Vol 3 Section 0748
1902 |
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Louis harbor-boat, or rather the rechristening, for it had been decided to change its name from the St. |
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Louis—[Originally the Elon G. Smith, built in 1873]—to the Mark Twain. A short trip was made on it for |
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the ceremony. Governor Francis and Mayor Wells were of the party, and Count and Countess |
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Rochambeau and Marquis de Lafayette, with the rest of the French group that had come over for the |
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dedication of the World’s Fair grounds. |
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Mark Twain himself was invited to pilot the harbor boat, and so returned for the last time to his old |
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place at the wheel. They all collected in the pilot-house behind him, feeling that it was a memorable |
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occasion. They were going along well enough when he saw a little ripple running out from the shore |
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across the bow. In the old days he could have told whether it indicated a bar there or was only caused by |
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the wind, but he could not be sure any more. Turning to the pilot languidly, he said: |
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“I feel a little tired. I guess you had better take the wheel.” |
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Luncheon was served aboard, and Mayor Wells made the christening speech; then the Countess |
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Rochambeau took a bottle of champagne from the hand of Governor Francis and smashed it on the deck, |
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saying, “I christen thee, good boat, Mark Twain.” So it was, the Mississippi joined in according him |
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honors. In his speech of reply he paid tribute to those illustrious visitors from France and recounted |
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something of the story of French exploration along that great river. |
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“The name of La Salle will last as long as the river itself,” he said, “will last until commerce is dead. |
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We have allowed the commerce of the river to die, but it was to accommodate the railroads, and we must |
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be grateful.” |
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Carriages were waiting for them when the boat landed in the afternoon, and the party got in and were |
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driven to a house which had been identified as Eugene Field’s birthplace. A bronze tablet recording this |
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fact had been installed, and this was to be the unveiling. The place was not in an inviting quarter of the |
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town. It stood in what is known as Walsh’s Row—was fashionable enough once, perhaps, but long since |
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fallen into disrepute. Ragged children played in the doorways, and thirsty lodgers were making trips with |
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tin pails to convenient bar-rooms. A curious nondescript audience assembled around the little group of |
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dedicators, wondering what it was all about. The tablet was concealed by the American flag, which could |
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be easily pulled away by an attached cord. Governor Francis spoke a few words, to the effect that they |
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had gathered here to unveil a tablet to an American poet, and that it was fitting that Mark Twain should |
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do this. They removed their hats, and Clemens, his white hair blowing in the wind, said: |
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“My friends; we are here with reverence and respect to commemorate and enshrine in memory the |
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house where was born a man who, by his life, made bright the lives of all who knew him, and by his |
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literary efforts cheered the thoughts of thousands who never knew him. I take pleasure in unveiling the |
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tablet of Eugene Field.” |
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The flag fell and the bronze inscription was |
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revealed. By this time the crowd, generally, had |
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recognized who it was that was speaking. A |
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working-man proposed three cheers for Mark |
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Twain, and they were heartily given. Then the little |
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party drove away, while the neighborhood collected |
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to regard the old house with a new interest. |
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It was reported to Clemens later that there was |
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some dispute as to the identity of the Field |
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birthplace. He said: |
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“Never mind. It is of no real consequence |
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whether it is his birthplace or not. A rose in any |
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other garden will bloom as sweet” [MTB 1173-5]. |
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Note: Rolla Wells (“Rollo”) (1856-1944), St. Louis Mayor (1901-1909). |
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The St. Louis Star, June 6, p.1 reported Sam at the wheel: |
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MARK TWAIN AT THE WHEEL AGAIN |
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——— |
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SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on. |