Sundays with Mark Twain — (1895 and 1896, including excerpts from "Joan of Arc" and "Tom Sawyer, Detective")
Sundays with Mark Twain #95
1895
1895.1.739) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: It seemed to me that the outlook was dark; almost Egyptian, in fact.
Scripture: And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness [which] may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. – Exodus 10:21-23
Work; Date: What Paul Bourget Thinks of Us; January, 1895
Source: https://www.mtwain.com/What_Paul_Bourget_Thinks_of_Us/0.html
1895.2.740) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: The world seems to think that the love of money is “American”; and that the mad desire to get suddenly rich is “American.” I believe that both of these things are merely and broadly human, not American monopolies at all. The love of money is natural to all nations, for money is a good and strong friend. I think that this love has existed everywhere, ever since the Bible called it the root of all evil.
Scripture: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. – 1 Timothy 6:10
Work; Date: What Paul Bourget Thinks of Us; January, 1895
Source: https://www.mtwain.com/What_Paul_Bourget_Thinks_of_Us/0.html
1895.3.741,742) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I am glad, with you and the nation, to welcome the new ship. She is another pride, another consolation, for a great country whose mighty fleets have all vanished, and which has almost forgotten what it is to fly its flag to sea. I am not sure as to which St. Paul she is named for. Some think it is the one that is on the upper Mississippi, but the head quartermaster told me it was the one that killed Goliath. But it is not important. No matter which it is, let us give her hearty welcome and godspeed.
Scripture: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: – Romans 11:13
Scripture: And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. – 1 Samuel 17:57
Work; Date: An Undelivered Speech; March 25, 1895
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3188/3188-h/3188-h.htm#link2H_4_0092
1896
1896.1.743) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: There is only one possible stage below the Moral Sense; that is the Immoral Sense. The Frenchman has it. Man is but little lower than the angels. This definitely locates him. He is between the angels and the French.
Scripture: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: -- Hebrews 2:7
Work; Date: Man’s Place in the Animal World; August, 1896
Source: Collected Tales, Sketches, Speeches, & Essays: 1891-1910
1896.2.744) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I knew you would be interested in that wonderful girl, and that Mr. Rogers was already interested in her and touched by her; and I was sure that if nobody else helped her you two would; but you have gone far and away beyond the sum I expected—may your lines fall in pleasant places here and Hereafter for it! [ “that wonderful girl” was Helen Keller ]
Scripture: The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. -- Psalm 16:6
Work; Date: Letter to Mrs. Henry H. Rogers; December 22, 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3196/3196-h/3196-h.htm
1896.3.745) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I want to thank Mr. Rogers for crucifying himself again on the same old cross between Bliss and Harper; and goodness knows I hope he will come to enjoy it above all other dissipations yet, seeing that it has about it the elements of stability and permanency.
Scripture: Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. -- John 19:16
Work; Date: Letter to Mrs. Henry H. Rogers; December 22, 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3196/3196-h/3196-h.htm
Excerpts from “PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF JOAN OF ARC”
1896.4.746,747) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Oh, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the heedless and unthinking are condemned; would God I could bring the little creatures back, for your sake.
Scripture: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. -- Psalms 8:2
Scripture: And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? -- Matthew 21:16
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 2; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.5.748) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Oh, thou remorseless but most just accuser, no, it is not. I will put on sackcloth and ashes; there—are you satisfied?
Scripture: O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. -- Jeremiah 6:26
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 2; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.6.749) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: “Oh, father, how can you talk like that? Who owns France?”
“God and the King.”
“Not Satan?”
“Satan, my child? This is the footstool of the Most High—Satan owns no handful of its soil.”
Scripture: Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? -- Isaiah 66:1
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 2; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.7.750) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Who caught them again in harmless sports that God allowed and a man forbade, and carried out that threat, and drove the poor things away from the home the good God gave them in His mercy and His pity, and sent down His rain and dew and sunshine upon it five hundred years in token of His peace?
Scripture: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. -- Matthew 5:45
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 2; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.8.751,752) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I will tell you, but do not be disturbed; you are not in danger. It was the shadow of an archangel—Michael, the chief and lord of the armies of heaven.
Scripture: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. -- Daniel 12:1
Scripture: And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. -- Revelation 12:7,8
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 3; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.9.753) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Some of the men had been trying to understand why Joan continued to be alert, vigorous, and confident while the strongest men in the company were fagged with the heavy marches and exposure and were become morose and irritable. There, it shows you how men can have eyes and yet not see. All their lives those men had seen their own women-folks hitched up with a cow and dragging the plow in the fields while the men did the driving. They had also seen other evidences that women have far more endurance and patience and fortitude than men—but what good had their seeing these things been to them? None. It had taught them nothing. They were still surprised to see a girl of seventeen bear the fatigues of war better than trained veterans of the army.
Scripture: Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? -- Mark 8:14-18
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 4; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.10.754) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Would Joan be disturbed by this cheap spectacle, this tinsel show, with its small King and his butterfly dukelets?—she who had spoken face to face with the princes of heaven, the familiars of God, and seen their retinue of angels stretching back into the remoteness of the sky, myriads upon myriads, like a measureless fan of light, a glory like the glory of the sun streaming from each of those innumerable heads, the massed radiance filling the deeps of space with a blinding splendor?
Scripture: And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; -- Revelation 5:11
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 6; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.11.755) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Even the Dominican himself looked pleased, to see his master-stroke so neatly parried, and I heard a venerable bishop mutter, in the phrasing common to priest and people in that robust time, “By God, the child has said true. He willed that Goliath should be slain, and He sent a child like this to do it!”
Scripture: Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. -- 1 Samuel 17:45
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 8; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.12.756) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: The first shall be last and the last first—there’s authority for this surprise. But at the same time wasn’t it a lofty hoist for our big bull!
Scripture: So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. -- Matthew 20:16
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 11; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.13.757) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: “Way, there—way for the MAID OF ORLEANS!” The first time that that immortal name was ever uttered—and I, praise God, was there to hear it! The mass divided itself like the waters of the Red Sea, and down this lane Joan went skimming like a bird, crying, “Forward, French hearts—follow me!” and we came winging in her wake on the rest of the borrowed horses, the holy standard streaming above us, and the lane closing together in our rear.
Scripture: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. -- Exodus 14:21-30
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Chapter 18; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2874/2874-h/2874-h.htm
1896.14.758) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Do you think it was right to go away to the wars without getting your parents’ leave? It is written one must honor his father and his mother.”
Scripture: Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. -- Matthew 19:19
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Book 3, Chapter 11; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2875/2875-h/2875-h.htm
1896.15.759) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: The judge still insisted that she submit them to the decision of the Church. She said:
“I will submit them to Our Lord who sent me. It would seem to me that He and His Church are one, and that there should be no difficulty about this matter.” Then she turned upon the judge and said, “Why do you make a difficulty when there is no room for any?”
Scripture: These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ... “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. -- John 17:21
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Book 3, Chapter 12; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2875/2875-h/2875-h.htm
1896.16.760) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: What a strange document that was, and what an exhibition and exposure of the heart of man, the one creature authorized to boast that he is made in the image of God.
Scripture: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. -- Genesis 1:27
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Book 3, Chapter 12; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2875/2875-h/2875-h.htm
1896.17.761) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: To my mind the University’s position was weak, and I will tell you why. It had claimed that Joan’s angels were devils in disguise, and we all know that devils do disguise themselves as angels; up to that point the University’s position was strong;
Scripture: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. -- 2 Corinthians 11:14
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Book 3, Chapter 18; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2875/2875-h/2875-h.htm
1896.18.762) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: But we were young, you know, and youth hopeth all things, believeth all things.
Scripture: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, ... Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. -- 1 Corinthians 13:4,7
Work; Date: Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Book 3, Chapter 19; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2875/2875-h/2875-h.htm
Excerpt from “TOM SAWYER, DETECTIVE”
1896.19.763) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: “Am I his brother’s keeper?” And then he kind of wilted together, and looked like he wished he hadn’t spoken so, and then he says, very gentle: “But you needn’t say that, Billy; I was took sudden and irritable, and I ain’t very well these days, and not hardly responsible. Tell him he ain’t here.”
Scripture: And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? -- Genesis 4:9
Work; Date: Tom Sawyer, Detective, Chapter 7; 1896
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/93/93-h/93-h.htm