Article September 29, 1917 Issue

In view of The Berkshire Gleaner's review of Mark Twain's...

Judge Clifford P. Smith in—Lee. Mass.

The Berkshire Gleaner

In view of The Berkshire Gleaner's review of Mark Twain's book on Christian Science, or rather his book against Mrs. Eddy, I trust that you will permit me to quote a comment on this book by his biographer, Albert Bigelow Paine. In Mr. Paine's biography he said (pp. 1186, 1187) that Mr. Clemens "never had any quarrel with the theory of Christian Science" but had "animosity for the founder."

It can hardly be contended that animosity for Mrs. Eddy qualified Mr. Clemens to deal fairly with either her or the religion she founded. Nevertheless it was characteristic of him that he aimed to be fair, and there was a contest between his dislike and his admiration for Mrs. Eddy. His final opinion of her was expressed as follows ("Mark Twain," p. 1187): "Closely examined, painstakingly studied, she is easily the most interesting person on the planet, and in several ways as easily the most extraordinary woman that was ever born upon it."

In spite of Mr. Clemens' animosity for Mrs. Eddy he paid to Christian Science the tribute that accepts the final test of every religion, namely, its fruits. Thus he said ("Christian Science," p. 268): "Personally I have not known a Scientist who did not seem serene, contented, unharassed. I have not found an outsider whose observation of Scientists furnished him a view that differed from my own." And as his biographer has said ("Mark Twain," p. 1187): "He frequently expressed a deep obligation which humanity owed to the founder of the faith, in that she had organized a healing element ignorantly and indifferently employed hitherto."

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