Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/194

 MARK TWAIN

valuable; no one cares much for such finds. In our American magazines we recognize this and sup press them. We avoid naming them. American writers never allow themselves to name them. It would look as if they were in a temper, and we hold that exhibitions of temper in public are not good form except in the very young and inexperienced. And even if we had the disposition to name them, in order to fill up a gap when we were short of ideas and arguments, our magazines would not allow us to do it, because they think that such words sully then- pages. This present magazine is particularly stren uous about it. Its note to me announcing the for warding of your proof-sheets to France closed thus for your protection:

&quot; It is needless to ask you to avoid anything that he might consider as personal.&quot;

It was well enough, as a measure of precaution, but really it was not needed. You can trust me im plicitly, M. Bourget; I shall never call you any names in print which I should be ashamed to call you with your unoffending and dearest ones present.

Indeed, we are reserved, and particular in America to a degree which you would consider exaggerated. For instance, we should not write notes like that one of yours to a lady for a small fault or a large one. 1 We should not think it kind. No matter

&quot;But not even your nasty article on my country, Mark,&quot; etc.

&quot;Mark might certainly have derived from it [M. Bourget s book] a lesson in politeness and good manners.&quot;

A quoted remark of mine is &quot;unworthy of a gentleman.&quot;

1 When M. Paul Bourget indulges in a little chaffing at the expense, of the Americans, &quot;who can always get away with a few years

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