TWAIN SUPPRESSED, RUSSIAN CHARGES
Cites 'Anti-Imperialist' Essays - Editor Here Proves They Have Been Published
MOSCOW, July 27 (AP) - A Russian critic of American literature accused "reactionary American publishers" today of deliberately suppressing certain "anti-imperialist" essays by Mark Twain.
M. Mendelson said these essays had never been included in Twain's complete works, although they were highly valued by literary critics. The essays singled out were "In Defense of General Funston," which appeared in 1902 in the North American Review, and "To a Human Being in Darkness." Mr. Mendelson said Twain wrote of the American occupation of the Philippines and of actions against the Boxer Rebellion in China.
Editor Refutes Charge
Bernard De Voto of Cambridge, Mass., for eight years editor of the unpublished works of Mark Twain, laughed yesterday when informed of the accusations.
He pointed out that "In Defense of General Funston" was in the biography of Mark Twain published by Harper & Brothers in 1924. He added that the article appeared under the title "Attack on Funston." Mr. De Voto also said that "To a Human Being in Darkness" was in the volume "Europe and Elsewhere," published by the Viking Press and republished last year in "The Portable Mark Twain."
Frederick L. Allen, secretary-treasurer of Harper & Brothers, characterized Mr. Mendelson's charges as "preposterous." He said that such Twain material as remained unpublished was not suppressed but those in charge of the unpublished works believed it did not rate publication.
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