Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/330

 MARK TWAIN

Szczepanik; 1 Mr. K., his financial backer; Mr. W., the latter s secretary; and Lieutenant Clayton of the United States army. War was at that time threat ening between Spain and our country, and Lieu tenant Clayton had been sent to Europe on military business. I was well acquainted with young Szcze panik and his two friends, and I knew Mr. Clayton slightly. I had met him at West Point years before, when he was a cadet. It was when General Merritt was superintendent. He had the reputation of being an able officer, and also of being quick-tempered and plain-spoken.

This smoking-party had been gathered together partly for business. This business was to consider the availability of the telelectroscope for military service. It sounds oddly enough now, but it is nevertheless true that at that time the invention was not taken seriously by any one except its in ventor. Even his financial supporter regarded it merely as a curious and interesting toy. Indeed, he was so convinced of this that he had actually post poned its use by the general world to the end of the dying century by granting a two years exclusive lease of it to a syndicate, whose intent was to exploit it at the Paris World s Fair.

When we entered the smoking-room we found Lieutenant Clayton and Szczepanik engaged in a warm talk over the telelectroscope in the German tongue. Clayton was saying:

&quot;Well, you know my opinion of it, anyway !&quot; and he brought his fist down with emphasis upon the table.

Pronounced (approximately) Zepawnik.

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