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The men； clothed in odious black； are scattered here and there over the
garden like so many charred stumps。 If we are going to be gay in spirit；
why be clad in funeral garments？ I should like to dress in a loose and
flowing costume made all of silks and velvets resplendent with stunning
dyes； and so would every man I have ever known； but none of us dares to
venture it。 If I should appear on Fifth Avenue on a Sunday morning
clothed as I would like to be clothed the churches would all be vacant
and the congregation would come tagging after me。 They would scoff； of
course； but they would envy me； too。 When I put on black it reminds me
of my funerals。 I could be satisfied with white all the year round。〃
It was not long after this that he said：
〃I have made up my mind not to wear black any more； but white； and let
the critics say what they will。〃
So his tailor was sent for； and six creamy flannel and serge suits were
ordered； made with the short coats； which he preferred； with a gray suit
or two for travel； and he did not wear black again； except for evening
dress and on special occasions。 It was a gratifying change； and though
the newspapers made much of it； there was no one who was not gladdened by
the beauty of his garments and their general harmony with his person。 He
had never worn anything so appropriate or so impressive。
This departure of costume came along a week or two before the Washington
trip； and when his bags were being packed for the excursion he was
somewhat in doubt as to the propriety of bursting upon Washington in
December in that snowy plumage。 I ventured：
〃This is a lobbying expedition of a peculiar kind； and does not seem to
invite any half…way measures。 I should vote in favor of the white suit。〃
I think Miss Clemens was for it； too。 She must have been or the vote
wouldn't have carried； though it was clear he strongly favored the idea。
At all events； the white suits came along。
We were off the following afternoon： Howells； Robert Underwood Johnson；
one of the Appletons； one of the Putnams； George Bowker； and others were
on the train。 On the trip down in the dining…car there was a discussion
concerning the copyrighting of ideas； which finally resolved itself into
the possibility of originating a new one。 Clemens said：
〃There is no such thing as a new idea。 It is impossible。 We simply take
a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope。 We
give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations。 We keep on
turning and making new combinations indefinitely； but they are the same
old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages。〃
We put up at the Willard； and in the morning drove over to the
Congressional Library； where the copyright hearing was in progress。
There was a joint committee of the two Houses seated round a long table
at work； and a number of spectators more or less interested in the bill；
mainly； it would seem； men concerned with the protection of mechanical
music…rolls。 The fact that this feature was mixed up with literature was
not viewed with favor by most of the writers。 Clemens referred to the
musical contingent as 〃those hand…organ men who ought to have a bill of
their own。〃
I should mention that early that morning Clemens had written this letter
to Speaker Cannon：
December 7； 1906。
DEAR UNCLE JOSEPH；Please get me the thanks of the Congressnot next
week； but right away。 It is very necessary。 Do accomplish this for your
affectionate old friend right away； by persuasion； if you can； by
violence； if you must； for it is imperatively necessary that I get on the
floor for two or three hours and talk to the members； man by man； in
behalf of the support； encouragement； and protection of one of the
nation's most valuable assets and industriesits literature。 I have
arguments with me； also a barrel with liquid in it。
Give me a chance。 Get me the thanks of Congress。 Don't wait for others
there isn't time。 I have stayed away and let Congress alone for
seventy…one years and I am entitled to thanks。 Congress knows it
perfectly well； and I have long felt hurt that this quite proper and
earned expression of gratitude has been merely felt by the House and
never publicly uttered。 Send me an order on the Sergeant…at…Arms quick。
When shall I come？
With love and a benediction；
MARK TWAIN。
We went over to the Capitol now to deliver to 〃Uncle Joe〃 this
characteristic letter。 We had picked up Clemens's nephew； Samuel E。
Moffett； at the Library； and he came along and led the way to the
Speaker's room。 Arriving there； Clemens laid off his dark overcoat and
stood there； all in white； certainly a startling figure among those
clerks； newspaper men； and incidental politicians。 He had been noticed
as he entered the Capitol； and a number of reporters had followed close
behind。 Within less than a minute word was being passed through the
corridors that Mark Twain was at the Capitol in his white suit。 The
privileged ones began to gather； and a crowd assembled in the hall
outside。
Speaker Cannon was not present at the moment； but a little later he
〃billowed〃 inwhich seems to be the word to express ithe came with
such a rush and tide of life。 After greetings； Clemens produced the
letter and read it to him solemnly； as if he were presenting a petition。
Uncle Joe listened quite seriously； his head bowed a little； as if it
were really a petition； as in fact it was。 He smiled； but he said； quite
seriously：
〃That is a request that ought to be granted； but the time has gone by
when I am permitted any such liberties。 Tom Reed； when he was Speaker；
inaugurated a strict precedent excluding all outsiders from the use of
the floor of the House。〃
〃I got in the other time；〃 Clemens insisted。
〃Yes；〃 said Uncle Joe； 〃but that ain't now。 Sunset Cox could let you in；
but I can't。 They'd hang me。〃 He reflected a moment； and added： 〃I'll
tell you what I'll do： I've got a private room down…stairs that I never
use。 It's all fitted up with table and desk； stationery； chinaware； and
cutlery； you could keep house there； if you wanted to。 I'll let you have
it as long as you want to stay here； and I'll give you my private
servant； Neal； who's been here all his life and knows every official；
every Senator and Representative； and they all know him。 He'll bring you
whatever you want； and you can send in messages by him。 You can have the
members brought down singly or in bunches； and convert them as much as
you please。 I'd give you a key to the room； only I haven't got one
myself。 I never can get in when I want to； but Neal can get in； and
he'll unlock it for you。 You can have the room； and you can have Neal。
Now； will that do you？〃
Clemens said it would。 It was； in fact； an offer without precedent。
Probably never in the history of the country had a Speaker given up his
private room to lobbyists。 We went in to see the House open； and then
went down with Neal and took possession of the room。 The reporters had
promptly seized upon the letter； and the