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person or another is always charging me with a lack of reverence。
Reverence for whatfor whom？ Who is to decide what ought to command my
reverencemy neighbor or I？ I think I ought to do the electing myself。
The Mohammedan reveres Mohammedit is his privilege； the Christian
doesn'tapparently that is his privilege； the account is square enough。
They haven't any right to complain of the other； yet they do complain of
each other； and that is where the unfairness comes in。 Each says that
the other is irreverent； and both are mistaken； for manifestly you can't
have reverence for a thing that doesn't command it。 If you could do that
you could digest what you haven't eaten； and do other miracles and get a
reputation。〃
He was not reading many books at this timehe was inclined rather to be
lazy； as he said； and to loaf during the afternoons； but I remember that
he read aloud 'After the Wedding' and 'The Mother'those two beautiful
word…pictures by Howellswhich he declared sounded the depths of
humanity with a deep…sea lead。 Also he read a book by William Allen
White； 'In Our Town'； a collection of tales that he found most admirable。
I think he took the trouble to send White a personal； hand…written letter
concerning them； although； with the habit of dictation； he had begun； as
he said； to 〃loathe the use of the pen。〃
There were usually some sort of mild social affairs going on in the
neighborhood； luncheons and afternoon gatherings like those of the
previous year； though he seems to have attended fewer of them； for he did
not often leave the house。 Once； at least； he assisted in an afternoon
entertainment at the Dublin Club； where he introduced his invention of
the art of making an impromptu speech； and was assisted in its
demonstration by George de Forest Brush and Joseph Lindon Smith； to the
very great amusement of a crowd of summer visitors。 The 〃art〃 consisted
mainly of having on hand a few reliable anecdotes and a set formula which
would lead directly to them from any given subject。
Twice or more he collected the children of the neighborhood for charades
and rehearsed them； and took part in the performance； as in the Hartford
days。 Sometimes he drove out or took an extended walk。 But these things
were seldom。
Now and then during the summer he made a trip to New York of a semi…
business nature； usually going by the way of Fairhaven； where he would
visit for a few days； journeying the rest of the way in Mr。 Rogers's
yacht。 Once they made a cruise of considerable length to Bar Harbor and
elsewhere。 Here is an amusing letter which he wrote to Mrs。 Rogers after
such a visit：
DEAR MRS。 ROGERS；In packing my things in your house yesterday
morning I inadvertently put in some articles that was laying around；
I thinking about theology & not noticing； the way this family does
in similar circumstances like these。 Two books； Mr。 Rogers' brown
slippers； & a ham。 I thought it was ourn； it looks like one we used
to have。 I am very sorry it happened； but it sha'n't occur again &
don't you worry。 He will temper the wind to the shorn lamb & I will
send some of the things back anyway if there is some that won't
keep。
CCXLVI
DUBLIN； CONTINUED
In time Mark Twain became very lonely in Dublin。 After the brilliant
winter the contrast was too great。 He was not yet ready for exile。 In
one of his dictations he said：
The skies are enchantingly blue。 The world is a dazzle of sunshine。
Monadnock is closer to us than usual by several hundred yards。 The
vast extent of spreading valley is intensely greenthe lakes as
intensely blue。 And there is a new horizon； a remoter one than we
have known before； for beyond the mighty half…circle of hazy
mountains that form the usual frame of the picture rise certain
shadowy great domes that are unfamiliar to our eyes 。 。 。 。
But there is a defectonly one； but it is a defect which almost
entitles it to be spelled with a capital D。 This is the defect of
loneliness。 We have not a single neighbor who is a neighbor。
Nobody lives within two miles of us except Franklin MacVeagh； and he
is the farthest off of any； because he is in Europe 。 。 。 。
I feel for Adam and Eve now； for I know how it was with them。 I am
existing； broken…hearted； in a Garden of Eden。。。。 The Garden of
Eden I now know was an unendurable solitude。 I know that the advent
of the serpent was a welcome changeanything for society 。 。 。 。
I never rose to the full appreciation of the utter solitude of this
place until a symbol of ita compact and visible allegory of it
furnished me the lacking lift three days ago。 I was standing alone
on this veranda； in the late afternoon； mourning over the stillness；
the far…spreading； beautiful desolation； and the absence of visible
life； when a couple of shapely and graceful deer came sauntering
across the grounds and stopped； and at their leisure impudently
looked me over； as if they had an idea of buying me as bric…a…brac。
Then they seemed to conclude that they could do better for less
money elsewhere； and they sauntered indolently away and disappeared
among the trees。 It sized up this solitude。 It is so complete； so
perfect； that even the wild animals are satisfied with it。 Those
dainty creatures were not in the least degree afraid of me。
This was no more than a moodthough real enough while it lastedsomber；
and in its way regal。 It was the loneliness of a kingKing Lear。 Yet
he returned gladly enough to solitude after each absence。
It was just before one of his departures that I made another set of
pictures of him； this time on the colonnaded veranda； where his figure
had become so familiar。 He had determined to have his hair cut when he
reached New York； and I was anxious to get the pictures before this
happened。 When the proofs came seven of themhe arranged them as a
series to illustrate what he called 〃The Progress of a Moral Purpose。〃
He ordered a number of sets of this series； and he wrote a legend on each
photograph； numbering them from 1 to 7； laying each set in a sheet of
letter…paper which formed a sort of wrapper； on which was written：
This series of q photographs registers with scientific precision；
stage by stage； the progress of a moral purpose through the
mind of the human race's Oldest Friend。 S。 L。 C。
He added a personal inscription； and sent one to each of his more
intimate friends。 One of the pictures amused him more than the others；
because during the exposure a little kitten； unnoticed； had walked into
it； and paused near his foot。 He had never outgrown his love for cats；
and he had rented this kitten and two others for the summer from a
neighbor。 He didn't wish to own them； he said； for then he would have to
leave them behind uncared for； so he preferred to rent them and pay
sufficiently to insure their subsequent care。 These kittens he called
Sackcloth and AshesAshes being the joint name of the two that looked