Being new here, I don't do this
 very often, I can say I feel at home listening to all the Twain thoughts posted here... it's hard to explain to anyone how much this fellow 's words have meant to me, but I believe they wouldn't be lost here...I post this because I found a quote by him that I sadly enjoy.... " I have been reading the morning paper. I do it every morning-well knowing that I shall find in it the usual depravities & basenesses & hypocrisies & cruelties that make civilization, & cause me to put in the rest of the day pleading for the damnation of the human race. I cannot seem to get my prays answered. Yet I do not despair."  Mark Twain, letter to his friend Howells.
No other writer has made me laugh like Twain does, but he can make me want to cry too...more than glad this forum is here..... 
Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 7, 2017, at 3:44 PM, Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> I too second all the comments made. Joe Lemak and his staff carried off this 
> conference in a style that would have made you think it was their tenth 
> success instead of the first of many more successes. Kerry and Ann and those 
> who managed the sessions all did likewise. As one who knows how much 
> planning and frustration (and replanning and additional frustration) goes 
> into getting such an event to the finish line, I can't muster enough words 
> of praise. They made it look easy.
> 
> We all saw old friends, mourned those no longer with us, and made new 
> friends. I've teased those who teared up when they got their awards, there 
> were not the only eyes that failed to stay dry. I admit I was tearing up 
> too. Although, I was laughing at the time. The awards were well-deserved.
> 
> Too many good papers to start naming them, but I learned something new 
> almost every hour whether in a session or chatting in between. As always, 
> not enough time to say howdy to everyone or spend enough time as I'd have 
> liked. I brought my usual pile of books to get signed and bought a couple 
> I'd missed along the way. They are all now safely shelved in my library, 
> memorials to old friendships, new acquaintances, and are giving off that 
> collegial glow that is slow to fade after such a gathering.
> 
> I hope everyone who trekked to Elmira can trek to Hannibal in two years. The 
> synergy is growing.
> 
> You can have your Jane Austen, James Fenimore Cooper, Sir Walter Scott, 
> Bloodgood Cutter, and Julia Moore Conferences. I prefer Mark Twain.
> 
> Kevin
> @
> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
> Member: ABAA, ILAB
> *************************
> You may browse our books at:
> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: MARK DAWIDZIAK
> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2017 12:21 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Au revoir!: Elmira 2017 Highlights
> 
> Just posted this in response to John Bird's news about a new "Huckleberry F=
> inn" film:The days in Elmira are a wonderful blur of lovely memories -- fro=
> m the high level of scholarship and singing (well, that's my story and I'm =
> sticking to it) to seeing old friends and making new ones. To all of those =
> who were there for the first time . . . y'all come back now.It has been 20 =
> years since, at the insistence of Tom Tenney (all praise his memory) I atte=
> nded my first Elmira summit, and six conferences later I'm still amazed tha=
> t I get to be part of this gathering every four years. Big thanks to Kerry =
> and Ann -- and the Elmira team kicking through big time with their first co=
> nference: Joe, Matt, Nathaniel and Steve. You done real good.
> P.S. Hal Bush, you still owe me a signature in my copy of "The Hemingway Fi=
> les." Two years in Hannibal?=20
> =20
> 
>    On Monday, August 7, 2017 1:06 PM, JULES AUSTIN HOJNOWSKI <jah11@CORNEL=
> L.EDU> wrote:
> =20
> 
> Oh! I forgot the other thing I wanted to say :)
> 
> I am twice alumni of Elmira college.
> 
> I was happy to go to the different buildings for the panels.
> 
> Especially the Kohler building, it is the bio/chem building and where I spe=
> =3D
> nt many classes and labs.
> It was nice to see the labs unchanged, where I attended and TA'ed and the l=
> =3D
> ounge there where I took my physics course.=C2=A0 Like the sessions at the =
> confe=3D
> rence, there were many overlaps in courses for me,so profs let me take the =
> =3D
> courses in my "free" time ;) as I did a double major of computers and "pre-=
> =3D
> med" and a double minor of math and music.=C2=A0 It was a great time for me=
> and =3D
> it was nice to have that "flood" of memory.
> 
> The second degree was a masters, ALL in Mark Twain work, that I did over 6 =
> =3D
> years. :)
> 
> Thanks :)
> Jules
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of JULES AUSTIN =
> =3D
> HOJNOWSKI
> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2017 10:48 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Au revoir!: Elmira 2017 Highlights
> 
> Hi!
> Thanks so much for all the "love" having lost just about the rest of my bio=
> =3D
> =3D3D logical family.
> I felt this time, more than the past 45 years, that all of you "Twain" peop=
> =3D
> =3D3D le are my real family.
> 
> Thank you for accepting me and your conversations, and kind words.
> 
> :)
> 
> Jules
> 
> Ps hope to see many of you in Hannibal in 2 years!
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Click, Ben
> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2017 10:14 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Au revoir!: Elmira 2017 Highlights
> 
> I'll third Hal and second Joe!=C2=A0 Again this is the most rewarding confe=
> rence=3D
> =3D3D=C2=A0 I attend for all the reasons we always list:=C2=A0 quality peop=
> le and think=3D
> ing,=3D3D=C2=A0 and genuine good will. Thank you to all involved.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Ben
> 
> On Sun, Aug 6, 2017 at 1:22 PM, Joseph Csicsila <[log in to unmask]> wrote=
> =3D
> =3D3D
> :
> 
>> I'd second Hal's sentiments and add big thanks to Ann and Kerry for=3D3D2=
> 0=3D
> =3D20
>> the mont=3D3D3D hs of grinding work as conference co-directors that=3D20
>> went=3D3D20 into helping put to=3D3D3D gether such a great three days.=3D=
> 3D3D20
>> 
>> Congratulations, too, to the five honorees for 2017: Barb, Shelly,=3D3D20=
> =3D20
>> Kent, Lau=3D3D3D ra, and Linda.=3D3D3D20
>> =3D3D3D20
>> Safe travels everyone!
>> 
>> Joe Csicsila
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Aug 6, 2017, at 7:13 AM, Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> Well, my friends, it was a blast.=C2=A0 OK, I'll bite: here is the=3D3D=
> 20=3D20
>>> official=C2=A0 place to post your favorite moments and memories.=C2=A0 I=
> 'd=3D20
>>> love=3D3D20 to hear=C2=A0 anyone's thoughts on the experience, so please=
> hit=3D20
>>> "reply" & ad=3D3D
> d on...
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> --Elmira College and the Center are in great hands:=C2=A0 Joe & Matt=3D=
> 20
>>> and=3D3D20 staff=C2=A0 did spectacularly and I am so grateful having the=
> m at=3D20
>>> the=3D3D20 helm.=C2=A0 Well
>>> done:=C2=A0 many people remarked on their enthusiasm and vision going=
> =3D20
>>> forwar=3D3D
> d.
>>> --Much stirring talk about humor, satire, wit, jokes, and/or some
>> variatio=3D3D3D
>> n
>>> of that subject area, over several sessions:=C2=A0 turns out Jim Caron =
> is
>> quite=3D3D3D
>> 
>>> the humorist!=C2=A0 Except he may not like being called that...=C2=A0 a=
> nd=3D3D20=3D20
>>> everyone
>> I=3D3D3D
>> 
>>> consulted agrees that it should have been real whiskey, not iced=3D3D20=
> =3D20
>>> tea,
>> they=3D3D3D
>> 
>>> were sipping...
>>> --Japan wins again for most represented nation outside the USA!!
>> Otsukare=3D3D3D
>> 
>>> sama deshita!!=C2=A0 One scholar, a Syrian national, was unable to=3D20
>>> join=3D3D20 us due=C2=A0 to the travel ban -- which we learned from a te=
> arful=3D20
>>> Matt=3D3D20 Seybold.=C2=A0 Matt=C2=A0 was not the only person moved to t=
> ears over=3D20
>>> the weekend =3D3D
> by the way ...
>>> --Great turnout and good weather -- and as usual, it was the PEOPLE=3D2=
> 0
>>> =3D3D20 involved that made being at Elmira 2017 very special and memorab=
> le=3D
> .
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> gratefully, --Hal B.
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> --=3D3D3D20
>>> Prof. Harold K. Bush
>>> Professor of English
>>> 3800 Lindell
>>> Saint Louis University
>>> St. Louis, MO=C2=A0 63108
>>> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
>>> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>
>>> =3D3D3D20
>>> www.halbush.com
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Ben Click
> Professor, English
> Director, Writing & Speaking Center
> Director, Twain Lecture Series on
> American Humor and Culture
> (240) 895-4253
> St. Mary's College of Maryland
> 
> 
>  =20