； and Emerson was there；
and Aldrich； and the rest of that group。
〃Don't you dare to refuse the invitation；〃 said Howells； and naturally
Clemens didn't； and wrote back：
I want you to ask Mrs。 Howells to let you stay all night at the
Parker House and tell lies and have an improving time； and take
breakfast with me in the morning。 I will have a good room for you
and a fire。 Can't you tell her it always makes you sick to go home
late at night or something like that？ That sort of thing arouses
Mrs。 Clemens's sympathies easily。
Two memories of that old dinner remain to…day。 Aldrich and Howells were
not satisfied with the kind of neckties that Mark Twain wore （the old…
fashioned black 〃string〃 tie； a Western survival）； so they made him a
present of two cravats when he set out on his return for Hartford。 Next
day he wrote：
You and Aldrich have m