MARK TWAIN'S LATEST UTTERANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

MARK TWAIN'S LATEST UTTERANCES.

HfS REMINISCENCES TO BE PUBLISHED ONE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER HE DIES. London, October 6.—"After nine years' absence I sail to-day for New York," said Mark Twain to the World correspondent today. " I am glad to go home. " Have I decided never to leave America again? Why, no! I never make pledges or promises, or even half promises. If I pledged myself never to leave America again the sense of constraint would he so irksome that in six months I should say to myself, ' the pleasantest thing I can do now is to go and break that pledge.' And I should break it. But the probabilities are that I shall not leave home again." " What country have you found the most agreeable to live in?" the correspondent asked. "I am always more contented and happier at Hartford," Twain answered. " But over here I like London best. Here I meet men of my own toncjue —and London is a fine place for work. I have done more regular, systematic work here than in any other city. I have been here now practically for 15 months, and barring occasional interruptions I have worked hard." " Have you any literary plans?" " No. I don't plan. lam in the middle of a book now, but the Lord knows when it will be finished. That depends on how I feel.

" I am getting on with my reminiscences, to be published one hundred years after I die. I find it very fascinating to sit down and write with a feeling of perfect freedom from all ordinary trammels of authorship, knowing that what I write will not be seen until everyone affected by it is dead." "What are your opinions about the Presidential contest?"

"I have nob been reading enough to stir my prejudices or partialities on one side or the other. But I have formed certain views about Imperialismthough I don't know whether the American feeling favours our spreading ourselves around the globe or not. " I rejoice that we are withdrawing from China. It is a dangerous business, and we have done right to get out of it when our work was done.

"Then I don't quite understand what we are trying to do in the Philippines. I had rather hoped we were going there as the protector of the Filipinos instead of their master. I have never been able to comprehend how we came to be fierhting the natives. Perhaps it is unavoidable. But I thought our mission was to defend, not to kill them. This Filipino trouble has troubled i*3 right along."