ABSTRACT
TheseriousaimunderMarkTwain'stravestyistheglorificationof AmericanProtestantdemocracy.Theeffortfailsthroughtheextreme partialityoftheprocedure.EvenaMarkTwain,thepersistentteacher ofirreverenceforgreatmenandgreatevents,shouldhavesomelittle respectleftforfairplay.Mr.Clemens'previousbookshavebeenbad enoughintheirstrongencouragementofoneoftheworsttendencies inademocraticState,theinclinationtosheerflippancyandunmanly irreverenceinthefaceofthenaturalsanctitiesofprivatelifeandthe grandheroismsofhumanhistory.Butthisvolumegoesmuchfurther initsendeavortobelittleacenturysurroundedwithromanticlight bymenoflatcrtimes,whothusfellbackuponpoetryasaslightrelief tothehardproseoftheiractuallot.Abuffoon,liketheheroofthis tale,playinghiscontemptibletrickswhereSirThomasMaloryhas trodwithanobleteachingofknightlycourtesy,andutteringhis witlessjokeswhereTennysonhasdrawnsomanyahighmoraloftrue gentleness,isasorryspectacle.Itisnotcalculatedtomakeareflecting personproudofashallowandself-complacentgenerationwhichcan enjoysuchso-calledhumor.
