MARK TWAIN August 31. At sea in the Gallia, approaching New York (left Liverpool 23d). Now about 9 P.M. Brilliant moon, a calm sea and a magnificent lunar rainbow預 complete arch, the colors part of the time as brilliant as if it were noonday耀ome said not quite as brilliant, softened with a degree of vagueness, but to me it was not different from a daylight rainbow. One cannot see this wonder twice in his life. Fifteen years ago I saw a lunar rainbow, a complete arch in California, but it was silver white用erfectly colorless. The reader may remember that he had also once seen this phenomenon on the way from Hawaii to San Francisco. The Colorado miner on board who hates English and won't allow them to pass things to him at the table. Loathes his three English roommates because of their elleminatc affectation of wearing nightshirts. All English individuals are kind and likable葉he news- papers are snobbish, pretentious, and they scoff at America, or contemptuously ignore her. English preachers and statesmen try to draw the two nations together in friendship and mutual respect葉he newspapers, with what seems a steady and calculated purpose, discourage this. The newspapers arc going to win in this fight. The nations arc at their friendliest now葉he widening apart has begun葉he separation will be complete in a genera- tion. (1879.) For some years a custom has been growing up in our literature to praise everything English and do it affection- ately. This is not met halfway, and so it will cease. Eng- lish individuals like and respect American individuals, but the English nation despises America and Americans. But this does not sting us as it did when we were smaller. We shall presently be indifferent to being looked down 156