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 they now got hold of its author； led
him to their own quarters； and； gathering around him； fired questions at
him； and kept their note…books busy。 He made a great figure； all in
white there among them； and they didn't fail to realize the value of it
as 〃copy。〃 He talked about copyright； and about his white clothes； and
about a silk hat which Howells wore。
Back in the Speaker's room； at last； he began laying out the campaign；
which would begin next day。 By and by he said：
〃Look here！ I believe I've got to speak over there in that committee…
room to…day or to…morrow。 I ought to know just when it is。〃
I had not heard of this before； and offered to go over and see about it；
which I did at once。 I hurried back faster than I had gone。
〃Mr。 Clemens； you are to speak in half an hour； and the room is crowded
full； people waiting to hear you。〃
〃The devil！〃 he said。 〃Well； all right； I'll just lie down here a few
minutes and then we'll go over。 Take paper and pencil and make a few
headings。〃
There was a couch in the room。 He lay down while I sat at the table with
a pencil； making headings now and then； as he suggested； and presently he
rose and； shoving the notes into his pocket； was ready。 It was half past
three when we entered the committee…room； which was packed with people
and rather dimly lighted； for it was gloomy outside。 Herbert Putnam； the
librarian； led us to seats among the literary group； and Clemens；
removing his overcoat； stood in that dim room clad as in white armor。
There was a perceptible stir。 Howells； startled for a moment； whispered：
〃What in the world did he wear that white suit for？〃 though in his heart
he admired it as much as the others。
I don't remember who was speaking when we came in； but he was saying
nothing important。 Whoever it was； he was followed by Dr。 Edward Everett
Hale； whose age always commanded respect； and whose words always invited
interest。 Then it was Mark Twain's turn。 He did not stand by his chair；
as the others had done； but walked over to the Speaker's table； and；
turning； faced his audience。 I have never seen a more impressive sight
than that snow…white figure in that dim…lit； crowded room。 He never
touched his notes； he didn't even remember them。 He began in that even；
quiet； deliberate voice of his the most even； the most quiet； the most
deliberate voice in the worldand； without a break or a hesitation for a
word； he delivered a copyright argument； full of humor and serious
reasoning； such a speech as no one in that room； I suppose； had ever
heard。 Certainly it was a fine and dramatic bit of impromptu pleading。
The weary committee； which had been tortured all day with dull；
statistical arguments made by the mechanical device fiends； and dreary
platitudes unloaded by men whose chief ambition was to shine as copyright
champions； suddenly realized that they were being rewarded for the long
waiting。 They began to brighten and freshen； and uplift and smile； like
flowers that have been wilted by a drought when comes the refreshing
shower that means renewed life and vigor。 Every listener was as if
standing on tiptoe。 When the last sentence was spoken the applause came
like an explosion。 ＇Howells in his book My Mark Twain speaks of
Clemens's white clothing as 〃an inspiration which few men would have had
the courage to act upon。〃 He adds： 〃The first time I saw him wear it
was at the authors' hearing before the Congressional Committee on
Copyright in Washington。 Nothing could have been more dramatic than the
gesture with which he flung off his long； loose overcoat and stood forth
in white from his feet to the crown of his silvery head。 It was a
magnificent coup； and he dearly loved a coup； but the magnificent speech
which he made； tearing to shreds the venerable farrago of nonsense about
nonproperty in ideas which had formed the basis of all copyright
legislation； made you forget even his spectacularity。〃＇
There came a universal rush of men and women to get near enough for a
word and to shake his hand。 But he was anxious to get away。 We drove to
the Willard and talked and smoked； and got ready for dinner。 He was
elated； and said the occasion required full…dress。 We started down at
last； fronted and frocked like penguins。
I did not realize then the fullness of his love for theatrical effect。
I supposed he would want to go down with as little ostentation as
possible； so took him by the elevator which enters the dining…room
without passing through the long corridor known as 〃Peacock Alley；〃
because of its being a favorite place for handsomely dressed fashionables
of the national capital。 When we reached the entrance of the dining…room
he said：
〃Isn't there another entrance to this place？〃
I said there was； but that it was very conspicuous。 We should have to go
down the long corridor。
〃Oh； well；〃 he said； 〃 I don't mind that。 Let's go back and try it
over。〃
So we went back up the elevator； walked to the other end of the hotel；
and came down to the F Street entrance。 There is a fine； stately flight
of stepsa really royal stairleading from this entrance down into
〃Peacock Alley。〃 To slowly descend that flight is an impressive thing to
do。 It is like descending the steps of a throne…room； or to some royal
landing…place where Cleopatra's barge might lie。 I confess that I was
somewhat nervous at the awfulness of the occasion； but I reflected that I
was powerfully protected； so side by side； both in full…dress； white
ties； white…silk waistcoats； and all； we came down that regal flight。
Of course he was seized upon at once by a lot of feminine admirers； and
the passage along the corridor was a perpetual gantlet。 I realize now
that this gave the dramatic finish to his day； and furnished him with
proper appetite for his dinner。 I did not again make the mistake of
taking him around to the more secluded elevator。 I aided and abetted him
every evening in making that spectacular descent of the royal stairway；
and in running that fair and frivolous gantlet the length of 〃Peacock
Alley。〃 The dinner was a continuous reception。 No sooner was he seated
than this Congressman and that Senator came over to shake hands with Mark
Twain。 Governor Francis of Missouri also came。 Eventually Howells
drifted in； and Clemens reviewed the day； its humors and successes。 Back
in the rooms at last he summed up the progress thus farsmoked； laughed
over 〃Uncle Joe's〃 surrender to the 〃copyright bandits；〃 and turned in
for the night。
We were at the Capitol headquarters in Speaker Cannon's private room
about eleven o'clock next morning。 Clemens was not in the best humor
because I had allowed him to oversleep。 He was inclined to be
discouraged at the prospect； and did not believe many of the members
would come down to see him。 He expressed a wish for some person of
influence and wide acquaintance； and walked up and down； smoking
gloomily。 I slipped out and found the Speaker's colored body…guard；
Neal； and suggested that Mr。 Clemens was ready now to receive the
members。