MARK TWAIN

wanted me to furnish money for him to go to Turkey
with. It appears that a year or more ago Gov. Stanford
of California was dining with the Sultan when the latter
offered him a franchise for a railroad from Constantinople
to the Persian Gulf. Stanford came home full of the
project; then his son died and he at once lost all interest
in life. So he gave the chance to Jesse Grant, and offered
to join Gen. Grant in furnishing Jesse letters to the Sultan.

I had to leave before Jesse could get back but I shall
furnish the money for the experiment.

July 10. Gen. Grant has written the Sultan.

Write a blast against the temperance and other "pledge"
folly.

Some day make a little book, call it "Picturesque inci-
dents in history and tradition (of all countries)," For
instance: Describe what Kngland was like during the six
years wherein no church bell was heard—John and his
whole realm being under Papal curse and interdict.

The children's pilgrimage to Palestine.

To please Richard III a priest of Westminster invented,
or allowed, the quibble that Sanctuary was a refuge for
only those who were guilty of crime—and so poor little
Prince Henry having committed no crime, had no right to
that profession—wherefore the child was taken out of the
sanctuary and delivered to his uncle, to be smothered in
the tower.

I have no sense of humor. In illustration of this fact I
will say this—by way of confession—that if there is a
humorous passage in the Pickwick Papers I have never
been able to find it.

On board train, Binghamton, July 23, 1885, 10 A.M.

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