perhaps Clemens would read aloud something he had written。 But once；
after greetings； he began：
〃Well； Rogers； I don't know what you think of it； but I think I have had
about enough of this world； and I wish I were out of it。〃
Mr。 Rogers replied； 〃I don't say much about it； but that expresses my
view。〃
This from the foremost man of letters and one of the foremost financiers
of the time was impressive。 Each at the mountain…top of his career； they
agreed that the journey was not worth whilethat what the world had
still to give was not attractive enough to tempt them to prevent a desire
to experiment with the next stage。 One could remember a thousand poor
and obscure men who were perfectly willing to go on struggling and
starving； postponing the day of settlement as long as possible； but
perhaps； when one has had all the world has to give； when there are no
new worlds in sight to conquer； one has a different feeling。
Well； the realization lay not so far ahead for either of them； though at
that moment they both seemed full of life and vigorfull of youth。 One
could not imagine the day when for them it would all be over。
CCLI
A LOBBYING EXPEDITION
Clara Clemens came home now and then to see how matters were progressing；
and very properly； for Clemens was likely to become involved in social
intricacies which required a directing hand。 The daughter inherited no
little of the father's characteristics of thought and phrase； and it was
always a delight to see them together when one could be just out of range
of the crossfire。 I remember soon after her return； when she was making
some searching inquiries concerning the billiard…room sign； and other
suggested or instituted reforms； he said：
〃Oh well； never mind； it doesn't matter。 I'm boss in this house。〃
She replied； quickly： 〃Oh no； you're not。 You're merely owner。 I'm the
captainthe commander…in…chief。〃
One night at dinner she mentioned the possibility of going abroad that
year。 During several previous summers she had planned to visit Vienna to
see her old music…master； Leschetizky； once more before his death。 She
said：
〃Leschetizky is getting so old。 If I don't go soon I'm afraid I sha'n't
be in time for his funeral。〃
〃Yes；〃 said her father； thoughtfully； 〃you keep rushing over to
Leschetizky's funeral； and you'll miss mine。〃
He had made one or two social engagements without careful reflection； and
the situation would require some delicacy of adjustment。 During a moment
between the courses； when he left the table and was taking his exercise
in the farther room； she made some remark which suggested a doubt of her
father's gift for social management。 I said：
〃Oh； well； he is a king； you know； and a king can do no wrong。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 she answered。 〃The king can do no wrong； but he frightens
me almost to death； sometimes； he comes so near it。〃
He came back and began to comment rather critically on some recent
performance of Roosevelt's； which had stirred up a good deal of newspaper
amusementit was the Storer matter and those indiscreet letters which
Roosevelt had written relative to the ambassadorship which Storer so much
desired。 Miss Clemens was inclined to defend the President； and spoke
with considerable enthusiasm concerning his elements of popularity； which
had won him such extraordinary admiration。
〃Certainly he is popular；〃 Clemens admitted； 〃and with the best of
reasons。 If the twelve apostles should call at the White House； he would
say； 'Come in； come in！ I am delighted to see you。 I've been watching
your progress； and I admired it very much。' Then if Satan should come；
he would slap him on the shoulder and say； 'Why； Satan； how do you do？ I
am so glad to meet you。 I've read all your works and enjoyed every one
of them。' Anybody could be popular with a gift like that。〃
It was that evening or the next； perhaps； that he said to her：
〃Ben ＇one of his pet names for her＇； now that you are here to run the
ranch； Paine and I are going to Washington on a vacation。 You don't seem
to admire our society much； anyhow。〃
There were still other reasons for the Washington expedition。 There was
an important bill up for the extension of the book royalty period； and
the forces of copyright were going down in a body to use every possible
means to get the measure through。
Clemens； during Cleveland's first administration； some nineteen years
before； had accompanied such an expedition； and through S。 S。 （〃Sunset〃）
Cox had obtained the 〃privileges of the floor〃 of the House； which had
enabled him to canvass the members individually。 Cox assured the
doorkeeper that Clemens had received the thanks of Congress for national
literary service； and was therefore entitled to that privilege。 This was
not strictly true； but regulations were not very severe in those days；
and the ruse had been regarded as a good joke； which had yielded
excellent results。 Clemens had a similar scheme in mind now； and
believed that his friendship with Speaker Cannon〃 Uncle Joe〃would
obtain for him a similar privilege。 The Copyright Association working in
its regular way was very well； he said； but he felt he could do more as
an individual than by acting merely as a unit of that body。
〃I canvassed the entire House personally that other time；〃 he said。 〃Cox
introduced me to the Democrats； and John D。 Long； afterward Secretary of
the Navy； introduced me to the Republicans。 I had a darling time
converting those members； and I'd like to try the experiment again。〃
I should have mentioned earlier； perhaps； that at this time he had begun
to wear white clothing regularly； regardless of the weather and season。
On the return from Dublin he had said：
〃I can't bear to put on black clothes again。 I wish I could wear white
all winter。 I should prefer； of course； to wear colors； beautiful
rainbow hues； such as the women have monopolized。 Their clothing makes a
great opera audience an enchanting spectacle； a delight to the eye and to
the spirita garden of Eden for charm and color。
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 w