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Age； white…headed； the temple empty； the idols broken； the
worshipers in their graves； nothing left but You； a remnant； a
tradition； belated fag…end of a foolish dream； a dream that was so
ingeniously dreamed that it seemed real all the time； nothing left
but You； center of a snowy desolation； perched on the ice…summit；
gazing out over the stages of that long trek & asking Yourself；
〃Would you do it again if you had the chance？〃
CCXXXVIII
THE WRITER MEETS MARK TWAIN
We have reached a point in this history where the narrative becomes
mainly personal； and where； at the risk of inviting the charge of
egotism； the form of the telling must change。
It was at the end of 1901 that I first met Mark Twainat The Players
Club on the night when he made the Founder's Address mentioned in an
earlier chapter。
I was not able to arrive in time for the address； but as I reached the
head of the stairs I saw him sitting on the couch at the dining…room
entrance； talking earnestly to some one； who； as I remember it； did not
enter into my consciousness at all。 I saw only that crown of white hair；
that familiar profile； and heard the slow modulations of his measured
speech。 I was surprised to see how frail and old he looked。 From his
pictures I had conceived him different。 I did not realize that it was a
temporary condition due to a period of poor health and a succession of
social demands。 I have no idea how long I stood there watching him。 He
had been my literary idol from childhood； as he had been of so many
others； more than that； for the personality in his work had made him
nothing less than a hero to his readers。
He rose presently to go； and came directly toward me。 A year before I
had done what new writers were always doingI had sent him a book I had
written； and he had done what he was always doingacknowledged it with a
kindly letter。 I made my thanks now an excuse for addressing him。 It
warmed me to hear him say that he remembered the book； though at the time
I confess I thought it doubtful。 Then he was gone； but the mind and ear
had photographed those vivid first impressions that remain always clear。
It was the following spring that I saw him againat an afternoon
gathering； and the memory of that occasion is chiefly important because I
met Mrs。 Clemens there for the only time； and like all who met her；
however briefly； felt the gentleness and beauty of her spirit。 I think I
spoke with her at two or three different moments during the afternoon；
and on each occasion was impressed with that feeling of acquaintanceship
which we immediately experience with those rare beings whose souls are
wells of human sympathy and free from guile。 Bret Harte had just died；
and during the afternoon Mr。 Clemens asked me to obtain for him some item
concerning the obsequies。
It was more than three years before I saw him again。 Meantime； a sort of
acquaintance had progressed。 I had been engaged in writing the life of
Thomas Nast； the cartoonist； and I had found among the material a number
of letters to Nast from Mark Twain。 I was naturally anxious to use those
fine characteristic letters； and I wrote him for his consent。 He wished
to see the letters； and the permission that followed was kindness itself。
His admiration of Nast was very great。
It was proper； under the circumstances； to send him a copy of the book
when it appeared； but that was 1904； his year of sorrow and absence； and
the matter was postponed。 Then came the great night of his seventieth
birthday dinner； with an opportunity to thank him in person for the use
of the letters。 There was only a brief exchange of words； and it was the
next day； I think； that I sent him a copy of the book。 It did not occur
to me that I should hear of it again。
We step back a moment here。 Something more than a year earlier； through
a misunderstanding； Mark Twain's long association with The Players had
been severed。 It was a sorrow to him； and a still greater sorrow to the
club。 There was a movement among what is generally known' as the 〃Round
Table Group〃because its members have long had a habit of lunching at a
large； round table in a certain windowto bring him back again。 David
Munro； associate editor of the North American Review…〃 David；〃 a man well
loved of menand Robert Reid； the painter； prepared this simple
document：
TO
MARK TWAIN
from
THE CLANSMEN
Will ye no come back again？
Will ye no come back again？
Better lo'ed ye canna be；
Will ye no come back again？
It was signed by Munro and by Reid and about thirty others； and it
touched Mark Twain deeply。 The lines had always moved him。 He wrote：
TO ROBT。 REID & THE OTHERS
WELL…BELOVED；Surely those lovely verses went to Prince Charlie's
heart； if he had one； & certainly they have gone to mine。 I shall
be glad & proud to come back again after such a moving & beautiful
compliment as this from comrades whom I have loved so long。 I hope
you can poll the necessary vote； I know you will try； at any rate。
It will be many months before I can foregather with you； for this
black border is not perfunctory； not a convention； it symbolizes the
loss of one whose memory is the only thing I worship。
It is not necessary for me to thank you& words could not deliver
what I feel； anyway。 I will put the contents of your envelope in
the small casket where I keep the things which have become sacred to
me。
S。 L。 C。
So the matter was temporarily held in abeyance until he should return。
to social life。 At the completion of his seventieth year the club had
taken action； and Mark Twain had been brought back； not in the regular
order of things； but as an honorary life member without dues or duties。
There was only one other member of this class； Sir Henry Irving。
The Players； as a club； does not give dinners。 Whatever is done in that
way is done by one or more of the members in the private dining…room；
where there is a single large table that holds twenty…five； even thirty
when expanded to its limit。 That room and that table have mingled with
much distinguished entertainment； also with history。 Henry James made
his first after…dinner speech there； for one thingat least he claimed
it was his first； though this is by the way。
A letter came to me which said that those who had signed the plea for the
Prince's return were going to welcome him in the private dining…room on
the 5th of January。 It was not an invitation； but a gracious privilege。
I was in New York a day or two in advance of the date； and I think David
Munro was the first person I met at The Players。 As he greeted me his
eyes were eager with something he knew I would wish to hear。 He had been
delegated to propose the dinner to Mark Twain； and had found him pr