ABSTRACT
Ifnecessityisthemotherofinvention,misfortuneisthemotherof literature.WhenNathanielHawthorne:wasejectedfromtheCustomHouseatSalemhewenthomeinadespondentframeofmind,only tobegreetedbyhiswonderfulwife'spertinentremark,'Nowyou canwriteyourbook.'Herespondedtothisstimulusbywritingthe bestbookeverwrittenintheWesternHemisphere,TheScarletLetter. \VelearnfromafamouschapterinRoughi11gItthatifSamuelL. Clemenshadnotgonetohelpasickfriend,orifhispartnerh~d receivedthenoteheleftforhimbeforestartingonthischaritable expedition,SamuelL.Clemenswouldhavebeenamillionaire.This episodehassincehisdeathbeenprintedinalistofthemisfortunesthat markedhisromanticandtragiccareer.ButifatthattimeMr.Clcmem hadbecomeamillionaire,andhemisseditbythenarrowestpossible margin,heneverwouldhavebecomeMarkTwain.Hestruggled againsthisdestinywithallthephysicalandmentalforcehepossessed. Hetriedtomakealivingbyeverymeansexceptliterature,andnothing butsteadymisfortuneanddirenecessitymadehimwalkintheforeordainedpath.MarkTwainalwaysregardedhimselfastheplaything ofchance;professingnobeliefinGod,heneverthankedHimforhis amazingsuccesses,norrebelledagainstHimforhissufferings.Butif evertherewasamanwhosetimeswereinHishand,thatmanwas MarkTwain.
