MARK TWAIN-VALE!

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13054, 23 April 1910, Page 4

MARK TWAIN-VALE!

One of the most famous of poor Mark Twain’s jokes was his solemn statement that a one-time report of his death was “grossly exaggerated.” But this time the great humourist’s millions of admirers can iind no consolation in snob a possibility. His death removes a remarkable figure, one whose name was a household word where over the English tongue is spoken. His life read like a romance; in his fine he played many parts, and in all of them he bore himself well. If to contribute to the gaiety of nations or to bring a smile fo thesad bo creditable, then Mark Twain is entitled to much credit, the more so as Hs humour, breezy and spontaneous as it was, never stooped to anything questionable, nor pandered to any vice. It was clean and wholesome, like the man himself. As a serious writer he was less well known, but'in this direction he was, from a literary viewpoint. entirely successful, and as a. descriptive writer he was unexcelled. His strong commonscnse, inherent manliness, and detestation of humbug stand out from all his writings, and his readers, even when a nvnlsed with laughter at his jokes, could not but feel that, under them all, there was a profitable lesson which he who ion might read. Withal he was a man of the strictest honour. Like Scott, when through no fault of his own, he found himself involved in the stigma attaching to his pub--I’sher’s failure, Samuel Clemens sot to work, an old man, to write more booxs, and with the proceeds to pay what, though not legal debts, he regarded as debts "of honour. The world is poorer by his death and will sincerely mourn him.’ 8.1.P.