mark twain, a biography, 1900-1907-第48章
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growth； something there must be to bridge the dividing gulf。 Truth
requires the confession that； in this case； the bridge took a very solid；
material form； it being； in fact； nothing less than a billiard…table。
＇Clemens had been without a billiard…table since 1891； the old one having
been disposed of on the departure from Hartford。＇
It was a present from Mrs。 Henry H。 Rogers； and had been intended for
his Christmas； but when he heard of it he could not wait； and suggested
delicately that if he had it 〃right now〃 he could begin using it sooner。
So he went one day with Mr。 Rogers to the Balke…Collender Company； and
they selected a handsome combination table suitable to all gamesthe
best that money could buy。 He was greatly excited over the prospect； and
his former bedroom was carefully measured； to be certain that it was
large enough for billiard purposes。 Then his bed was moved into the
study； and the bookcases and certain appropriate pictures were placed and
hung in the billiard…room to give it the proper feeling。
The billiard…table arrived and was put in place； the brilliant green
cloth in contrast with the rich red wallpaper and the bookbindings and
pictures making the room wonderfully handsome and inviting。
Meantime； Clemens； with one of his sudden impulses； had conceived the
notion of spending the winter in Egypt； on the Nile。 He had gone so far；
within a few hours after the idea developed； as to plan the time of his
departure； and to partially engage a traveling secretary； so that he
might continue his dictations。 He was quite full of the idea just at the
moment when the billiard table was being installed。 He had sent for a
book on the subjectthe letters of Lady Duff…Gordon； whose daughter；
Janet Ross； had become a dear friend in Florence during the Viviani days。
He spoke of this new purpose on the morning when we renewed the New York
dictations； a month or more following the return from Dublin。 When the
dictation ended he said：
〃Have you any special place to lunch to…day？〃
I replied that I had not。
〃Lunch here；〃 he said； 〃and we'll try the new billiard…table。〃
I said what was eminently truethat I could not playthat I had never
played more 〃than a few games of pool； and those very long ago。
〃No matter；〃 he answered； 〃the poorer you play； the better I shall like
it。〃
So I remained for luncheon and we began； November 2d； the first game ever
played on the Christmas table。 We played the English game； in which
caroms and pockets both count。 I had a beginner's luck； on the whole；
and I remember it as a riotous； rollicking game； the beginning of a
closer understanding between usof a distinct epoch in our association。
When it was ended he said：
〃I'm not going to Egypt。 There was a man here yesterday afternoon who
said it was bad for bronchitis； and； besides； it's too far away from this
billiard…table。〃
He suggested that I come back in the evening and play some more。 I did
so； and the game lasted until after midnight。 He gave me odds； of
course； and my 〃nigger luck；〃 as he called it； continued。 It kept him
sweating and swearing feverishly to win。 Finally； once I made a great
flukea carom； followed by most of the balls falling into the pockets。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃when you pick up that cue this damn table drips at
every pore。〃
After that the morning dictations became a secondary interest。 Like a
boy； he was looking forward to the afternoon of play； and it never seemed
to come quick enough to suit him。 I remained regularly for luncheon； and
he was inclined to cut the courses short； that he might the sooner get
up…stairs to the billiard…room。 His earlier habit of not eating in the
middle of the day continued； but he would get up and dress； and walk
about the dining…room in his old fashion； talking that marvelous；
marvelous talk which I was always trying to remember； and with only
fractional success at best。 To him it was only a method of killing time。
I remember once； when he had been discussing with great earnestness the
Japanese question； he suddenly noticed that the luncheon was about
ending； and he said：
〃Now we'll proceed to more serious mattersit's yourshot。〃 And he was
quite serious； for the green cloth and the rolling balls afforded him a
much larger interest。
To the donor of his new possession Clemens wrote：
DEAR MRS。 ROGERS； The billiard…table is better than the doctors。
I have a billiardist on the premises； & walk not less than ten miles
every day with the cue in my hand。 And the walking is not the whole
of the exercise； nor the most health giving part of it； I think。
Through the multitude of the positions and attitudes it brings into
play every muscle in the body & exercises them all。
The games begin right after luncheons； daily； & continue until
midnight； with 2 hours' intermission for dinner & music。 And so it
is 9 hours' exercise per day & 10 or 12 on Sunday。 Yesterday & last
night it was 12& I slept until 8 this morning without waking。 The
billiard…table as a Sabbath…breaker can beat any coal…breaker in
Pennsylvania & give it 30 in the game。 If Mr。 Rogers will take to
daily billiards he can do without the doctors & the massageur； I
think。
We are really going to build a house on my farm； an hour & a half
from New York。 It is decided。
With love & many thanks。
S。 L。 C。
Naturally enough； with continued practice I improved my game； and he
reduced my odds accordingly。 He was willing to be beaten； but not too
often。 Like any other boy； he preferred to have the balance in his
favor。 We set down a record of the games； and he went to bed happier if
the tally…sheet showed him winner。
It was natural； too； that an intimacy of association and of personal
interest should grow under such conditionsto me a precious boonand I
wish here to record my own boundless gratitude to Mrs。 Rogers for her
gift； which； whatever it meant to him； meant so much more to me。 The
disparity of ages no longer existed； other discrepancies no longer
mattered。 The pleasant land of play is a democracy where such things do
not count。
To recall all the humors and interesting happenings of those early
billiard…days would be to fill a large volume。 I can preserve no more
than a few characteristic phases。
He was not an even…tempered player。 When the balls were perverse in
their movements and his aim unsteady； he was likely to become short with
his opponentcritical and even fault…finding。 Then presently a reaction
would set in； and he would be seized with remorse。 He would become
unnecessarily gentle and kindlyeven attentiveplacing the balls as I
knocked them into the pockets； hurrying from one end of the table to
render this service； endeavoring to show in every way except by actual
confession in words that he was sorry for what seemed to him； no doubt；
an unworthy display of temper； unjustified irritation。
Naturally； this was a mood that I enjoyed less than that which had
induced it。 I did not wish him to humble himself； I was willing that he
should be severe； even harsh； if he felt so inclined； his age； his
position； his genius entitled him to special privileges； yet I am glad；
as I remember it now； that the other side revealed itself； for it
completes the sum of his great humanity。
Indeed； he was always not only human； but superhuman； not only a man； but
superman。 Nor does this term apply only to his psychology。 In no other
human being have I ever seen such physical endurance。 I was
comparatively a young man； and by no means an invalid； but many a time；
far in the night； when I was ready to drop with exhaustion； he was still
as fresh and buoyant and eager for the game as at the moment of
beginning。 He smoked and smoked continually； and followed the endless
track around the billiard…table with the light step of youth。 At three
or four o'clock in the morning he would urge just one more game； and
would taunt me for my weariness。 I can truthfully testify that never
until the last ye
