LIII
mark twain pays his debts
MARK TWAIN wrote much and well during this period, in spite of his social life. His article "Concerning the Jews" was written that first winter in Vienna—a fine piece of special pleading; also the greatest of his short stories—one of the greatest of all short stories—"The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg."
But there were good reasons why he should write better now; his mind was free of a mighty load he had paid his debts!
Soon after his arrival in Vienna he had written to Mr. Rogers:
Let us begin on those debts. I cannot bear the weight any longer. It totally unfits me for work.
He had accumulated a large sum for the purpose, and the royalties from the new book were beginning to roll in. Payment of the debts was begun. At the end of December he wrote again:
Land, we are glad to see those debts diminishing. For the first time in my life I am getting more pleasure from paying money out than from pulling it in.
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