On Sat, Dec 4, 2021 at 8:32 PM John’s Mail <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > now available at: > > https://archive.org/details/societyasihavefoundit_2111_librivox > > Society as I Have Found It > Ward McAllister (1827 - 1895) > > Mark Twain illustrator Dan Beard recalled discussing McAllister’s book > with Twain. “It was before Webster & Company failed that Ward McAllister’s > book (Society as I have Found It) appeared, and when he (Twain) sauntered > into my studio one day, I said: > ‘Mr. Clemens, have you read Ward McAllister’s book?’ > ‘Yes; have you?’ he replied. > ‘Indeed, I have. I have read it through several times, and intend to read > it again. It is one of the most humorous books I ever read.’ > ‘That’s so,’ said Mark, ‘that’s so. Now, I will tell you something. I > spent three months writing a satire on that book of Ward McAllister’s. And > when I got through, I again read McAllister’s book, and then my satire, and > then tore the blamed thing up. Some things are complete in themselves and > cannot be improved upon, and I take off my hat to Mr. McAllister.’” (ref. A > Bibliography of the Work of Mark Twain by Merle Johnson) > > > > > +++++ > “ When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands > explained.” > – Mark Twain > > John Greenman > 207-974-9911 > My Archive.org audio recordings > -- Arianne Laidlaw A '58