Beginning his preface to the “Uniform Edition” of his works, Mark Twain
wrote:
“So far as I remember, I have never seen an Author’s Preface which had
any purpose but one—to furnish reasons for the publication of the book.
Prefaces wear many disguises, call themselves by various names, and
pretend to come on various businesses, but I think that upon examination
we are quite sure to find that their errand is always the same: they are
there to apologize for the book; in other words, furnish reasons for its
publication. This often insures brevity.”
Accepting the above as gospel (as necessarily we must, in this book,)
one is only required here to furnish a few more or less plausible
excuses for its existence. Very well, then, we can think of two:
First: To prove to those who have read Mark Twain sparingly, or know him
mainly from hearsay, that he was something more than a mere fun-maker.
Second: To provide for those who have read largely of his work something
of its essence, as it were—put up in a form which may be found
convenient when one has not time, or inclination, to search the volumes.
These are the excuses—now, an added word as to method: The examples have
been arranged chronologically, so that the reader, following them in
order, may note the author’s evolution—the development of his humor, his
observation, his philosophy and his literary style. They have been
selected with some care, in the hope that those who know the author best
may consider him fairly represented.
Feeling now that this little volume is sufficiently explained, the
compiler begs to offer it, without further extenuation, to all who do
honor to the memory of our foremost laughing philosopher.
MOMENTS WITH
MARK TWAIN
❖
_FROM_ “SKETCHES NEW AND OLD” (1865–67)