In the foregoing letter we get the first intimation of Mark Twain’s failing health.  The nephew who had died was Samuel E. Moffett, son of Pamela Clemens.  Moffett, who was a distinguished journalist—­an editorial writer on Collier’s Weekly, a man beloved by all who knew him—­had been drowned in the surf off the Jersey beach.

To W. D. Howells, Kittery Point, Maine: 

Aug. 12, ’08.  Dear Howells,—­Won’t you and Mrs. Howells and Mildred come and give us as many days as you can spare, and examine John’s triumph?  It is the most satisfactory house I am acquainted with, and the most satisfactorily situated.

But it is no place to work in, because one is outside of it all the time, while the sun and the moon are on duty.  Outside of it in the loggia, where the breezes blow and the tall arches divide up the scenery and frame it.

It’s a ghastly long distance to come, and I wouldn’t travel such a distance to see anything short of a memorial museum, but if you can’t come now you can at least come later when you return to New York, for the journey will be only an hour and a half per express-train.  Things are gradually and steadily taking shape inside the house, and nature is taking care of the outside in her ingenious and wonderful fashion—­and she is competent and asks no help and gets none.  I have retired from New York for good, I have retired from labor for good, I have dismissed my stenographer and have entered upon a holiday whose other end is in the cemetery. 
                    Yours ever,
                                   Mark.

From a gentleman in Buffalo Clemens one day received a letter inclosing an incompleted list of the world’s “One Hundred Greatest Men,” men who had exerted “the largest visible influence on the life and activities of the race.”  The writer asked that Mark Twain examine the list and suggest names, adding “would you include Jesus, as the founder of Christianity, in the list?”

To the list of statesmen Clemens added the name of Thomas Paine; to
the list of inventors, Edison and Alexander Graham Bell.  The
question he answered in detail.

To-----------, Buffalo, N.  Y.

Private.  Redding, Conn, Aug. 28, ’08. 
Dear sir,—­By “private,” I mean don’t print any remarks of mine.

.................. 
I like your list.

The “largest visible influence.”

These terms require you to add Jesus.  And they doubly and trebly require you to add Satan.  From A.D. 350 to A.D. 1850 these gentlemen exercised a vaster influence over a fifth part of the human race than was exercised over that fraction of the race by all other influences combined.  Ninety-nine hundredths of this influence proceeded from Satan, the remaining fraction of it from Jesus.  During those 1500 years the fear of Satan and Hell made 99 Christians where love of God and Heaven landed one.  During those 1500 years, Satan’s influence was worth very nearly a hundred times as much to the business as was the influence of all the rest of the Holy Family put together.