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Next eveninga truly Christian note came from McCrackan, returning the hasty letter,which he said he was sure the writer would wish to recall. The holy Hindoo pilgrim's itineraryof salvation is one of the richest of all Mark Twain's fancies, and isabout the best thing in the book. etter taste of Mark Twain's own countrymen, and in time itmust have offended even Mark Twain himself. As lateas January, 1908, he wrote on the title-page of the Old Regime:Very interesting.

e of letters, which continued to flow in until the newsaccounts of it precipitated another avalanche. There is, of course, a great MasterMind, but it cares nothing for our happiness or our unhappiness. We are like the poor ignorant private soldier-dead, now, four hundred years--who picked up the great Sancy diamond on the field of the lost battle and sold it for a franc. You can't go directto that man, a perfect stranger, and convince him of anything.