MARK TWAIN
Asked me in strict detail precisely the questions which
I have answered so many million times already:
"First visit?
Pity about the smoke.
Where do you go from here?
Have you had good houses?
Have you enjoyed the trip?
Your family with you ?
Where do you go from Australia?
How long will the trip take you?
Are you going to write a book about the voyage?
What will be the character of it?" (tempted to say
hydrophobia, seamanship and agriculture.)
A stretch of 18 miles in which there is not a single place
named Victoria. En route to Vancouver, Aug. 15. This
shows that we are not under the British flag.
Letter sent to Rudyard Kipling:
Vancouver, B. C., Aug. 16, 1895.
Dear Kipling: It is reported that you are about to
revisit India. This has moved me to journey to that far
country in order that I may unload from my conscience
a debt long due you. Years ago you came from India to
Elmira to visit me, as you said at the time. It has always
been my purpose to return that visit and that great com-
pliment, some day. I shall arrive next January, and you
must be ready. I shall come riding my Ayah, with his
tusks adorned with silver bells and ribbons, and escorted
by a troop of native Howdahs, richly clad and mounted
upon a herd of wild bungalows, and you must be on hand
with a few bottles of ghee, for I shall be thirsty.
Victoria, B. C., Hotel Driard, Aug. 22. Lectured last
night—house full. The Governor-General and Lady Aber-
deen and their little son in Highland costume, present.
Several bars of "God Save the Queen" played when they
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