MARK TWAIN-THE JESTER-7

Twain's head was completely turned.He began,like so many of his contemporaries,to aim at the rainbow,to reach for the moon.Literature had now become a business with him.Twain was anxious to show his father-in-law Mr. Rogers that there was as much money in writing books as in selling coal.All that was needed was -to give public what it wanted !

So Twain sold laughter for gold !

As years passed,Twain was convinced that his rainbow was more of a passing mirage.In " Mysterious Stranger", Twain came out with his fearless feelings and blurted out the truth.This was the only book where he has had his full say.Philosophically,it was an outstanding work.Rightly so,his wife wanted it to be published only after his death.

Talking of the world,he concludes that "it is a madhouse,and life is an insane nightmare between a sleep and a sleep".

" ... It is true,that which I have revealed to you;there is no universe,no human race,no earthly life,no heaven,no hell.It is all a dream-a grotesque and foolish dream.Nothing exists but you.And you are but a thought -a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought,wandering forlorn among the empty centuries ".

And he,having at last declared what he sincerely believed,the great sad satirist son of the pioneers passed beyond the frontier and into- "who knows ?- perhaps a fairer and truer dream" !!

(END)