MARK TWAIN SAILS FOR OXFORD HONORS
To be Made a Doctor of Literature by the English University.
TELLS OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Humorist Says It Will Make Some Persons "Sit Up and Take Notice."
Samuel L. Clemens, known to everybody best as "Mark Twain," sailed for England yesterday on the Atlantic Transport liner Minneapolis. On June 26 he will receive from Oxford University the degree of Doctor of Literature, though, as he remarked, that did not mean that he intended to doctor literature.
Mr. Clemens did not wear his famous white suit, and there was a faint suspicion of moisture in his eyes as he declared that this might be his last visit to London.
"I may never go to London again," he said, "until I come back to this sphere again after I am dead, and then I would like to live in London. I spent seven years there, and I am going back to see the boys."
"Do you enjoy idleness? he was asked.
"Splendidly. I put in two hours a day dictating my autobiography, but I don't want it published until after I am dead. And I want to be thoroughly dead when it is published. No rumors, but really dead. I have made it caustic, fiendish, and as devilish as I possible can. It might be what you call a sensation, for I have spared no one. It will occupy many volumes, and I will go right on writing until I am called to the angels and receive a harp.
"The story of my life will make certain people sit up and take notice, but I will use my influence not to have it published until the children of some of those mentioned in it are dead. I tell you it will be something awful. It will be what you might call good reading."
"Have you included all of Mrs. Eddy's friends?"
"Yes, you will find them all there all right."
At this point the author fished a dilapidated cigar from his pocket and finding it of no use threw it overboard, declaring that he would not smoke again. A moment later he begged a cigar from a friend.
A number of Mr. Clemens's friends hunted for him, quite overlooking him as he stood at the rail. Finally they caught sight of him, and after salutations had been exchanged said: "Where is the white suit? We had been looking for the suit and quite overlooked you."
"Well," said the author, "I have discarded the suit for the moment, but your fears may be set at rest, for I am going to wear it again. I am wearing this overcoat to keep out the heat which isn't here, and as for the style of my clothes they are always selected with due regard to my peculiar style of beauty."
Mr. Clemens will return on the Minneapolis.
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