Mixed Accounts on MT's Speech & Social Effects on His Life

Before I did any research, I actually read everyone's posts and comments in the blog. I noticed that most areas of research were covered, so hopefully this post is a tidbit useful. For the first question in particular, I figured it should be modified to be more feasible.

Q: What did the public think (as communicated through the press) of the Mark Twain speech after it was delivered?

A: Unlike what Mark Twain described in his autobiography and what William D. Howells wrote about the experience in his book My Mark Twain: Reminiscences and Criticisms, the Boston Daily Globe reported quite the contrary—that it “produced the most violent bursts of hilarity.” Here is a direct quotation to be exact:

This eccentric story was told in Mr. Clemens's characteristic drawling, stammering way, and produced the most violent bursts of hilarity. Mr. Emerson seemed a little puzzled about it, but Mr. Longfellow laughed and shook, and Mr. Whittier seemed to enjoy it keenly.

I honestly think the general public at the time was careless about it. To be exact we would have to find a first-hand account or reflection about the speech written by a detached audience, namely someone who did not participate in the dinner—but that is probably impossible to find.

An interesting read I found was William Howells' account of Mark Twain's speech. Howells said that the three "victims"--Longfellow, Holmes, and Emerson--told him what they wrote back in response to Mark Twain's apology letter. Longfellow said, "Ahh he is a wag!" Holmes said he was not offended at all by the speech. Emerson was confused why Mark Twain was even bothered by it. Maybe they were trying to be nice? But check this out: Howells wrote that "Holmes told me, with deep emotion, such as a brother humorist might well feel, that he had not lost an instant in replying to Clemens's letter, and assuring him that there had not been the least offense, and entreating him never to think of the matter again." I don't know, what do you guys think?

Sources: The Boston Daily Globe Reports on the Whittier Dinner. 18 Dec. 1877. 29 June 2008 <http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/onstage/whitnews.html>.

Howells, William D. My Mark Twain: Reminiscences and Criticisms. Howells on MT as Performer. 29 June 2008 <http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/onstage/howlrev.html#b>.

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Q: What were the social effects on Twain’s life?

A: Based on my research, it seemed like any effect at all caused by this unfortunate incident on Twain’s life was self-inflicted. It could have been shame, rage, confusion, or any other combination of emotions, but documented dates in Twain’s life indicated that the fiasco did not prevent him from attending a banquet in Tennessee in November 15, 1879; conducting a large Republican meeting in October 19, 1879; being a guest of honor in the Lotos Club’s new house in November 12, 1893; just to name a few. I included a brief time line for reference below.

• October 19, 1879 – MT conducts a large Republican meeting
• October 19, 1879 – Patriotic letter from MT, read at a dinner for the Gate City Guard of Atlanta, GA in Hartford, Connecticut
• November 15, 1879 – Banquet of the army of the Tennessee
• November 12, 1893 – MT was guest of honor in the Lotos Club’s new house
• July 23, 1895 – MT begins touring the world to lecture on morals
• November 27, 1897 – MT gives his Vienna speech in German

Source: Mark Twain in The New York Times. 29 June 2008 <http://www.twainquotes.com/nytindex.html>.