Autobiography of Mark Twain

by Mark Twain

  BATTLES: Bunker Hill, 373, 616; First Bull Run, 265–66, 578; Fort Donelson, 73, 497

  Clairvoyance. See Fortune telling and divination

  Clapp, Henry, Jr., 47, 485

  Clark, Charles Hopkins, 146, 501, 520. See also Mark Twain’s Library of Humor

  Clark, Marshall (Professor Niblo), 391–93, 396, 624

  Clark, William A., 387–89, 410, 622–23

  •Clemens, Clara Langdon (Bay; SLC’s daughter): biographical information, 650, 654, 655; characteristics, 99, 103, 224–25, 240–41, 309, 328, 332; friendships, 466, 473, 508–9, 569, 579; SLC’s difficulty in remembering face, 270; and SLC’s writing, 152, 328–29, 343–44, 353; mentioned, 542, 609

  CHILDHOOD: accidents, illnesses, and injuries, 240, 242, 309–10, 331, 568, 593; 602; education (general), 218, 310, 654–55; education (musical), 603; family pets, 217–18, 224; Harris’s visit, 260; Kipling’s visit, 175; “mark twain” call, 357; mind cure, 342, 602; Olivia’s discipline, 327–28; playacting English history, 333; playacting The Prince and the Pauper, 165–66, 331, 602; solitaire playing, 331; tennis playing, 218. See also Clemens family amusements

  LATER YEARS: around-the-world trip, 79, 81, 162, 244, 504, 651, 654–55; as Christian Scientist, 526; correspondence, 151–52, 509, 547; daughter, 655; Fifth Avenue house selection, 23; gift of SLC’s papers, 699; health, 569, 655; letters from SLC, 506, 547; lying, 99–107, 509; marriages, 509, 652, 655; music studies, 224, 240, 509, 567–68, 655; as Olivia’s nurse, 99–107, 509; opinion of SLC’s speaking, 244–45; praises SLC and Olivia, 152, 654; relationship with SLC, 243–45; singing career, 224, 235, 240, 243–44, 567–68, 655; telephone conversation, 199

  WORKS: Awake to a Perfect Day, 526; My Father, Mark Twain, 655

  Clemens, Henry (SLC’s brother), 150, 237, 532, 649, 653

  Clemens, James Ross (SLC’s second cousin), 11, 463

  •Clemens, Jane Lampton (SLC’s mother): biographical information, 653; ancestors, 409, 627; belief in mesmerism, 302–4; characteristics, 358, 393, 406, 545, 653; children, 402, 649; Clemenses’ visits, 356–58, 591; comforts SLC, 178; death and funeral, 25, 357, 609–10; early romance, 357–58, 61, 653; ends SLC’s schooling, 409; fondness for entertainment, 296–97; health, 357–58, 394, 470; letters from SLC, 566, 627, 633; marriage, 357–58, 610, 652–53; namesake of Jean Clemens, 356, 655; prototype for Aunt Polly, 653; residences, 470, 492, 591, 610, 652–53; SLC’s support, 22, 25, 408, 470; SLC’s tribute, 610, 653; W.C.T.U. membership, 613

  •Clemens, Jean (Jane Lampton; SLC’s daughter): biographical information, 655–56; birth and death, 651–52, 654; characteristics, 222–24; friendships, 224, 473, 508, 557; language abilities, 223–24, 264; letters from SLC, 218, 645; SLC’s difficulty in remembering face, 270; SLC’s reminiscence, 656; mentioned, 247, 504, 557, 609, 655

  CHILDHOOD: characterizes SLC and Olivia, 224; education, 218, 257, 310, 654–55; family pets, 218, 224, 511; health, 342, 355; love of animals, 223, 292; mind cure, 342, 602; playacting English history, 333; playacting The Prince and the Pauper, 165–66, 331; rescued from fire, 241; on SLC’s meeting Wilhelm II, 310, 594; and SLC’s writing, 224–25, 343–44, 355; solitaire playing, 331. See also Clemens family amusements

  LATER YEARS: diary, 555–56; Dublin stay, 511, 651; health, 82, 100–107, 270, 506, 509, 579, 609, 646, 651, 655–56; hobbies and interests, 100–101, 105–6, 509, 655; Italy visit, 108; Lewis’s pension, 173; relationship with SLC, 656; as SLC’s typist and secretary, 101–2, 613, 643, 651, 656; “spontaneous oratory” debate noted, 555–56; Stormfield residence, 652, 656

  Clemens, Jennie (SLC’s niece), 653

  Clemens, John Marshall (SLC’s father): biographical information, 627, 652; characteristics, 357–58, 394, 653; children, 649, 652–53; death, 237, 301, 406, 408–9, 590, 649, 652; education and occupations, 652; marriage, 357–58, 653; self-medication, 408–9, 627, 652; Tennessee land, 21, 469; mentioned, 589

  Clemens, Langdon (SLC’s son), 650, 654

  •Clemens, Mary Eleanor Stotts (Mollie; Orion’s wife): birth and death, 24, 521, 653; California residence, 469–70, characteristics, 5, 22, 25; daughter, 653; Fredonia stay, 470; Hartford stay, 26; hears Jane Clemens’s account of early romance, 357, 610; Keokuk residence, 22–23, 25, 470–72, 610; letters from SLC, 473; marriage, 653; Memphis (Mo.) residence, 627; Muscatine residence, 653; Nevada residence, 5–6, 21–22, 459, 469–70, 653; New York City visit, 470; Orion’s death, 473; portrayed by SLC as Mrs. Williams, 121–27, 521–22; SLC’s support, 470–72

  •Clemens, Olivia Louise Langdon (Livy, Mousie; SLC’s wife): biographical information, 654; around-the-world trip, 79, 81, 162, 504, 651, 654–55; characteristics, 82, 97, 107, 224, 538, 654; charitable activities, 278–79, 582; Clara’s nursing, 99–107, 509; closeness to SLC, 28; courtship and marriage, 239, 565, 650, 654; death, 80–81, 108, 251, 260, 651, 654; education, 654; friendships, 250–51, 260, 330, 483, 509, 540, 557, 571–72, 603; Harte’s visits, 419–20; health, 41, 81–83, 97–108, 506, 654; household and social burdens, 81–82, 97, 654; intuition, 354–55, 609; letters from SLC, 470–71, 548, 579; letter to SLC, 556; mother’s death, 353, 609; Onteora visits, 250–53, 571, 573; runaway horse incident, 542; Webster and Company creditor, 79, 159–60, 504, 654; mentioned, 352. See also Clemens family residences

  AS MOTHER: births and deaths of children, 650, 654; concern for children, 309, 331, 342, 353–55, 609; disciplinary measures, 223–24, 327–29, 600; education of children, 218, 257, 310, 654–55; family pets, 218; house-fly killing scheme, 257–58; mind cure, 331, 342–43, 602; solitaire playing, 331. See also Clemens family amusements

  SLC’S WRITING: autobiography, 508; “The Death-Disk” (“The Death-Wafer”), 106; Huckleberry Finn, 273; The Innocents Abroad, 352, 608; “Luck,” 343–44; The Prince and the Pauper, 165–66, 353; Roughing It, 352, 608; SLC’s copyrights, 79, 159–60, 504, 654; as SLC’s editor, 197, 270, 273, 350, 508, 654; SLC’s enjoying his own book, 352, 608; SLC’s reputation, 197; SLC’s speeches, 97; “‘What Ought He to Have Done?’: Mark Twain’s Opinion,” 328–29, 600–601

  •Clemens, Olivia Susan (Susy; SLC’s daughter): biographical information, 654–55; birth, 650, 654; characteristics, 223–24, 258, 328–30, 332, 654; gravestone inscription, 376–77, 618–19; illness and death, 81, 504, 582, 651, 654, 655; remembered and missed, 258, 359; Vassar College visit, 16–17, 465

  CHILDHOOD: education (general): 218, 310, 654–55; education (musical), 218, 241, 603; Harris’s visit, 260; Kipling’s visit, 175–77; lying, 223–24; mind cure, 330–31, 342–43, 602; nearsightedness, 331, 342–43; Olivia’s discipline, 223–24, 327–28; playacting English history, 333; playacting The Prince and the Pauper, 165–66, 216, 331, 602; poem misattributed, 376–77, 618–19; promenading with SLC, 269, 271; rescued from fire, 241; mentioned, 225. See also Clemens family amusements

  Clemens, Olivia Susan, biography of SLC: Cable’s visit, 333–34; characterizes Clara, 309, 332; characterizes Elizabeth Custer, 250; characterizes Jean, 224; characterizes self, 309, 332; excerpts, 165–66, 215–19, 247, 250, 255, 257–60, 263–65, 269–70, 273, 283–84, 292–93, 306, 309, 327, 330–32, 342–43, 346–47, 349–52, 356, 358; Howellses’ visit, 349; parents’ relationship, 269–70, 273, 328–29; people given passing mention, 247; secrecy of writing, 654; SLC’s footnotes, 165–66, 218, 255, 269, 332, 350, 540; SLC’s praise, 166, 257, 292, 330, 413–14; spelling, 273, 333, 348, 413; “There is a happy land,” 292, 293; unfinished, 358–59; visits to Elmira, 216, 327; visit to Keokuk, 356, 358; visit to Onteora, 250; visit to Vassar College, 16–17, 465; written for family, 257

  FAMILY ANECDOTES AND ACTIVITIES: arithmetic problem, 215–16; blowing soap bubbles, 258; Clara’s injuries, 309, 331; family pets, 216–18, 247–48, 257; favorite stories, 346; games, 347; Jean and ducks, 292–93; Jean and insects, 257; mind cure, 331, 342; playacting The Prince and the Pauper, 165–66, 216, 331, 602; SLC’s history game, 351

  REMARKS ABOUT OLIVIA: characteristics, 224, 330; dis
ciplining children, 327; occupations, 218; opinion of SLC’s writing, 329, 343; relationship with children, 218, 257, 309, 331, 342, 654–55

  REMARKS ABOUT SLC: characteristics, 16, 166, 253, 269–70, 330–32; chess scheme, 333; Christian Union article, 270, 326, 328–29; copyright opinion, 283–84; cure for colds, 330; enjoying his own book, 352, 608; fiftieth birthday and tributes, 258, 259–60, 263–65, 347–48, 575; Howells and Jews, 349–50, 607; lecturing, 165; literary plans, 269; “Luck,” 343–44; as publisher, 269; reading manuscripts to family, 273, 306, 343–44; Redpath’s compliment, 255; tribute and assistance to Grant, 218–19, 255; trip to England and Scotland, 165; writings, 217, 273, 328–29, 332, 343–44, 348–49, 352, 608

  •Clemens, Orion (SLC’s brother): biographical information, 653; autobiography, 27, 404, 472–73; death, 24, 27, 473, 521; described by fortune teller, 404, 406, 407–8; employs SLC, 230, 237, 560–61, 653; finances, 5–6, 20–23, 25, 458–59, 470–71, 653; Hartford bathtub incident, 26; hears Jane Clemens’s account of early romance, 610; letters from SLC, 21, 23, 404–9, 468, 471, 473, 505, 566, 627; letters to SLC, 472, 499; marriage and family, 653; politics, 20, 26, 468, 472, 653; religion, 20, 26, 393, 468, 471; SLC’s support, 22–23, 25, 238, 458, 470–72, 653; temperance opinions, 20–21, 468; Tennessee land, 21; trip west with SLC, 37–38, 238, 458, 649; warning about book agent, 499

  CHARACTERISTICS: changeability, 6, 20–21, 26, 393, 407, 472; depression, 393; as dreamer, 653; honesty, goodness, and kindness, 5, 20, 25–26, 47, 653; ineffectuality, 5, 22; patience, 473

  OCCUPATIONS: author, 27, 404, 468, 472–73, 588–89, 653; chicken farmer, 22–23, 25, 471–72, 653; inventor, 25, 472; lawyer, 20, 22, 25, 407, 468, 471, 653; lecturer, 653; mining investor, 20–21, 422; Nevada territorial and state official, 5–6, 20–22, 37, 238, 458–59, 468–70, 649, 653; newspaperman, 22, 25–26, 230, 233–34, 470–71, 560–61, 653; printer, 237, 261, 653

  RESIDENCES: California, 469–70; Hartford, 22, 26, 470; Keokuk, 22–23, 470–72, 499, 610, 653; Memphis (Mo.), 627; Muscatine, 653; Nevada, 5–6, 21, 458, 469, 653; New York City, 470; Rutland, 471; St. Louis, 653

  Clemens, Pamela A. (SLC’s sister). See Moffett, Pamela A.

  Clemens, Samuel (SLC’s father’s father), 627

  •Clemens, Samuel Langhorne (SLC): biographical information (life chronology), 649–52; appearance, 249–50, 572; attitude toward life and death, 68–69, 473; Civil War service, 649; eyesight, 342–43; family biographies, 652–56; first sweetheart (see Wright, Laura Mary); forebears, 627; images and photographs, 161, 173, 203, 204–10, 543, 554, 573; reported death, 11, 463; sale of letters, 10, 462–63; writing method, 195–96. See also Clemens family residences

  AMUSEMENTS: bicycling, 258–59, 575; billiards, 53, 149, 161, 346, 377–85, 619–22; bowling, 380–81, 385–87; chess, 333; “Quaker” (card game), 382–83; solitaire, 331. See also Clemens family amusements

  BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES: fiftieth birthday and tributes, 258–60, 263–65, 575–78, 606; sixty-seventh birthday dinner and tributes, 105, 510; seventy-first birthday, 285; centenary, Dunne’s tribute, 619

  BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MATTERS: bankruptcy, 78–80, 158–60, 197, 493, 503–4, 538–39, 654; failure to buy telephone stock, 56–57, 489–90; Federal Steel Company, 80, 162, 505; Hale and Norcross mine, 18, 20–21, 422, 468; Hartford Accident Insurance Company, 55–56, 490–91; Kaolatype, 54, 489–90; Lyon and Ashcroft’s influence, 655; miscellaneous inventions, 54–55, 489–90; Paige typesetting machine, 80, 158–60, 505, 537, 539, 651; Plasmon Company, 625; royalty income, 55, 159–60, 487–88, 490, 538–39; support for mother and brother, 22–23, 25, 238, 408, 458, 470–72, 653; taxes, 21, 116, 179–80, 504, 516, 545. See also American Publishing Company; Charles L. Webster and Company; Rogers, Henry H.

  CHARACTERISTICS: characterized by Jean, 224; characterized by Susy, 16, 166, 253, 269–70, 330–32; charitable, forgiving, and gentle nature, 75, 368, 392, 491; college-girl habit, 15–17; dignity, 212–13; excitability, 299; fashion sense, 249–50, 572; generosity, 255; grudge-bearing, 158; honesty and lying, 116, 298, 302–4; imagination, 298–99; laziness, 37, 46, 51, 115, 170, 196; love of cats, 216–18, 224, 247–49, 331, 393, 429; mercifulness, 222; representative of human race, 383; temper, 198, 226, 251, 430; vanity, 10, 16–17, 243–44, 291, 300, 387, 432–33. See also Fortune telling and divination; Palmistry; Phrenology

  CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES: advice for fund-raisers, 281–83; appearances, lectures, and speeches, 8–9, 14–17, 32, 59, 350, 460–62, 465–66, 477, 493, 572, 584, 608; influencing contributors, 193, 279–81, 582–83, 639; pension scheme for charities, 279–81, 582–83; personal contributions, 211, 278–80, 582

  CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH: early experiences as author, 230–35, 238–39, 560–63, 649; education and schoolteachers, 177–78, 233, 237, 360, 409, 544–45, 649; health, 408–9; mesmerism experiments, 297–304, 589–90; mischief, 177–78; 237, 262–63; parental relationship observed, 357–58; schoolmates, 178, 545

  JOURNALISM: Golden Era, 562, 650; Hannibal Journal, 560–61; Hannibal Western Union, 561, 589, 649, 653; Keokuk Post, 230–35, 563; Muscatine Journal, 561; New Orleans Crescent, 561; New York Weekly Review, 513; San Francisco Alta California, 549, 588; San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, 513, 612; Saturday Press, 47, 485, 562, 650. See also Californian; Sacramento Union; San Francisco Morning Call; Virginia City Territorial Enterprise

  LECTURES AND SPEECHES: after Clara’s début, 243–45, 569; on American manners, 8–9, 462; “The American Vandal Abroad,” 48, 486, 608, 650; around-the-world tour, 79–81, 159, 162, 244, 504, 651, 654–55; Associated Press banquet, 235, 245–46, 274–77, 563–64, 569; “The Babies,” 180–81; Barnard College, 17, 466; Booth banquet, 348–49, 607; Carnegie banquet, 578; Carnegie Hall, 8, 14–15, 59, 105–6, 460–62, 465; Chickering Hall, 60, 202–3, 494, 554; City Missionary Society (Hartford), 584; Cleveland Protestant Orphan Asylum, 350, 608; Cooper Union, 38–40, 481–82, 558; on copyright, 284, 319, 337–42, 572, 584–85, 587, 597–98, 605; Delmonico’s Restaurant, 607; drunken man anecdote, 186–87, 342; early lecture tours, 40, 48, 482, 486, 650; Ends of the Earth Club, 558; on The Gilded Age, 558; Grant banquet, 180–81; Hudson Theatre, 16–17, 465–66; Jessamy Harte benefit declined, 638–39; lecturing speed, 446; on Leopold II (undelivered), 8, 460–62; long-necked clam, 348–49, 607; lost-sock anecdote, 16, 465; Majestic Theatre, 8–9, 462; on marriage engagements, 187; on men and women, 214; Monk-Greeley anecdote, 200–203, 553–54; on morals, 17, 462, 505; New York State Association for Promoting the Interests of the Blind, 32, 477, 572; pedestrian excursion anecdote, 14–15, 465; plan to quit speaking for money, 14–15, 59, 212; Platt’s Hall, 200–202, 553; on Quaker City excursion, 48, 486, 608, 650; reluctance to speak, 316; Robert Fulton Memorial Association, 14, 15, 59, 465, 493; Sandwich Islands lecture, 38–40, 200–202, 239, 280, 481–82, 553, 558, 569, 583, 650; Savoy Hotel, 558; Simplified Spelling, 245–46, 266–69, 274–77, 563–64, 569, 578; SLC-Cable reading tour, 59, 66, 165, 333, 493, 539, 591, 651; Smith College, 16, 465; “spontaneous oratory” scheme, 184–88, 200, 203, 213–15, 555–56; stage fright, 569; talk distinguished from speech, 244–45; tour with Nast proposed, 10, 462; Tuskegee Institute, 8, 460–62; Vassar College, 16–17, 465–66; at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, 32, 477, 563–64; Washington Ladies’ Literary Association, 597 597–98; Women’s University Club, 14–18, 465; for Young Men’s Christian Association, 8–9, 462

  LETTERS. See Letters from SLC; Letters to SLC

  OCCUPATIONS: authorial history, 230–35, 238–39, 560–63, 649–52; clerk for Orion in Nevada, 458–59, 649; editorship turned down, 197; errand boy, 649; inventor, 55, 351–52, 490, 608; miner and mining speculator, 20–21, 118, 168–69, 238, 422–23, 459, 468, 566, 621, 636, 649; ministry considered, 238, 566; printer, 561, 589, 649, 653; quartz-mill laborer, 238, 566; steamboat pilot, 58, 150–51, 230, 238, 264, 405–8, 458, 492, 531–32, 561, 566, 649

  ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS: Congo Reform Association, 8, 460–62, 529; Ends of t
he Earth Club, 225–27, 558; Fellowcraft Club, 183–87, 546; Freemasonry, 649; The God Damned Human Race club, 442–43, 643; Juggernaut Club, 28–29, 474; Kinsmen, 573; Lotos Club, 436; Monday Evening Club, 265, 578; The Players club, 426, 540, 565, 607; Saturday Morning Club, 419, 633; Savage Club, 435–36, 640–42; Tile Club, 579–80

  PET SCHEMES (SLC’s advice): employment, 34–37, 470–71, 479; “graduated blush,” 188; pension, for charities, 279–81, 582–83; “spontaneous oratory,” 184–88, 200, 203, 213–15, 546, 555–56

  PSEUDONYMS: A Dog-be-Deviled-Citizen, 561; Blab, 560–61; Josh, 562, 566–67, 649; Mark Twain, 239, 353, 356–57, 567, 650; Sergeant Fathom, 561; Snodgrass, 230–35, 563

  READING: The Acts of Stephen, 614; Bible (as child), 30, 135; Briggs’s “Criticism and Dogma,” 131, 523–24; Carlyle’s French Revolution, 591; Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, 527; Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, 540; Doane’s Bible Myths, 523; dueling essay, 98, 507; English history, 155–56; friends’ literary offerings, 162–63; Hartwick’s “Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night,” 215, 556; Henry of Huntingdon, 366–69, 614; his own dictations, 158; humorists, 153, 534–35; Jacobs’s Dialstone Lane, 182; William James’s works, 513; Joseph Jefferson’s autobiography, 76, 500; Kipling, 176–77, 544; laughing at own books, 346, 352–53, 355; Macaulay, 586–87; Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches, 553; Phelps’s The Gates Ajar, 194, 550; Pliny the Younger, 110, 512; Poe’s “To Helen,” 323, 599; Reade’s The Cloister and the Hearth, 606; reading aloud to family, 273, 306, 343–44, 540; reading in German, 248; SLC’s marginalia, 518, 521, 525, 573, 614; Suetonius, 365, 614; White’s autobiography, 33, 477. See also names of other authors and titles of newspapers