.--I cannot resist the temptation to toss in this most savory thing
of all--this easy, graceful, philosophical disquisition, with his happy,
chirping confidence. It is from the Cincinnati ENQUIRER:

Nothing is more uncertain than the value of a fine cigar. Nine smokers
out of ten would prefer an ordinary domestic article, three for a
quarter, to fifty-cent Partaga, if kept in ignorance of the cost of the
latter. The flavor of the Partaga is too delicate for palates that have
been accustomed to Connecticut seed leaf. So it is with humor. The finer
it is in quality, the more danger of its not being recognized at all.
Even Mark Twain has been taken in by an English review of his
INNOCENTS ABROAD. Mark Twain is by no means a coarse humorist, but the
Englishman's humor is so much finer than his, that he mistakes it for
solid earnest, and "lafts most consumedly."

A man who cannot learn stands in his own light. Hereafter, when I write
an article which I know to be good, but which I may have reason to fear
will not, in some quarters, be considered to amount to much, coming
from an American, I will aver that an Englishman wrote it and that it
is copied from a London journal. And then I will occupy a back seat and
enjoy the cordial applause.

(Still later)

Mark Twain at last sees that the SATURDAY REVIEW'S criticism of his
INNOCENTS ABROAD was not serious, and he is intensely mortified at the
thought of having been so badly sold. He takes the only course left him,
and in the last GALAXY claims that HE wrote the criticism himself, and
published it in THE GALAXY to sell the public. This is ingenious,
but unfortunately it is not true. If any of our readers will take the
trouble to call at this office we sill show them the original article in
the SATURDAY REVIEW of October 8th, which, on comparison, will be found
to be identical with the one published in THE GALAXY. The best thing for
Mark to do will be to admit that he was sold, and say no more about it.

The above is from the Cincinnati ENQUIRER, and is a falsehood. Come to
the proof. If the ENQUIRER people, through any agent, will produce at
THE GALAXY office a London SATURDAY REVIEW of October 8th, containing an
article which, on comparison, will be found to be identical with the one
published in THE GALAXY, I will pay to that agent five hundred dollars
cash. Moreover, if at any specified time I fail to produce at the same
place a copy of the London SATURDAY REVIE