Part 2 (1/2)

Stevenson, s a chuckly smile, ”I hope not”

”Well, you will, and he will diured Adonis backed against a pink sunset”

There on that bench we struck out a new phrase--one or the other of us, I don't reed renown” Variations were discussed: ”subed reputation,” and so on, and a choice was ed renoas elected, I believe This importantto Stevenson in Albany

While in a book-shop or book-stall there he had noticed a long rank of s such titles as ”Davis's Selected Speeches,” ”Davis's Selected Poetry,” Davis's this and Davis's that and Davis's the other thing; compilations, every one of theent and useful introductory chapter by this saun the matter with this question:

”Can you name the American author whose faht I could, but it did not seem to me that it would be modest to speak out, in the circu

Stevenson noticed, and said--

”Save your delicacy for another ti you can't name the American author of widest note and popularity in the States But I can”

Then he went on and told about that Albany incident He had inquired of the shopman--

”Who is this Davis?”

The ansas--

”An author whose books have to have freight-trains to carry them, not baskets Apparently you have not heard of him?”

Stevenson said no, this was the first time The man said--

”nobody has heard of Davis: you may ask all around and you will see You never see his name s are of no use to Davis, not any more than they are to the wind and the sea You never see one of Davis's books floating on top of the United States, but put on your diving aret yourself lowered away down and down and down till you strike the dense region, the sunless region of eternal drudgery and starvation wages--there you'll find theets that market, his fortune is made, his bread and butter are safe, for those people will never go back on him An author may have a reputation which is confined to the surface, and lose it and becootten--the frequent steps in a surface reputation At surface reputation, however great, is always ht--with pins and needles, and quiet slow poison, not with the club and toed reputation--down in the deep water; once a favorite there, always a favorite; once beloved, always beloved; once respected, always respected, honored, and believed in For, what the reviewer says never finds its way down into those placid deeps; nor the newspaper sneers, nor any breath of the winds of slander blowing above Down there they never hear of these things Their idol may be painted clay, up then at the surface, and fade and waste and cru old and adamant and indestructible”

V

This is fro's paper:

MARK TWAIN LETTER SOLD

_Written to Thoraph letter brought 43 yesterday at the auction by the Merwin-Clayton Company of the library and correspondence of the late Thoes note-paper, is dated Hartford, Nov 12, 1877, and it addressed to Nast It reads in part as follows:

Hartford, _Nov 12_

MY DEAR NAST: I did not think I should ever stand on a platforain until the time was come for me to say I die innocent But the sa that have arriven every year, and been every year declined--500 for Louisville, 500 for St Louis, 1,000 gold for two nights in Toronto, half gross proceeds for New York, Boston, Brooklyn, &c I have declined theh sorely tempted as usual

Now, I do not decline because Ialone is so heart-breakingly dreary, and (2) shouldering the whole show is such cheer-killing responsibility

Therefore I now propose to you what you proposed to o, (when I was unknown,) viz; That you should stand on the platforuard the audience I should enoro to little ones) with you for company