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truth。 Like the first Maker of men； Mark Twain created Adam in his own
image； and his rare Eve is no less the companion with whom； half a
lifetime before； he had begun the marriage journey。 Only here the
likeness ceases。 No Serpent ever entered their Eden。 And they never
left it； it traveled with them so long as they remained together。
In the Christmas Harper for 1904 was published 〃Saint Joan of Arc〃the
same being the Joan introduction prepared in London five years before。
Joan's proposed beatification had stirred a new interest in the martyred
girl； and this most beautiful article became a sort of key…note of the
public heart。 Those who read it were likely to go back and read the
Recollections； and a new appreciation grew for that masterpiece。 In his
later and wider acceptance by his own land； and by the world at large；
the book came to be regarded with a fresh understanding。 Letters came
from scores of readers； as if it were a newly issued volume。 A
distinguished educator wrote：
I would rather have written your history of Joan of Arc than any
other piece of literature in any language。
And this sentiment grew。 The demand for the book increased； and has
continued to increase； steadily and rapidly。 In the long and last
analysis the good must prevail。 A day will come when there will be as
many readers of Joan as of any other of Mark Twain's works。
＇The growing appreciation of Joan is shown by the report of sales for the
three years following 1904。 The sales for that year in America were
1；726； for 1905； 2；445 for 1906； 5；381； for 1907； 6；574。 At this point
it passed Pudd'nhead Wilson； the Yankee； The Gilded Age； Life on the
Mississippi； overtook the Tramp Abroad； and more than doubled The
American Claimant。 Only The Innocents Abroad； Huckleberry Finn； Tom
Sawyer； and Roughing It still ranged ahead of it； in the order named。
CCXXXIV
LIFE AT 21 FIFTH AVENUE
The house at 21 Fifth Avenue； built by the architect who had designed
Grace Church； had a distinctly ecclesiastical suggestion about its
windows； and was of fine and stately proportions within。 It was a proper
residence for a venerable author and a sage； and with the handsome
Hartford furnishings distributed through it； made a distinctly suitable
setting for Mark Twain。 But it was lonely for him。 It lacked soul。 He
added； presently； a great AEolian Orchestrelle； with a variety of music
for his different moods。 He believed that he would play it himself when
he needed the comfort of harmony； and that Jean； who had not received
musical training； or his secretary could also play to him。 He had a
passion for music； or at least for melody and stately rhythmic measures；
though his ear was not attuned to what are termed the more classical
compositions。 For Wagner； for instance； he cared little； though in a
letter to Mrs。 Crane he said：
Certainly nothing in the world is so solemn and impressive and so
divinely beautiful as 〃Tannhauser。〃 It ought to be used as a religious
service。
Beethoven's sonatas and symphonies also moved him deeply。 Once； writing
to Jean； he asked：
What is your favorite piece of music； dear？ Mine is Beethoven's Fifth
Symphony。 I have found that out within a day or two。
It was the majestic movement and melodies of the second part that he
found most satisfying； but he oftener inclined to the still tenderer
themes of Chopin's nocturnes and one of Schubert's impromptus； while the
〃Lorelei〃 and the 〃Erlking〃 and the Scottish airs never wearied him。
Music thus became a chief consolation during these lonely daysrich
organ harmonies that filled the emptiness of his heart and beguiled from
dull； material surroundings back into worlds and dreams that he had known
and laid away。
He went out very little that winterusually to the homes of old and
intimate friends。 Once he attended a small dinner given him by George
Smalley at the Metropolitan Club； but it was a private affair； with only
good friends present。 Still； it formed the beginning of his return to
social life； and it was not in his nature to retire from the brightness
of human society； or to submerge himself in mourning。 As the months wore
on he appeared here and there； and took on something of his old…time
habit。 Then his annual bronchitis appeared； and he was confined a good
deal to his home； where he wrote or planned new reforms and enterprises。
The improvement of railway service； through which fewer persons should be
maimed and destroyed each year； interested him。 He estimated that the
railroads and electric lines killed and wounded more than all of the wars
combined； and he accumulated statistics and prepared articles on the
subject； though he appears to have offered little of such matter for
publication。 Once； however； when his sympathy was awakened by the victim
of a frightful trolley and train collision in Newark； New Jersey； he
wrote a letter which promptly found its way into print。
DEAR MISS MADELINE； Your good & admiring & affectionate brother has
told me of your sorrowful share in the trolley disaster which
brought unaccustomed tears to millions of eyes & fierce resentment
against those whose criminal indifference to their responsibilities
caused it； & the reminder has brought back to me a pang out of that
bygone time。 I wish I could take you sound & whole out of your bed
& break the legs of those officials & put them in itto stay there。
For in my spirit I am merciful； and would not break their necks &
backs also； as some would who have no feeling。
It is your brother who permits me to write this line& so it is not
an intrusion； you see。
May you get well…& soon！
Sincerely yours；
S。 L。 CLEMENS。
A very little later he was writing another letter on a similar subject to
St。 Clair McKelway； who had narrowly escaped injury in a railway
accident。
DEAR McKELWAY； Your innumerable friends are grateful； most grateful。
As I understand the telegrams； the engineers of your train had never
seen a locomotive before 。 。 。 。 The government's official
report； showing that our railways killed twelve hundred persons last
year & injured sixty thousand； convinces me that under present
conditions one Providence is not enough properly & efficiently to
take care of our railroad business。 But it is characteristically
Americanalways trying to get along short…handed & save wages。
A massacre of Jews in Moscow renewed his animosity for semi…barbaric
Russia。 Asked for a Christmas sentiment； he wrote：
It is my warm & world…embracing Christmas hope that all of us that
deserve it may finally be gathered together in a heaven of rest &
peace； & the others permitted to retire into the clutches of Satan；
or the Emperor of Russia； according to preferenceif they have a
preference。
An article； 〃The Tsar's Soliloquy；〃 written at this time； was published
in the North American Review for March （1905）。 He wrote much more； but
most of the other matter