and his final triumph at the
murder trial is thrilling in the extreme. Identification by thumb-marks
was a new feature in fiction then--in law, too, for that matter. But it
is chiefly Pudd'nhead Wilson's maxims, run at the head of each chapter,
that will stick in the memory of men. Perhaps the book would live
without these, but with them it is certainly immortal.

Such aphorisms as: "Nothing so needs reforming as other people's
habits"; "Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of
a good example"; "When angry count four, and when very angry swear,"
cannot perish; these, with the forty or so others in this volume and
the added collection of rare philosophies that head the chapters
of Following the Equator, have insured to Philosopher Pudd'nhead a
respectful hearing for all time.--[The story of Pudd'nhead Wilson was
dramatized by Frank Mayo, who played it successfully as long as he
lived. It is by no means dead, and still pays a royalty to the Mayo and
Clemens estates.]

Clemens had meant to begin another book, but he decided first to make a
trip to America, to give some personal attention to publishing matters
there. They were a good deal confused. The Harpers had arranged for
the serial and book publication of Joan, and were negotiating for the
Webster contracts. Mr. Rogers was devoting priceless time in an effort
to establish amicable relations between the Harpers and the American
Company at Hartford so that they could work on some general basis that
would be satisfactory and profitable to all concerned. It was time that
Clemens was on the scene of action. He sailed on the New York on the
end of February, and a little more than a month later returned by the
Paris--that is, at the end of March. By this time he had altogether a
new thought. It was necessary to earn a large sum of money as promptly
as possible, and he adopted the plan which twice before in his life
in 1872 and in 1884:--had supplied him with needed funds. Loathing the
platform as he did, he was going back to it. Major Pond had proposed a
lecture tour soon after his failure.

"The loss of a fortune is tough," wrote Pond, "but there are other
resources for another fortune. You and I will make the tour together."

Now he had resolved to make a tour-one that even Pond himself had not
contemplated. He would go platforming around the world! He would take
Pond with him as far as the Pacific coast, arranging with some one
equally familiar with