MARK TWAIN IN THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC CHRONICLE
1865
[EDITOR'S NOTE: These items have not been previously republished elsewhere. They are included in this collection because of their potential to be the work of Clemens and are deserving of further research and consideration. Clemens had previously written about Rev. Dr. Wadsworth, mentioned in "Intellectual Wide Awakes" in his contribution to the Californian in May 1865 and would again write about him in the March 1866 issue of the Californian. The reference in "A Gentle Snub" to Lisle Lester alludes to two articles previously attributed to Clemens in the Daily Chronicle for October 30 and November 7, 1865.]
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INTELLECTUAL WIDE AWAKES
Dr. Wadsworth, of Calvary Church, alluded in one of his recent sermons to those "smart" fellows who "are not going to be humbugged no how into any superstitious belief in things they can't understand, by jingo." The Doctor's allusion to these shrewd wide awake people was not quite as respectful as we could have wished. In fact, the Doctor, influenced by that spirit of bigotry and intolerance which unfortunately characterizes most of the superstitious old women of both sexes who believe in Christianity, spoke of the skeptics and scoffers as "fools." Now we protest against language of this kind. It is calculated to hurt people's feelings. Suppose they are fools. If so, they really don't know it, don't suspect it, don't dream of it. They think (in all honesty) that the Doctor and his side of the house are the fools, and that they are the philosophers.
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CAN'T BE FOOLED
There is a coterie of clever Bohemians around town writing for the weekly literary papers who are bent on smashing up all the old creeds and bringing in "The Religion of the Future." These young men of gigantic intellect think that Christianity is played out; and they are not going to let the parsons fool weak-minded people any longer. They consider Milton, Newton, Bacon and the other old fogies who swallowed such nonsense, as imbeciles. As to Arnold, Bunson, Guizot, Newman, etc., probably these smart young gentlemen never heard of them, except in a vague general way, and don't think they amounted to much intellectually. We think it doubtful whether there will be any more churches built in this city after next month; and it is not at all likely that "Grace" will even be finished --unless to be used as a theater or a City Hall.
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A GENTLE SNUB
The following appears under the head of "To Correspondents" in the San Jose Mercury:
"LISLE." -- Don't you think, in reviewing your reviewers, you are taking quite too much notice of a set of pinfeathered critics, who would be only too well pleased to have you write them into notice? Let them slide, and direct your talents in other directions.
We rather suspect Lisle Lester has been offering to make the Mercury
her organ. The Mercury gives good advice; but would it not be still better
to tell Lisle to slide and them to direct their talents in other directions.
Lisle won't be able to write any one into notice until she gets an organ. We
did not know that she had been "reviewed" lately by any one, and we
rather fancy that she herself is the party whom she is anxious to write into
notice.
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[transcribed from microfilm]
