mark twain, a biography, 1900-1907-第18章
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frequently expressed a deep obligation which humanity owed to the founder
of the faith； in that she had organized a healing element ignorantly and
indifferently employed hitherto。 His quarrel with Mrs。 Eddy lay in the
belief that she herself； as he expressed it； was 〃a very unsound
Christian Scientist。〃
I believe she has a serious maladyself…edificationand that it
will be well to have one of the experts demonstrate over her。 ＇But
he added＇： Closely examined； painstakingly studied； she is easily
the most interesting person on the planet； and in several ways as
easily the most extraordinary woman that was ever born upon it。
Necessarily； the forces of Christian Science were aroused by these
articles； and there were various replies； among them； one by the founder
herself； a moderate rejoinder in her usual literary form。
〃Mrs。 Eddy in Error；〃 in the North American Review for April； 1903；
completed what Clemens had to say on the matter for this time。
He was putting together a book on the subject； comprised of his various
published papers and some added chapters。 It would not be a large
volume； and he offered to let his Christian Science opponents share it
with him； stating their side of the case。 Mr。 William D。 McCrackan； one
of the church's chief advocates； was among those invited to participate。
McCrackan and Clemens； from having begun as enemies； had become quite
friendly； and had discussed their differences face to face at
considerable length。 Early in the controversy Clemens one night wrote
McCrackan a pretty savage letter。 He threw it on the hall table for
mailing； but later got out of bed and slipped down…stairs to get it。 It
was too latethe letters had been gathered up and mailed。 Next evening
a truly Christian note came from McCrackan； returning the hasty letter；
which he said he was sure the writer would wish to recall。 Their
friendship began there。 For some reason； however； the collaborated
volume did not materialize。 In the end； publication was delayed a number
of years； by which time Clemens's active interest was a good deal
modified； though the practice itself never failed to invite his
attention。
Howells refers to his anti…Christian Science rages； which began with the
postponement of the book； and these Clemens vented at the time in another
manuscript entitled； 〃Eddypus；〃 an imaginary history of a thousand years
hence； when Eddyism should rule the world。 By that day its founder would
have become a deity； and the calendar would be changed to accord with her
birth。 It was not publishable matter； and really never intended as such。
It was just one of the things which Mark Twain wrote to relieve mental
pressure。
CCXXVI
〃WAS IT HEAVEN？ OR HELL？〃
The Christmas number of Harper's Magazine for 1902 contained the story；
〃Was it Heaven？ or Hell？〃 and it immediately brought a flood of letters
to its author from grateful readers on both sides of the ocean。 An
Englishman wrote： 〃I want to thank you for writing so pathetic and so
profoundly true a story〃； and an American declared it to be the best
short story ever written。 Another letter said：
I have learned to love those maiden liarslove and weep over them
then put them beside Dante's Beatrice in Paradise。
There were plenty of such letters； but there was one of a different sort。
It was a letter from a man who had but recently gone through almost
precisely the experience narrated in the tale。 His dead daughter had
even borne the same nameHelen。 She had died of typhus while her mother
was prostrated with the same malady； and the deception had been
maintained in precisely the same way； even to the fictitiously written
letters。 Clemens replied to this letter； acknowledging the striking
nature of the coincidence it related； and added that； had he invented the
story； he would have believed it a case of mental telegraphy。
I was merely telling a true story just as it had been told to me by
one who well knew the mother and the daughter & all the beautiful &
pathetic details。 I was living in the house where it had happened；
three years before； & I put it on paper at once while it was fresh
in my mind； & its pathos still straining at my heartstrings。
Clemens did not guess that the coincidences were not yet complete； that
within a month the drama of the tale would be enacted in his own home。
In his note…book； under the date of December 24（1902）； he wrote：
Jean was hit with a chill： Clara was completing her watch in her
mother's room and there was no one able to force Jean to go to bed。
As a result she is pretty ill to…day…fever & high temperature。
Three days later he added：
It was pneumonia。 For 5 days jean's temperature ranged between 103
& 104 2/5； till this morning； when it got down to 101。 She looks
like an escaped survivor of a forest fire。 For 6 days now my story
in the Christmas Harper's 〃Was it Heaven？ or Hell？〃has been
enacted in this household。 Every day Clara & the nurses have lied
about Jean to her mother； describing the fine times she is having
outdoors in the winter sports。
That proved a hard； trying winter in the Clemens home； and the burden of
it fell chiefly； indeed almost entirely； upon Clara Clemens。 Mrs。
Clemens became still more frail； and no other member of the family； not
even her husband； was allowed to see her for longer than the briefest
interval。 Yet the patient was all the more anxious to know the news； and
daily it had to be preparedchiefly inventedfor her comfort。 In an
account which Clemens once set down of the 〃Siege and Season of
Unveracity；〃 as he called it； he said：
Clara stood a daily watch of three or four hours； and hers was a
hard office indeed。 Daily she sealed up in her heart a dozen
dangerous truths； and thus saved her mother's life and hope and
happiness with holy lies。 She had never told her mother a lie in
her life before； and I may almost say that she never told her a
truth afterward。 It was fortunate for us all that Clara's
reputation for truthfulness was so well established in her mother's
mind。 It was our daily protection from disaster。 The mother never
doubted Clara's word。 Clara could tell her large improbabilities
without exciting any suspicion； whereas if I tried to market even a
small and simple one the case would have been different。 I was
never able to get a reputation like Clara's。 Mrs。 Clemens
questioned Clara every day concerning Jean's health； spirits；
clothes； employments； and amusements； and how she was enjoying
herself； and Clara furnished the information right along in minute
detailevery word of it false； of course。 Every day she had to
tell how Jean dressed； and in time she got so tired of using Jean's
existing clothes over and over again； and trying to get new effects
out of them； that finally； as a relief to her hard…worked invention；
she got to adding imaginary clothes to Jean's wardrobe； and probably
would have doubled it and trebled it if a warning note in her
mother's comments had not admonished her that she was spending more
money on these spectral gowns and things than the family income
justified。
Some portions of detailed accounts of Clara's busy days of this period；
as written at the time by Clemens to Twichell and to Mrs。 Crane； are
eminently worth preserving。 To Mrs。 Crane：
Clara does not go to her Monday lesson in New York today ＇her mother
having seemed not so well through the night＇； but forgets that fact
and enters her mother's room （where she has no business to be）
toward train…time dressed in a wrapper。
LIVY。 Why； Clara； aren't you going to your lesson？
CLARA （almost caught）。 Yes。
L。 In that costume？
CL。 Oh no。
L。 Well； you can't make your train； it's impossible。
CL。 I know； but I'm going to take the other one。
L。 Indeed that won't doyou'll be ever so much too late for
your lesson。
CL。 No； the lesson…
