I want to add my voice to the chorus praising the number and range of
international scholars, plus the mix of scholars and perspectives overall.
 In past years--as delighted as I've been to be at the conference and as
impressed as I was with the papers--I've wished for more diversity.  This
year, I think, we went a long toward achieving it.  How wonderful to see;
it bodes well for our future, I think.  Thanks to all who encouraged
scholars new to the conference (and to Barb, Mark, Abbey, and everyone else
involved in the planning, of course).  As so many have already said, Elmira
feels more and more like my scholarly home.



On Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 6:27 PM, Linda Morris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> More random thoughts.
>
> How can each conference seem to surpass the previous one? =20
> I'd like to add my voice to those saying how enriching and encouraging =
> it was to have a lively contingent of Japanese Twain scholars =
> participating in the conference, but I'd also like to say that I found =
> the presence of so many international scholars a great boon.  Scholars =
> from England, India, France, Germany, and Hong Kong immediately come to =
> mind.  Retired folks, independent scholars, editors, young up-and-coming =
> scholars--what a rich mix, and all so welcoming. Many legacies, indeed.
>
> Linda Morris=20
>
> On Aug 8, 2013, at 2:08 PM, Harold Hellwig <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > I found the conference exhilarating, enjoyable, and wonderful.  My =
> thanks
> > to the folks at Elmira College for the food, for the hospitality, for =
> the
> > opportunity to meet with Twain scholars who I=92ve met only by way of =
> print,
> > and for the chance to meet with those I know.
> >=20
> > Let=92s get my story of being locked out at Meier Hall out of the way. =
>  The
> > first night I arrived late, and had a helpful escort by Campus =
> Security to
> > the building.  I made his acquaintance again, however, after I had =
> settled
> > in, stepped out into the hallway in my pajamas and heard the =
> mechanical
> > click of the door lock behind me, just then realizing that the key was
> > still inside, along with my cell phone.  I, with some awkwardness and
> > sinking feeling, knocked on my neighbor=92s door; she understood the
> > situation without my having to say very much (well, my pajamas are =
> sporty
> > but obvious).  A noted scholar from Japan, she rescued me by going
> > downstairs and retrieving Campus Security.   I=92ve rarely felt that =
> stupid
> > and vulnerable, standing in the hallway with just the shorts on, =
> admiring
> > the woodwork on the floor.  The same Campus Security officer who had =
> let me
> > in earlier now let me in without too much of a grin, and cheerfully
> > observed that =93the kids do this all the time.=94  And my new-found =
> friend
> > from Japan taught me a trick with the door mechanism that would keep =
> the
> > door unlocked=97if I needed that=97and I used her trick to keep myself =
> from
> > that mistake again.
> >=20
> > She proved to be for the next few days a wonderful neighbor; we didn=92t=
>  say
> > much but I always welcomed her ready and cheerful greetings.
> >=20
> > I met some new Twain scholars, some that I knew, and some new to
> > scholarship.  I found my Mary Fairbanks for the conference, and she =
> made
> > sure that I mingled and talked with everyone; I am ever so grateful =
> for her
> > presence and charm.  I met someone relatively new to the field working =
> on
> > material I thought I kind of knew until I heard her talk; I met =
> someone
> > seasoned who apparently could read my mind on material I ought to =
> pursue.  I
> > met so many fine folks and I am energized.  The panels were =
> thoughtfully
> > organized, and I wish I could have gone to all of them.  I am =
> overwhelmed
> > by the courtesy, amiability, and generosity of spirit shown by Barb, =
> Mark,
> > Tim, and Abbey.    Twainians are charming, approachable, and =
> interesting,
> > and I had quite a few conversations, not always about Twain.  And I =
> feel
> > welcomed by that community.   Thank you for Quarry Farm, for the
> > conversations, for the food, and for the sense of shared purpose and =
> spirit.
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> > Harold Hellwig or =93Hal=94
> >=20
> > Department of English and Philosophy
> >=20
> > Idaho State University
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
> > On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 7:18 AM, Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >=20
> >> I invite all participants to record here you initial thoughts about =
> Elmira
> >> 2013...  as a mean of processing our collective experience.  For me:
> >>=20
> >> --Many thanks to Barb and all the staff for a great event.
> >>=20
> >> --I'm blown away by the vigor and commitment of the Japanese Twain
> >> community.  Many of them traveled up to 18 hours or more to be in NY =
> for
> >> the show.  My thanks for their diligence and contributions to the =
> fine
> >> program.  In addition:  I felt like the memorial for Prof. Nagawara =
> (whom I
> >> called the Henry Nash Smith of Twain studies in Japan and mentor to =
> many of
> >> our colleagues) was one of the poignant highlights of our gathering.
> >> Nagawara-sensei's story is compelling:  he miraculously survived the
> >> Hiroshima attack, in which many in his immediate family were killed, =
> and
> >> yet went on to become an advocate and huge fan of one of our great =
> American
> >> authors.  What an amazing life!
> >>=20
> >> --Sunset on the porch at Quarry Farm on Saturday =3D priceless.
> >>=20
> >> --Mainly, it's about seeing old friends; but that's just me.  (There =
> were
> >> some good papers, too!)
> >>=20
> >> Cheers (and Otsukare-sama deshita!), --Hal B.
> >>=20
> >>=20
> >>=20
> >> --
> >> Prof. Harold K. Bush
> >> Professor of English
> >> 3800 Lindell
> >> Saint Louis University
> >> St. Louis, MO  63108
> >> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
> >> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>
> >>=20
>