Or in Europe and America, considering the vast backward step of the money-lust?  Or anywhere else?  If there has been any progress toward righteousness since the early days of Creation—­which, in my ineradicable honesty, I am obliged to doubt—­I think we must confine it to ten per cent of the populations of Christendom, (but leaving, Russia, Spain and South America entirely out.) This gives us 320,000,000 to draw the ten per cent from.  That is to say, 32,000,000 have advanced toward righteousness and the Kingdom of God since the “ages and ages” have been flying along, the Deity sitting up there admiring.  Well, you see it leaves 1,200,000,000 out of the race.  They stand just where they have always stood; there has been no change.

N. B. No charge for these informations.  Do come down soon, Joe. 
                         With love,
          
                              mark.

St. Clair McKelway, of The Brooklyn Eagle, narrowly escaped injuries
in a railway accident, and received the following.  Clemens and
McKelway were old friends.

To St. Clair McKelway, in Brooklyn: 

21 Fifth ave.  Sunday Morning. 
April 30, 1905. 
Dear McKELWAY, Your innumerable friends are grateful, most grateful.

As I understand the telegrams, the engineer of your train had never seen a locomotive before.  Very well, then, I am once more glad that there is an Ever-watchful Providence to foresee possible results and send Ogdens and McIntyres along to save our friends.

The Government’s Official report, showing that our railways killed twelve hundred persons last year and injured sixty thousand convinces me that under present conditions one Providence is not enough to properly and efficiently take care of our railroad business.  But it is characteristically American—­always trying to get along short-handed and save wages.

I am helping your family congratulate themselves, and am your friend as always. 
                    S. L. Clemens.

Clemens did not spend any more summers at Quarry Farm.  All its associations were beautiful and tender, but they could only sadden him.  The life there had been as of another world, sunlit, idyllic, now forever vanished.  For the summer of 1905 he leased the Copley Green house at Dublin, New Hampshire, where there was a Boston colony of writing and artistic folk, including many of his long-time friends.  Among them was Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who wrote a hearty letter of welcome when he heard the news.  Clemens replied in kind.

To Col.  Thomas Wentworth Higginson, in Boston: 

21 Fifth ave.  Sunday, March 26, z9o.5.  Dear col.  Higginson,—­I early learned that you would be my neighbor in the Summer and I rejoiced, recognizing in you and your family a large asset.  I hope for frequent intercourse between the two households.  I shall have my youngest daughter with me.  The other one will go from the rest-cure in this city to the rest-cure in Norfolk Conn and we shall not see her before autumn.  We have not seen her since the middle of October.