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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1906)
1 V 7s r7 A V7VN 7 rv7 mm ill iiii 7 J-' a-V 1 fa V .1 J'iN: . ism N aVAK i.ijtoirljll.jllp-i.Wfc 1 SiliiillllS ilIPiS;izy ; ; t i ii i l i it i wim m m mm m wKT I to really vrioMs moo Htm (SiftMEKA TT IllHllli iiimiiM Hill 'lllMWil f KEAPY FOK. A. KAJCP rv too .Aid II I II Ml I 111 -V.-Za " Vxu At CxvfcCK- THAT the camera never lie 1 maxim as old as the cimera. Mark Twain upholds the truth of this theory. Some recent photographic perpetrations showing the humor ist as he really Is only serve to confirm the fact so far as h Is concerned. These feats of the camera are not only approved by Mr. Clemens, but he greatly admires them, as, according to him, they clearly express the various moods from which ha suffers. "I Ilk the full length drawing." said th humorist, "and the photographs are most lnterilng. In fact, 1 should like set of the pictures for my private collec tion." All the world knows that Mark Twain Is a erIUc by nature. Even in his Missouri days, when a hoy playing wit.i Huckle berry Finn and the others, he had dreams of foreign travej and tolerably c:ir vis ion of the great masterpiece which he had seen as reproduced In books uf lurelgn travels. But little did he Imagine that the time would so soon come when he would actually sec those great masterpieces of the Old World, describe them In a book of lUs own a book to become famous enough to almost reincarnate and Immortalise the pictures .themselves. "This la wlut he said in "Innocents Abroad" of art during Ma visit to Ii.il : "Hera In Milan, In an ancient, tumble .... . . . down ruin of a churrh. Is the mojrnfu! " copying them, and the copies ar. wreck of the most celebrated ralntlna In '. the handsomest. Maybe the orig in world. 'The I-a.l Hupper.' by I.e.m- t"al wer """"e 'en ' new. ardo a Vln.l. We are not Infallible, bu.fJ "j;?"0,1 ,now- . .wtr,-,.., ,-! judgea of pictures, but of course we went, 'Tn" P'c"' Is about thirty 'ft Jong I there to s this wonderful p.lntln,-. one. an te," or1,W'1Ve high. I should think , so beautiful, always so worshipped by tha'f" the pictures are at lew life sise. It; masters of art. and forever to be famous l'on' ,of the i'"l'nB, '". .turPe-1 , Hnd .. rv .The colora are dimmed with age; the coun- In song and story. tenances are scaled and marred and Bittred bs Time I nearly all expression has gone from them; I "The Uat 8upir- Is painted on the'ths hair Is a dead blur upon the wall, and j dilapidated wall of what was a little chattel there is no life in them. Only the attitudes attached tu the main church In ancient r certain. times. I suppo. It is battered Rnd "People come her from all parts of th! scarred lti every direction and stained and world and glorify this masterpiece. They! discolored by lime, and Naooleon's horses tand ' rn tranced before It with bated kicked ha legs off must uf the disciples breath and parted Hps. and when they i when they Uhe horse, not the disciples) speas. it is only ui in catchy ejaculation wer suuled there more than a century uf rapture. ' P.tASurr U PrnntA v "1 recognised the old picture In a , moment the Saviour with bwed head.' "'Oh, wonderful!' 'Such expressions!' I 'seated at the cetrtreof a long, rough table. 'Such graces of attitude!' 'Sucn dignity!' I with soa terlng fruit and dishes upon It. "tfuch faultless drawing!' 'Such matchless ' and si dlsHpL-s oi elthr sida In their long coloring! '8uch feeling!' 'What delicacy robes, talking to each other the picture ot touch!' 'What vision of conception!' 'A from which all engravlnga and all copies vision!' W vision!' have be-n made for three centuries. 1 "I only envy ttiese ptop; j envy them perhaps no living man hua ever known their hontst admiration. If t be honest; an at'.-mpt to paint the Lord's supper their dullgut, if they feel delight, i Ljl dirrerently The world seems to have be- no animosity toward any of inem. Hut come aeulej In the belier long ago that t the same time the thought k ill uitriiJe It la ll'tt possible fur liuiuan genius to outdo itiwlf upon me. How can rtliev tut u iini U t'il civation of la Vim-l's. I suppose not visible? Whit would you think of a p timers will go on copying it as lung us man who looked at some decayed, b.:nd. any of th original Is left vlxitile lo the tool. lie and u k iidrki-.l . iropatra aiu' eye. There wue a doien rasrls In the aald, 'What matchless beauty, what sou.;, room, and as many aitlut transferring wh.it expression!' the great picture to their rant are. j "What would you think of a man who Fifty proofs of steel engr i nig and giel ujion :i illiuy. ogAj nn.si , llthographa were scattered around. t.K. said. 'What sublimity, what fveling, what and. as usual. I could not help nuticlng richness of coloring!' Whit would : liow superior the copies were to the o.tg- think of a man who si red n ecstasy '.,1-thit Is. to my Inexp.rlrnced )'. upon a desert of st'impa and said, 'fid, niy ' ht rev r you find a Rtphael. a R'iln aoul. my heating heart, what a i.ooie ' ' hs'l Angelo. a I'arHtcl or a Ia V'"fi rt Is here!' ud w Um every dayt you nnJ 'Tou would think that thoo n.n had '. a. :v :,'-r- " 4 :X IV to k TO CARKEHL ON nCEx COKTRARf If 1? 7ESOLVTWT CCXKRBCT AKT ALWAYS ClEKTIFlO 15 A CARICA.TfRE '! ' v ... . f r 1 tv':av i mi. . A . -': J V TRE1TCK- nowever. and he nas piayed It, msi in above Idea of his caechinatory antics loaM Its ewnsequene and is supplanted by car epmtlng guffaws, Indian war whoop, In ternal convulsions and Intense outside wriggling a sort of 8l Vitus aggregation of all human emotion, wherein th humor ist, wer he photographed at these time. might -present the picture of two whirling " miKTuiea argument, twain waa undoubtedly born with this lnugh, for b had It with him when a youngster In th early days of Nevada, and It seem never to have left him, though he Is old enough now to know better. We were youngsters together. Twain and t. In the rar West, and were quM friend ly for several decades, until 1 dramatised one of hla books and did It so badiy that ne gave me the cold a-lnve ever after. However, before thla "calamity" he met me on Broadway one day and asked If 1 wouio. accompany him to a banauet to b given In his honor that evening by th Followcraft Club. aa. belna- the a-ueat. It would not look well to see him arriving In a coupe all alone and meetina so l&ra-a a company of first class people singl handed. ciut. Mark." I aald, "I haven't a dres suit within fifty miles." "Aw, never mind." h replied, leaning up against m and perfuming my person with a breath that must have cost him much money, "it a stag affair and you won't need It. I'm going In tihcse duds" (he waa wearing an ordinary business suit). "T,h.at ' right, but all th same I would hate to be aeen among a lot ot fashionables In this rig as your guest and you In a freshly pressed dresa suit." "No faahlon about It." he drawled in re ply. "Only the newspaper buys will b there, and you know 'em all." "Well, r take your word for It. thoug I know how you used fa. shatter that." When the Joke Cme. He threw hi composite lmirh and left, but promptly at half-mt nma In "l "veiling ne canea for me in a coup. It was a cold nlglit and he was hermtl cally wrapped In a huge ulster, and I could only see that he had on a clean col lar, an unusual decoration for hlin. I was till clad In my hand-me-down everyday ult, brushed to a point of passable neat ness. W soon arrived at the clubroom. and Judge of my surprise w hen we found ourselves in the midst of an iminaoulavtaiy attired assemblage of gentlemen, every on in evening dress! After the humorist had been cordially greeted and we were shown our positions at the table I began to fel squeamish at my appearance and was giv ing vent to a little silent sympathy for Mark, believing him to be similarly clothed, when, to my unutterable disgust, when th colored attendant relieved lilm of hla ulster. Twain stood at my side In a highly polished evening suit, with an am plitude of shirt front that would have don credit to a laundry show window. 1 waa the only vagabond In the room! Th situ ation waa painful enough, but was Intensi fied when, pointing to me. ha lnurflv re- Immaculate Conception" (now In th: quested "somebody to remove this tramo museum at neviiiei witnin tne last days. One said: Oh, the Virgin s face Is full of the testacy of a lov that is comDlel. that leaves nothing more , to be desired arth!' The other aald: 'Ah. that wonderful, very Intelligent critics speak of Murlllo s on from th room!" Then came that thnrti breaking laugh of hi, whlcn Infected th whole company and turned the sandwich over In their plates. He had played hi Jok at my expense, but for what reason I never could learn. He Just wanted to do i It. and a load was off hla mind. He often fac la so humbl. so pleading; It has these spells. If 1 could have then and piainiy as worm couia say: i irar; tremble; I am unworthy. Hut Thy will be don; sustain Thou Thy ervant.' " V.etu of t e irgi.i "Th reader may see the picture In any dm wing room; It can eaaiiy u recognlseu. The Virgin (the only young and beautiful A'lrgln that was ever painted hy one of the old maaters, some of us think) stands In the crescent of the new moon, with a multitude of cherubs, hovering aoout her there rolled Twain down the staira In a barrel filled with hornets 1 would hav experienced Ineffable pleasure. But few men have a more retentiv mem ory than the renowned humoriat. Ha will listen to a story. Joke or quip and stor It In on corner of his porous mind and years after spring It on an unsuspecting company of genial spirits, embellishing It m nis own inimuasie style, giving It a her breast and upon her uplifted couute-1 "J' h'" 2tuU" arwl'n nance fall, a glory out of th. heavens. ''?? 'f';' Th reader may amuse himself If he choose In trying to determine which of these gentlemen read the Virgin', 'ex pression' aright or If either of them diJ. "Any one who Is acquainted with the old raaater will comprehend how much Th Last Supper' Is damaged when 1 fay that the spectator cannot really tell now whether the disciples are Hebrew, or Ital ians. These ancient painters never suc ceeded In denationalising themselves. Ti:e Italian artist painted Italian virgins, the Dutch painted Dutch virgins and the vir- g not especially oily or mellifluous, but seema like a series of sounds trying to force their way through an adult polypus and having a hard time of It. It Is said he contraoted the habit when a boy by re peatedly lying to hla father, who usually wore a whiplash behind him In bis inter views with his son. His Mtrvrtloas Memory. As a sample of Twain' wonderful power of memorizing, I remember at this same banquet, alter eignt or ten of the guest ' Can other Inspired visitors do It, or do they only haaoilv Imagine ihev do 7 After reading so much about It 1 am satlsned -in, of the French painter, were French "1 ventilated bhemaelve. on varloua cur- women. None of them ever put lnt the ory ana ae.uuory quemtons. twain was t nru u)wii iv gfcay wuiiiriiiiii I trill CUiiniHB. that ni the Madonna something that proclaims i,o.hr vou find her In rvtnstanttnople, In Indescribable the Jewess. New York, in Paris. Jerusalem or in the empire of Morocco. .. c f ni m1s nnwa a that 'The Last Sudd!" waa a very mliaol nnUvl by a talented German art- three nunareu -, -n enaravlns in one or in Amer- But it waa It was an alia- ot art once. years ago. . ... . iii,,.irnted papers. "It vexes me to hear people talk :""" :-Dregeniing Mr. Davis In the art of U5lsr. f Ii'"""'',, '"pr?"Lun' ix-iJlanlng a secession act or some such docu and those other easUy acquired and Inex- signing a hoVered the ghonj nf vresaive tecnmcaiiues oi an mm. The company settled behind cigars and tipped themselves back In their chairs, hoping that when he opened his mouth something funny would Jump out. Twain rose with a fork In one hand and some emotion In the other and with a borrowed air of profundity proceeded to quote, al most literally, many of the' lengthy .en. tences used by the preceding speaker, (which had been quit forgotten by th othera) and hacked the very life out of them with his little hatchet of satire. Th inlcaliues of an mat rnaae , .,-. .ititurls ami in them wltn nis little naicnet of as such fine show in conversations concern- " , ,,.. nr nhadowv !. author of thes sentences fairly squirmed l.i .... An. maH n uv. in OttCICKI'0" - " . - . . 1. 1 1 - . u . . . - i- rft.rs in Continental uniform were llmpinj in meir - numonsi at- P'fritT.? "kir Jmndaxed feet through a tacked the weak point, of their remark ling pictures. There is not one man In eev-lthe nacKarouii nty-flve hundre1 that can tell what i tured face Is Intended lo express. 1 here wun .no - - . valley Forge waa and laid bar the uncultivated territory in Is not one man In five hundred that can go driving snowstonn vauy . , their domes of thought. Into a courtroom .,nd be sure that he will UBgesteo. of course ,.,. h.. h.d m lo, nf ,r,,K., . not mlstske some i.rmles Innocent of a, . 1 ne copy -."'', " ; . ' . . . ,., "K . . r. "T mere wa , - - , L - ; long examination I ntscovereo wnai lew men nave Deen more thoroughly Juryman for the blaca hearted assaawin on trial. ,A . nnv ecamlnalton 1 niscovrreii nit lew men nave uvrn . . i j .. ...1.11 n.u vi.ra nil 1 1' r . n a . . k .t 4n Itiviit'w Ami almntA I . . . . k' "Ufh ,TPle f 'chra1:l?r' "d mails' Jn" Davh. waa a German! Even than thla bellwether of American humor. tu 'C olflX.,or iha. MPaT Covering ,h.t was a Herman ghost 1 , He ha. left . ler.onal Joke with bubble tures. 1 nr is an old story that Mat- , i ...,,in,,Bi v workoa hi. . n i, in almost nr.... .. ..-. , , lh i jn arciwc " u ' " ' 7 ' ' ' " - - ' . niv thews, the iWllty of ths aloiiiHlini talent seeing lauig wuero, ony k hint of u w lot, .upply ono human face to express the nationality Inlo th picture. paaalons and amotions hidden In tnu breast, 'earth; been wined, dined and babied by po tentates, mllllonnalre., female sun gists tie said the countenance cou.u disci one I JVIAKK. IWAIPt Ai Unc ur nit "'. V ;:' . ,nA .i i. what was passing In the heart plainer than the tongue uuuld. " 'Nw,' he aald. 'observe my face-what does It express?' I " 'Despair!' ' " 'Bah, It expresses peaceful resignation! W hat does this express? " 'Hage!' " 'liiurt; It mean, terror. This? Imbecility N By Howard P. Taylor O one belter enjoy a Joke has had mor presents than the Khediv !of Kxvnt: ha enjoyed himself with Chris- on belier enjoy a joae on , ,,.,. h. m.nv (hr.ii.P. ... Imself than Mark Twain, pe- aih and l.... n.M..,.r-.i . lolly wh.ii under the Influence orfum)ru ,.rm0iiB half a doien tin., but uanquw. never took th goods, and haa t n wisely when omthing real rich and ,-rn.tt .a to live lu an as of discretion Juicy ha been awning on him. he Twin has a saccharine d.spoMtlun and a ll contort, oouuis up, and ai- en personality; Is kind and considerate I 1 thought when 1 stood oo'ure The last that is gone; patch and color andadd Igim' , ,. inerro "Kpasms. lie has an Infectious laugh, too ' m and ha a flrin will without being a bupi-er .nj ueard men apostrophising the dull lite until at last it ngur shall iandi,nii ione ,n ,se laughs that is all motion, and mu,: positive with th g.i man, yle.ding wonders and beauties and perfection which i before hlin agio with the life, I ne teeiiug. ,;oy- ... a . , the mwardiieaa of ttioe around hltsi. i with the Janitor and can Ilk to his lyue" had faded out of the picture and gune I the fi-e...ne,. yea. with all the noble -"Oh. perdition. Any ass can see " Jar '" hundred years before ihey were bo.n. beauty that wa. their when they came me ne insanity.' '"A . Jli ii leil.i cuticle rJlem-iu iT.I .r! ntZm, .i.riin .....iifl.' W can uuagiue the beauty that waa front the hand of the maeter. But 1 cannot -tcxprasalon! People coolly pretend to wilderlng mas of set ve cuticie. r.s.m-' He hae many other sterling qualities, once in an aaea face; we can imagine ihe,ork this miracle. (Note by the Iran-H- -,a(1 u who would think themselvea pre- bling more the corrugated roof of a ware- which the writer hesitates to mention, for .,-... t tf w. th. inniia: but wa cannot . tor: Since lhai time Mark Twain haa be- 1 ,... ,t ih.. ....i. ii. ,n int.rnr.t haute than a human visage. It Is not a; with all hts virtue. Twain 1. a sensitive na si's liitely see these things when Ihey ale come an artist himself and Is working t not there. I am willing lo believe that the m:rci every . of the prsctla.d artist can rest upon Joan of Arc The Lt Supper' and renew the lustre Pauper.') -nntonii. If thev nr the hieroglyph c rn the obelisk of l-uxor; pretty picium 'TFhar ftraUll!i TElS.yft thev are fully a. competent to d, ti proved, and 'Th Plinc. and the a, lhother , hav, hear(1 ,WOl lt j, . could be greatly when th Joke I on some on else, man and chilly as in untipoe.i waiter ts any one who step on his weak aid wlta out authorltj. cVh'e had'iJo fit le. had a preliminary ti Nation y eater day and wa acquitted. atned by the lurixrf ( oa) t on. pan ,' about two mile from this city. k.l . t tn thre year w . I tlons before the place could be cleared It ha contained for many month. At Dover Hailed: fork. Pennsylvania, for New hem. on February (L
