I heartily concur, Wolfgang. To bring it back to Twain, but also as a
response to the points Wolfgang and Hal have made, I strongly
recommend Twain's "White House Funeral" letter, which I believe
Greeley refused to publish, but which is a deepling entertaining
insight into Twain's year as a Washington correspondent (fleshed out
wonderfully by John Muller elsewhere). It also contains queasy
resonances with the contemporary. Here's a link:
https://marktwainstudies.com/the-white-house-funeral-by-mark-twain/
On Fri, Jan 8, 2021 at 1:36 PM Wolfgang Hochbruck
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> ...don't tell me anybody would seriously WANT the Donald to be present
> after the events of the last few days... I had predicted rioting
> protestors signalling their fealty to their Leader already in December.
> I had NOT counted on POTUS actually egging them on. Fortunately, the
> guy himself is a coward, or else he would have led his minions in
> person.
>
> Btw, why hasn't Rudy Giuliani been arrested yet? Why were hundreds of
> people allowed to leave & walk away from the Capitol, some with
> 'souvenirs'?
> Okay, this does not have a lot to do with Twain, so moderators might
> decide this is off topic, and i excuse myself for having brought this
> up.
>
> w
>
>
> On Fri, 8 Jan 2021 18:09:01 +0000
> Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >For MS: Speaking of Johnson and the "defilement of the presidency": I
> >just heard today that AJ was the last president to refuse to attend
> >the next inauguration. (Ford was not inaugurated, of course)
> >
> >To JPZ: those details from HF are intriguing but I'll need a little
> >more than that... & ps: does HF actually compare someone to Stanton??
> >Don't recall that nugget...
> >
> >
> >
> >_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> >
> >
> >Dr. Hal Bush
> >
> >Professor of English &
> >
> >Director of the Undergraduate Program
> >
> >Saint Louis University
> >
> >[log in to unmask]
> >
> >314-977-3616
> >
> >http://halbush.com
> >
> >author blog:
> >
> https://www.patheos.com/blogs/spiritualcoffee<https://www.patheos.com/blogs/spiritualcoffee/2020/08/spiritual-coffee-and-the-path-toward-wokeness/>
> >________________________________
> >From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of John Peter
> >Zavez <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Friday, January 8, 2021 11:36 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: [External] Re: MT & conspiracy theories?
> >
> >To MS, wasn't the issue with Johnson/Stanton whether the President had
> >the constitutional power to remove a cabinet officer approved by
> >Congress, so MT may have been motivated more by balance-of-power
> >concerns than the actual persons involved.
> >
> >To HB, is it a coincidence that Huck Finn has: a Wilks Family, a
> >Booth's Landing, an actor who (physically) resembles John Wilkes
> >Booth, and his mentor who (physically) resembles Stanton?
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Matthew Seybold
> >Sent: Friday, January 08, 2021 12:07 PM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: [External] Re: MT & conspiracy theories?
> >
> >Don't have time at the moment to follow up in more detail, but I can
> >say with certainty, having read about it just recently, that in
> >1868-69, Twain considered Johnson's decision to remove Stanton as
> >Secretary of War one of his many defilements of the Presidency. This,
> >of course, doesn't preclude him from buying into the Stanton
> >conspiracy at some other juncture, but it does complicate it. - MS
> >
> >On Fri, Jan 8, 2021 at 11:59 AM Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >>
> >> That's an interesting idea: I wonder what makes you think MT
> >believed this scenario? The conspiracy theory about Stanton (which no
> >historians have bought into) did gain some steam immediately in 1865,
> >but really was popularized much later, well after the end of Twain's
> >life ... I'd be interested in hearing more about this connection. MT
> >did write a few things about AL, by the way, much later.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> >>
> >>
> >> Dr. Hal Bush
> >>
> >> Professor of English &
> >>
> >> Director of the Undergraduate Program
> >>
> >> Saint Louis University
> >>
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >> 314-977-3616
> >>
> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://halbush.com__;!!K543PA!YvFPFg3nhs0JoTcX9GU97jh4uCJjfys4MEq0lRZDv76p8LIm5_1S-wRfSghYEw$
> >>
> >> author blog:
> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.patheos.com/blogs/spiritualcoffee__;!!K543PA!YvFPFg3nhs0JoTcX9GU97jh4uCJjfys4MEq0lRZDv76p8LIm5_1S-wQE6tVygA$
> ><https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.patheos.com/__;!!K543PA!YvFPFg3nhs0JoTcX9GU97jh4uCJjfys4MEq0lRZDv76p8LIm5_1S-wS_SGZchQ$
> >>
> >blogs/spiritualcoffee/2020/08/spiritual-coffee-and-the-path-toward-wok
> >> eness/>
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of John Peter
> >> Zavez <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Sent: Friday, January 8, 2021 10:30 AM
> >> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Subject: Re: [External] Re: MT & conspiracy theories?
> >>
> >> The biggest conspiracy theory of MT's time, which I believe he
> >believed, was that Secretary or War Stanton was behind Lincoln's
> >assassination.
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Hal Bush
> >> Sent: Friday, January 08, 2021 10:49 AM
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Re: [External] Re: MT & conspiracy theories?
> >>
> >> The Murrell myth, especially when Matt mentioned the how the Mystic
> >Clan's plots & conspiracy theory synthesized "anti-Black, anti-Semite,
> >anti-Catholic, and several other common antebellum prejudices,"
> >reminded me of a much larger group doing similar things: the
> >Freemasons, of which MT was a member, as were many riverboat pilots
> >and others, right here in St. Louis in fact! I could say much mora
> >about freemasonry, but some would certainly include them, and other
> >mysticl brotherhoods in C19, as often provoking conspiracy theories,
> >to say the least.
> >>
> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://psrh79.org/?page_id=94__;!!K543PA!e
> >> 9LG-7ltv5LzhMJVQ9InebE2ADS_QP57C4hzKEDmXWl6dydt_dqxvsKN4anPgQ$
> >> Polar Star Lodge No. 79 History – Polar Star Rose Hill Lodge No
> >>
> >79<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://psrh79.org/?page_id=94__;!!K543P
> >> A!e9LG-7ltv5LzhMJVQ9InebE2ADS_QP57C4hzKEDmXWl6dydt_dqxvsKN4anPgQ$ >
> >A
> >> Brief History ~ Polar Star Lodge No. 79, St. Louis Written by
> >PSRH#79
> >> Member Worshipful Brother Richard B. Ramage, Appearing in The
> >Missouri
> >> Freemason Fall 2004 (Volume 49, No. 4)
> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://psrh79.org__;!!K543PA!e9LG-7ltv5Lzh
> >> MJVQ9InebE2ADS_QP57C4hzKEDmXWl6dydt_dqxvsJ3F54WcQ$
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> >>
> >>
> >> Dr. Hal Bush
> >>
> >> Professor of English &
> >>
> >> Director of the Undergraduate Program
> >>
> >> Saint Louis University
> >>
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >> 314-977-3616
> >>
> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://halbush.com__;!!K543PA!e9LG-7ltv5Lz
> >> hMJVQ9InebE2ADS_QP57C4hzKEDmXWl6dydt_dqxvsI8mihYhQ$
> >>
> >> author blog:
> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.patheos.com/blogs/spiritualcof
> >>
> >fee__;!!K543PA!e9LG-7ltv5LzhMJVQ9InebE2ADS_QP57C4hzKEDmXWl6dydt_dqxvsL
> >> Ji1KX9w$
> >>
> ><https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.patheos.com/blogs/spiritualco
> >>
> >ffee/2020/08/spiritual-coffee-and-the-path-toward-wokeness/__;!!K543PA
> >> !e9LG-7ltv5LzhMJVQ9InebE2ADS_QP57C4hzKEDmXWl6dydt_dqxvsI5D7ABoA$ >
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Wolfgang
> >> Hochbruck <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Sent: Friday, January 8, 2021 9:32 AM
> >> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Subject: [External] Re: MT & conspiracy theories?
> >>
> >> ...Murrell and his gang even more openly get featured in _Tom
> >Sawyer_, i thought, when Tom & Huck find the treasure ... William G.
> >Simms wrote more about Murrell in _Richard Hurdis, or the Avenger of
> >Blood_, and there was a melodrama _Murrell, the Pirate_ (1835),
> >originally written by Nathaniel Harrington Bannister and popularized
> >by Charles Burke, both in their turn inspiring German immigrant
> >Friedrich Gerstäcker who then became they German Simms after his
> >remigration in 1844 with _Die Flusspiraten des Mississippi_ and
> >_Regulatoren in Arkansas_, both loosely based on the Murrell story --
> >This conspiracy myth must have had a lot more traction in the 1840s
> >through the Civil War period than i usually suspected.
> >>
> >> best
> >> w
> >>
> >> On Fri, 8 Jan 2021 09:37:25 -0500
> >> Matthew Seybold <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >> >That's a great question, Hal.
> >> >
> >> >When I wrote my dissertation on the figure of the con-artist, I
> >spent
> >> >a little time on conspiracy theories, which are often created
> >and/or
> >> >amplified by con-artists. One of the most extraordinary conspiracy
> >> >theories of the 1830s circulated around "the Mystic Clan." This
> >was,
> >> >supposedly, a secret society led by a notorious outlaw, John
> >Murrell,
> >> >and thanks in large part to Virgil Stewart, who published a series
> >of
> >> >books and pamphlets claiming to expose the Mystic Clan's plots,
> >they
> >> >were planning to start slave insurrections as a distraction while
> >> >they raided banks in major Gulf Coast cities. The conspiracy theory
> >> >synthesizes anti-Black, anti-Semite, anti-Catholic, and several
> >other
> >> >common antebellum prejudices.
> >> >
> >> >Twain was definitely aware of Murrell, whose real (and fictional)
> >> >operations had been in the trade corridor where Twain was later a
> >> >pilot. He refers to "Murel" in LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI as a
> >criminal
> >> >"genius" who made Jesse James look like a "retail rascal." In this
> >> >passage, Twain mentions several details from the Mystic Clan
> >> >conspiracy theory and seems to be treating it as accurate history,
> >> >although he also acknowledges in the same paragraph that "cheap
> >> >histories" of romantic outlaws were for sale at train stations and
> >> >steamboat landings. Melville alludes to the same market for
> >specious
> >> >criminal biography in the opening chapter of THE CONFIDENCE-MAN,
> >> >specifically naming Murrell its most profitable topics. I haven't
> >dug
> >> >into whether Twain refers to this conspiracy elsewhere later in his
> >career.
> >> >
> >> >Like you, I'd love to know what others C19 conspiracies people have
> >> >encountered in Twain's life and work. There are, of course, several
> >> >alluded to in Richard Hofstadter's THE PARANOID STYLE IN AMERICAN
> >> >POLITICS.
> >> >
> >> >Stay safe, everybody.
> >> >
> >> >- MS
> >> >
> >> >On Fri, Jan 8, 2021 at 8:42 AM Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> Dear friends: what a week. Can I tie these horrific events into
> >C19
> >> >& MT?
> >> >>
> >> >> A friend has passed on his terrifying essay on a conspiracy
> >theory
> >> >way back in 1860, see below. I think we need reminding that
> >> >conspiracy theories have a very long history in our nation, and
> >that
> >> >they can be deadly and incendiary.
> >> >>
> >> >> Q; has anyone looked into MT's encounter with and understanding/
> >> >critique of conspiracy theory--pro and con?
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://baptistnews.com/article/how-300-c
> >> >hi
> >>
> >>ldren-lost-their-fathers-to-lynching-on-a-single-day-because-of-a-con
> >> >sp
> >>
> >>iracy-theory/?fbclid=IwAR2RtPG7DEJx-D7WiusYA9h8YLeIY-iLksb99CWAQqNIOT
> >> >7J
> >>
> >>fcGVtuRJBJY*.X_hexOBMFTZ__;Iw!!K543PA!bqFn8R79de9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9
> >> >Fg
> >> >svDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz0Kt6vHUA$
> >> >>
> >>
> >>[https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.
> >>
> >>https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/
> >>
> >>2020/12/Great_Hanging_at_Gainesville___;!!K543PA!e9LG-7ltv5LzhMJVQ9In
> >> >ebE2ADS_QP57C4hzKEDmXWl6dydt_dqxvsKYg8NpmA$
> >>
> >>Texas_-_1862.jpg__;!!K543PA!bqFn8R79de9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9FgsvDNZP5i
> >> >au
> >> >vlDnAusm7tz2jkRkW2g$
> >>
> >>]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://baptistnews.com/article/how-300
> >> >-c
> >>
> >>hildren-lost-their-fathers-to-lynching-on-a-single-day-because-of-a-c
> >> >on
> >>
> >>spiracy-theory/?fbclid=IwAR2RtPG7DEJx-D7WiusYA9h8YLeIY-iLksb99CWAQqNI
> >> >OT
> >>
> >>7JfcGVtuRJBJY*.X_hexOBMFTZ__;Iw!!K543PA!bqFn8R79de9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0
> >> >n9
> >> >FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz0Kt6vHUA$ >
> >> >> How 300 children lost their fathers to lynching on a single day
> >> >because of a conspiracy theory – Baptist News
> >>
> >>Global<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://baptistnews.com/article/ho
> >> >w-
> >>
> >>300-children-lost-their-fathers-to-lynching-on-a-single-day-because-o
> >> >f-
> >>
> >>a-conspiracy-theory/?fbclid=IwAR2RtPG7DEJx-D7WiusYA9h8YLeIY-iLksb99CW
> >> >AQ
> >>
> >>qNIOT7JfcGVtuRJBJY*.X_hexOBMFTZ__;Iw!!K543PA!bqFn8R79de9Vzns52b-hITjy
> >> >_d sP0n9FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz0Kt6vHUA$ >
> >> >> There is nothing new about conspiracy theories. Recently, while
> >> >doing some research on the history of lynching, I learned that
> >> >Anthony Bewley, a Methodist minister, was lynched in Fort Worth,
> >> >Texas, back in 1860. Bewley was the victim of a bizarre conspiracy
> >theory.
> >> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://baptistnews.com__;!!K543PA!bqFn8
> >> >> R7 9de9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz2J_sdTMg$
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Dr. Hal Bush
> >> >>
> >> >> Professor of English &
> >> >>
> >> >> Director of the Undergraduate Program
> >> >>
> >> >> Saint Louis University
> >> >>
> >> >> [log in to unmask]
> >> >>
> >> >> 314-977-3616
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://halbush.com__;!!K543PA!bqFn8R79d
> >> >> e9 Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz1AN7IhRg$
> >> >>
> >> >> author blog:
> >> >
> >>
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.patheos.com/blogs/spiritualcof
> >>
> >fee__;!!K543PA!bqFn8R79de9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz3
> >> yog7CsA$
> >>
> ><https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.patheos.com/blogs/spiritualco
> >>
> >ffee/2020/08/spiritual-coffee-and-the-path-toward-wokeness/__;!!K543PA
> >> !bqFn8R79de9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz2ta9_2aA$ >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >--
> >> >Matt Seybold
> >> >Assistant Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies
> >> >Elmira College Editor,
> >>
> >>https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://MarkTwainStudies.org__;!!K543PA!bq
> >> >Fn 8R79de9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz05Rij2bQ$
> >>
> >>https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://MattSeybold.com__;!!K543PA!bqFn8R7
> >> >9d e9Vzns52b-hITjy_dsP0n9FgsvDNZP5iauvlDnAusm7tz3j84_nCw$
> >>
> >>
> >> Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hochbruck
> >> Dept. of English
> >> Centre for Security and Society
> >> Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg
> >> Rempart St. 15
> >> D-79098 Freiburg
> >> Germany
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Matt Seybold
> >Assistant Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies Elmira
> >College Editor,
> >https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://MarkTwainStudies.org__;!!K543PA!YvFPFg3nhs0JoTcX9GU97jh4uCJjfys4MEq0lRZDv76p8LIm5_1S-wR8LVnnlg$
> >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://MattSeybold.com__;!!K543PA!YvFPFg3nhs0JoTcX9GU97jh4uCJjfys4MEq0lRZDv76p8LIm5_1S-wQh4xkDdg$
>
>
> Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hochbruck
> Dept. of English
> Centre for Security and Society
> Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg
> Rempart St. 15
> D-79098 Freiburg
> Germany
--
Matt Seybold
Assistant Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies
Elmira College
Editor, MarkTwainStudies.org
MattSeybold.com
|
