Honestly, what more is there to add?  

The key to being a great writer is knowing when to let your readers fill in their own blanks, and it has always struck me that Twain's judgment in that regard is impeccable.  

Wonderful story, Kevin.  Wouldn't have missed hearing the answer for the world.

Sharon


--- On Sat, 5/1/10, Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Contest Over!
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Saturday, May 1, 2010, 5:20 PM
> Mark Twain's Shortest Publishing
> Writing...
> 
> With no correct answers, I've decided to declare the
> contest over.
> 
> The correct answer is YES.
> 
> Here's the context---
> 
> The magazine, The Critic, sent a question out to a number
> of authors =
> posing a question based on a maxim by Horace in DE ARTE
> POETICA LIBER: =
> "Is it necessary that an author who wishes his readers to
> weep should =
> first weep himself?"
> 
> Twain's reply, in a letter from Hartford dated March 9,
> 1888, was simply =
> "Yes" and appeared in the March 24, 1888 issue of the
> magazine (p. 136) =
> along with replies from many other authors, all of whom
> gave longer =
> replies, some bordering on short essays. Among the
> bloviators were =
> Edward Eggleston, Edward Everett Hale, Thomas Bailey
> Aldrich, Frances =
> Hodgson Burnett, Thomas Janvier, George W. Cable, Howard
> Pyle, Brander =
> Matthews, George Parsons Lathrop, Frank R. Stockton, and
> others. Quite a =
> few of these other authors were friends of Twain. To modern
> eyes, the =
> question posed might seem maudlin, but it was posed at the
> height of =
> American realism, and had genuine contemporary relevance.
> After all, a =
> few years later Stephen Crane wrote a war story without
> having fought in =
> battle himself. Twain's reply could have been shorter if
> he'd replied in =
> the negative, but his affirmative reply should not be
> surprising =
> considering that his greatest works were largely
> autobiographical, drawn =
> from the people and places and events he'd experienced
> himself. All Mark =
> Twain Forum members probably share a regret that he did not
> explain his =
> answer. For the full text of the article and replying
> letters in The =
> Critic, go to Google Books and search the keywords "Twain
> Horace weep =
> Critic" and enjoy.
> 
> I've still got this extra copy of WHO IS MARK TWAIN? and if
> somebody has =
> an idea for a contest question, let me know...
> 
> Kevin
> @
> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
> Member: ABAA, ILAB
> *************************
> You may browse our books at=20
> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>  =20
> 
>     =20
> 
> =20
> 
> Kevin
> @
> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
> Member: ABAA, ILAB
> *************************
> You may browse our books at=20
> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>