Blessed is the man who finds no disillusion when he is brought face to face with a revered writer.
Rudyard Kipling interviewed Mark Twain in 1889. This surprising fact was revealed to me as I perused one of the books which emerged when I recently successfully ‘downsized’, moving across the road from a house to a townhouse. It was an opportunity to take stock of my motley collection of books, discarding a few (not as many as I should have), reminding myself to re-read some favourites and planning to read a few unread titles.
Rudyard Kipling
So it was that the previously unread Penguin Book of Interviews included this gem of an interchange between two legendary authors. At the time, Kipling was 33, on his travels from India to the UK via Asia and the United States. As a reader who had ‘learned to love and admire’ Twain, Kipling went to great and strenuous efforts to track him down, as is attested in his beautifully rendered account of their meeting. After some initial fruitless searching across multiple states, including perilous train trips, he arrived in Elmira, New York:
A friendly policeman volunteered the news that he had seen Twain, or ‘someone very like him’ driving a buggy the day before. This gave me a delightful sense of nearness. Fancy living in a town where you could see the author of Tom Sawyer, or ‘someone very like him’, jolting over the pavements in a buggy!
‘He lives out yonder at East Hill,’ said the policeman; ‘three miles from here.’
Then the chase began – in a hired hack, up an awful hill, where sunflowers blossomed by the roadside, and crops waved, and Harper’s Magazine cows stood knee-deep in clover, all ready to be transferred to photogravure. The great man must have been persecuted by outsiders aforetime, and fled up the hill for refuge.
Further interactions and adventures eventually led Kipling to his prey at the house of Twain’s brother-in-law. At this juncture in his tale, Kipling wrote the sentence quoted at the top of this post, following it with:
That was a moment to be remembered; the landing of a twelve-pound salmon was nothing to it. I had hooked Mark Twain, and he was treating me as though under certain circumstances I might be an equal.
Clearly Kipling was enchanted, even by Twain’s voice – ‘the slowest, calmest, levellest voice in all the world’. The interview includes extensive quotes, and I assume that Kipling was skilled at shorthand (not out of the question – I just checked and it was invented in 1837) to record them so accurately (if indeed they are!).
Mark Twain
At the time, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was in his early 50s, having published Adventures of Tom Sawyer in the 1870s and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn about five years before this interview. A section of the interview was devoted to Kipling’s fascination with the character of Tom Sawyer, as this playful interchange reveals:
Growing bold, and feeling that I had a few hundred thousand folk at my back, I demanded whether Tom Sawyer married Judge Thatcher’s daughter and whether we were ever going to hear of Tom Sawyer as a man.
‘ I haven’t decided,’ quoth Mark Twain, getting up, filling his pipe, and walking up and down the room in his slippers. ‘I have a notion of writing the sequel to Tom Sawyer in two ways. In one I would make him rise to great honour and go to Congress, and in the other I should hang him. Then the friends and enemies of the book could take their choice.’
Here I lost my reverence completely, and protested against any theory of the sort, because, to me at least, Tom Sawyer was real.
‘Oh, he is real,’ said Mark Twain. ‘He’s all the boys that I have known or recollect; but that would be a good way of ending the book’; then, turning round, ‘because, when you come to think of it, neither religion, training, nor education avails anything against the force of circumstances that drive a man. Suppose we took the next four and twenty years of Tom Sawyer’s life, and gave a little joggle to the circumstances that controlled him. He would, logically and according to the joggle, turn out a rip or an angel.’
‘Do you believe that, then?’
‘I think so; isn’t it what you call kismet?’
‘Yes; but don’t give him two joggles and show the result, because he isn’t your property anymore. He belongs to us.’
He laughed – a large, wholesome laugh – and this began a dissertation on the rights of a man to do what he liked with his own creations, which being a matter of purely professional interest, I will mercifully omit.
Like me, you probably wish that such dissertation had not been omitted! Also like me, you’d probably rather read the whole interview original form rather than my inadequate précis, but alas, the laws of copyright prohibit such infringement.
While on the topic of copyright, Twain expressed his ire with respect to certain publishers:
‘Copyright? Some men have morals, and some men have – other things. …
‘I remember an unprincipled and formidable publisher. Perhaps he’s dead now. He used to take my short stories – I can’t call it steal or pirate them. It was beyond these things altogether. He took my stories one at a time and made a book of it. If I wrote an essay on dentistry or theology or any little thing of that kind – just an essay that long (he indicated half an inch on his finger), any sort of essay – that publisher would amend and improve my essay.
‘He would get another man to write some more to it or cut it about exactly as his needs required. Then he would publish a book called Dentistry by Mark Twain, that little essay and some other things not mine added. Theology would make another book, and so on. I do not consider that fair. It’s an insult. But he’s dead now, I think. I didn’t kill him.
And more, of course, on the perils of autobiography, the traps of conscience, Twain’s attitude to the constant stream of visitors, his reading habits, etc. Just as we would be, Kipling lamented:
I was burning to ask him all manner of impertinent questions, as to which of his works he himself preferred, and so forth; but, standing in awe of his eyes, I dared not. He spoke on, and I listened, grovelling.
So, if you can get hold of it, read this wonderful tale by Rudyard Kipling, either in the Penguin book I mentioned, or in his From Sea to Sea and Other Sketches, Letters of Travel. I’ll finish by quoting the sentence preceding those entrancing words of Kipling at the start of this blog:
Reading his books, I had striven to get an idea of his personality, and all my preconceived notions were wrong and beneath the reality.
Well, almost the finish. You might wonder what Twain thought of his interchange with the young author. He apparently liked Kipling, saying that ‘Between us, we cover all knowledge; he covers all that can be known and I cover the rest.’
Interesting – the meeting between two superb chroniclers.
I visited various blogs except thhe audio quality for audio songs existing aat this site is truly excellent.
Also visit my web blog; boyarka
This is the perfect blog for anyone who would like to
find out about this topic. You understand a whole lot its
almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa).
You definitely put a brand new spin on a subject which has been written about for
ages. Great stuff, just excellent!
Also visit my blog post: casino
The online casino industry continues to expand rapidly, offering players a diverse
mix of gaming sites.
Recently, many sers have become more focused onn licensing
and transparency, choosing platforms that provide independent RNG audits.
A well-regulated platform typically offers consistent
payouts and supports responsible gambling tools.
At the same time, users look forr freh slot releases and enjoy smooth navigation.
Overall, the wider casino market provides a mix of regulation and gameplay variety, making it aan appealing option for many different types of players.
my blog – https://kssbuildingmaterials.internetever.com/digital-casino-websites-an-expert-analysis-of-10/
The online casino industry continues to expand rapidly, offering players a wide selection oof platforms.
In recent years, many users have become more focused on security and fairness, choosing platform that provide clear operational standards.
A trustged gaming operator typically offers stable financial handlong and supports balanced gameplay
features.
At the samne time, regular visitors look
for fresh slot releases and enjoy smooth navigation.
Overall, the current iGaming sector provides a blend of
modern features and structured oversight,
making it an appealing option forr many differenjt types oof
players.
My web-site https://vknotec.com/2025/10/15/online-casino-reviewer-role-system-and-industry-7/
Ich bin seit einigen Wochen bei Marke und bleibe absolut begeistert!
Diee Games ist top, Auszahlungen erfolgen blitzschnell,
und der Kundenservice ist jedcerzeit kompetent. Optimal für alle,
die großenWert auf Qualität legen!
Many players choose a real money casino platform because it offers
a different level of excitement. Playijg with real money meabs that the gameplay feels more authentic.
Instead off focusing only on fun, real money casinos are
designed for players who enjoy real stakes. These platforms usually provide multiple sections, such as slots,
table games, and live casino titles.
When choosing a casino for real money, it is important to consider safety, fairness, and clear rules.
Seasoned gamblers often emphasize the value of setting limits.
With tthe right mindset, real money casinos can rsmain a positive gaming option.
Alsoo visit my webbsite https://next2go-casino.com/
A lot of users choose a casino for real money because itt offers a more engaging
experience. Playing with real money meaqns tthat every decision matters.
Instead of focusing onlyy on fun, real money casinos are designed for players whho want more than deemo games.
These platforms usually provide various game types,
such as classic games and live dealers.
When choosing a casino for real money, it
is important to consider safety, fairness, and cpear rules.
Regular usrrs often emphaxize the value of setting
limits. Witth the right mindset, real money casinos can reemain enjoyable,
balanced, and entertaining.
my page – BetX
Mir ist aufgefallen, dass viele Spieler in DElieber ein Casiino mit echtem Geld nutzen als nur kostenlose Spiele.
Der Hauptgrund ist, dass daas Spielen mit echtem Geld mehr Spannyng bietet.
Solche Casinos ieten meist verschiedene Spieloptionen, was für normales Spielen völlig ausreicht.
Was ich gesehen habe, ist es wichtiger, auf eine zuverlässige Plattform zu
achten, statt siich nur von Aktionen leiten zu lassen.
Wie immmer sollte man darauf achten, sich klare Grenzen zu setzen. Wenn man mit Maß spielt, können Echtgeld Casino
eine angenehme Form der Unterhaltung.
Here is my site; https://theslotzcasino.com/
Icch habe gemerkt, dass viele Spieler in DE ieber ein Echtgeld
Casino nutzen als nur kostenlose Spiele. Der Hauptgrund ist, dass das
Spielen mit echtem Geld mehr Spannung bietet.
Solche Casinos bieten meist verschiedene Spieloptionen, was
für normales Spielen völlig ausreicht. Meiner Meinung nach, ist es wichtiger, auf eine zuverlässige Plattform zu achten, statt sich nur von Aktionen leiten zu lassen.
Natürlich sollte man darauf achten, verantwortungsvoll zu spielen. Wenn man mit Vernunft spielt, können Echtgeld Casinos durchaus Spaß machen.
my pasge – https://monacojackcasino.com/
Un casino pour jouer avec de l’argent réel s’adresse aux joueurs qqui préfèrent un jeu
plus concret. Contrairement auxx versions gratuites, jouer averc
de l’argent réel permet de placer de vraies mises.
Habituellement, ces casinos proposent plusieurs catégories de jeux, comprenant des jeux
automatiques et des tables en direct. Il est essentiel de choisir un siye bien structuré
ain de limiter les risques.
Des procédures correctes et laa protection des joueurs jouent un rôle important.
Less joieurs réguliers recommandent de contrôler son budget.
De cette façon, le cazino ave dde l’argent réel reste un divertissement agréable.
my site – https://casinopeaches-fr.com/
Os bônus de boas-vindas de cassino têm como princioal objetivo apresentar a plataforma aos novos
jogadores. Esses bônus normalmente são concedidos logo após o
registro.
Em veez de serem apenas uma promoção, os bônus de boas-vindas permitem que o jogador teste o funcionamento do cassino com mennor risco inicial.
Geralmente, eles podem incluir créditos adicionais.
No entanto, esses benefícios costumam estar suyjeitos
a requisitos de aposta.
Por esse motivo, é essencial ler atentamente os termos.
Usuários frequentes recomwndam tilizar os bônus dde forma consciente.
Assim, os bônus de boas-vindas permanecem um apoio inicial útil.
Stopp by my weeb site … https://bet735.lat/
Os bônus de boas-vindas de cassino têm como principal obetivo facilitar o primeiro contato com o cassino.
Esses bônus normalmente são concedidos no primeiro depósito.
Em vez de serem apenas uma promoção, os bônus de boas-vindas
permittem que o jogador conheça diferentes seções da
plataforma com menor rsco inicial. Geralmente, eles podem incluir créditos adicionais.
No entanto, esss benefícios costumam estar sujeitos a requisitos
de aposta.
Por esse motivo, é essencial compreender as condições antes de jogar.
Pessoas com experiência eem cassinos recomendam utilizar os bônus de forma consciente.
Assim, os bônus de boas-vindas permanecem
uma vantagem equilibrada.
Feel free to surf to my web-site … https://bet735-br.com/
Os bônus de boas-vindas de cassino têm como principal objetio oferecer um incentivo inicial aos novos usuários.
Essss bônus normalmente são concedidos no primeiro depósito.
Em vez de serem apenas uma promoção, os bônus de boas-vindas permitem que o
jogador teste o funcionamento do cassino com menor risco inicial.
Geralmente, eles podem incluir créditos
adicionais. No entanto, esses benefícios costumam
estar sujeitos a requisitos de aposta.
Por esse motivo, é essencial ler atentamente oss termos.
Usuários frequenhtes recomendam utilizar os bônus de forna consciente.
Assim, os bônus de boas-vindas permanecem um recurso informativo.
Feel free to surf to my site … fanbit
Os bônus de boas-vindas de cassino têm cono principal objetivo apresentar a plataforma aos novos jogadores.
Esses bônus normalente são concedidos no início da atividade do jogador.
Em vez de serem apenas uma promoção, os bônus
de boas-vindas permitem quee o jogador conheça diferenes seções da plataforma
com menor risco inicial. Geralmente, eles podem incluir créditos
adicionais. No entanto, esses benefícios costumam estarr sujeitos a regras específicas.
Por esse motivo, éessencial verificar aas regras do bônus.
Usuários frequentes recomendam não depender apenas das promoções.
Assim, os bônus de boas-vindas peranecem um recurso informativo.
Also visit my site: ganhei-bet.com
Utilizarea unui 32Rosu Casino online pe bani reali presupune gestionare
conștientă a bugetului. Fiind vorba despre fonduri reale, deciziile influențează direct rezultatele.
Opțiunile de gestionare a bugetului ajută la menținerea echilibrului.
Structura clară a platformei facilitează administrarea eficientă.
Per total, mediul susține decizii informate pentru un public variat.
A quick-cashout online casino is structured around efficient fund delivery.
Witnout prolonged processing queues, withdrawals are verified digitally.This payout-focused structure reduces
waitting periods and supports timely account
updates. Clear withdrawal pathways guide players during cashout.
Combined with protected data protocols, the environment remains reliable and
consistent. Forr that reason, fast-withdrawal casinos deliver efgficient mobey management for regular players.
my web site: https://blaze-spins-casino.com/
A fast withdrawal casino iss structured around efficient fund delivery.
Without prolonged processing queues, withdrawals aree verified digitally.
This operational design reduces uncertain timelines and maintains cotinuous accesss tto funds.
Well-defined payout procedures guide users thrrough each stage.
Combined with protected data protocols, thee
environment remains reliable and consistent.
For that reason, fast-withdrawal casinos deliver
efficient money management for active users.
My blog post – https://koalabet.bet/
Nel settore deel gioco su internet in Italia si affacciano nuovi siti casino online casino online
con impostazioni operative rinnovate. Questi ambienti
digitali puntano su processi più fluidi.
La disposizione dei contenuti favorisce gesttione chiara delle funzioni.
Parallelamente, sistemi dii monitoraggio sostengono un approccio equilibrato.