All the circumstances of this death were pathetic--my brain is worn to rags rehearsing them.The mere death would have been cruelty enough, without overloading it and emphasizing it with that score of harsh and wanton details.The child was taken away when her mother was within three days of her, and would have given three decades for sight of her.
In my despair and unassuageable misery I upbraid myself for ever parting with her.But there is no use in that.Since it was to happen it would have happened.
With love S.L.C.
The life at Tedworth Square that winter was one of almost complete privacy.Of the hundreds of friends which Mark Twain had in London scarcely half a dozen knew his address.He worked steadily on his book of travels, 'Following the Equator', and wrote few letters beyond business communications to Mr.Rogers.In one of these he said, "I am appalled! Here I am trying to load you up with work again after you have been dray-horsing over the same tiresome ground for a year.It's too bad, and I am ashamed of it."But late in November he sent a letter of a different sort--one that was to have an important bearing on the life of a girl today of unique and world-wide distinction.
To Mrs.H.H.Rogers, in New York City:
For and in behalf of Helen Keller, stone blind and deaf, and formerly dumb.
DEAR MRS.ROGERS,--Experience has convinced me that when one wishes to set a hard-worked man at something which he mightn't prefer to be bothered with, it is best to move upon him behind his wife.If she can't convince him it isn't worth while for other people to try.
Mr.Rogers will remember our visit with that astonishing girl at Lawrence Hutton's house when she was fourteen years old.Last July, in Boston, when she was 16 she underwent the Harvard examination for admission to Radcliffe College.She passed without a single condition.She was allowed the same amount of time that is granted to other applicants, and this was shortened in her case by the fact that the question papers had to be read to her.Yet she scored an average of 90 as against an average of 78 on the part of the other applicants.
It won't do for America to allow this marvelous child to retire from her studies because of poverty.If she can go on with them she will make a fame that will endure in history for centuries.Along her special lines she is the most extraordinary product of all the ages.
There is danger that she must retire from the struggle for a College degree for lack of support for herself and for Miss Sullivan, (the teacher who has been with her from the start--Mr.Rogers will remember her.) Mrs.Hutton writes to ask me to interest rich Englishmen in her case, and I would gladly try, but my secluded life will not permit it.
I see nobody.Nobody knows my address.Nothing but the strictest hiding can enable me to write my long book in time.
So I thought of this scheme: Beg you to lay siege to your husband and get him to interest himself and Mess.John D.and William Rockefeller and the other Standard Oil chiefs in Helen's case; get them to subscribe an annual aggregate of six or seven hundred or a thousand dollars--and agree to continue this for three or four years, until she has completed her college course.I'm not trying to limit their generosity--indeed no, they may pile that Standard Oil, Helen Keller College Fund as high as they please, they have my consent.
Mrs.Hutton's idea is to raise a permanent fund the interest upon which shall support Helen and her teacher and put them out of the fear of want.
I shan't say a word against it, but she will find it a difficult and disheartening job, and meanwhile what is to become of that miraculous girl?
No, for immediate and sound effectiveness, the thing is for you to plead with Mr.Rogers for this hampered wonder of your sex, and send him clothed with plenary powers to plead with the other chiefs--they have spent mountains of money upon the worthiest benevolences, and I think that the same spirit which moved them to put their hands down through their hearts into their pockets in those cases will answer "Here!" when its name is called in this one.638There--I don't need to apologize to you or to H.H.for this appeal that I am making; I know you too well for that.
Good-bye with love to all of you S.L.CLEMENS.
Laurence Hutton is on the staff of Harper's Monthly--close by, and handy when wanted.
The plea was not made in vain.Mr.and Mrs.Rogers interested themselves most liberally in Helen Keller's fortune, and certainly no one can say that any of those who contributed to her success ever had reason for disappointment.
In his letter of grateful acknowledgment, which follows, Clemens also takes occasion to thank Mr.Rogers for his further efforts in the matter of his own difficulties.This particular reference concerns the publishing, complications which by this time had arisen between the American Publishing Company, of Hartford, and the house in Franklin Square.
LONDON, Dec.22, '96.
DEAR MRS.ROGERS,--It is superb! And I am beyond measure grateful to you both.I knew you would be interested in that wonderful girl, and that Mr.Rogers was already interested in her and touched by her; and I was sure that if nobody else helped her you two would; but you have gone far and away beyond the sum I expected--may your lines fall in pleasant places here and Hereafter for it!
The Huttons are as glad and grateful as they can be, and I am glad for their sakes as well as for Helen's.
I want to thank Mr.Rogers for crucifying himself again on the same old cross between Bliss and Harper; and goodness knows I hope he will come to enjoy it above all other dissipations yet, seeing that it has about it the elements of stability and permanency.However, at any time that he says sign, we're going to do it.
Ever sincerely Yours S.L.CLEMENS.
