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Another long pause And then: “Result of practice, I guess”

The laughter came, and I saw Elizabeth dab at her eyes

After more than an hour of effervescent brilliance, it beca to the podius, and Twain asked our permission to sit down

He sat down and lit a cigar, which drew another round of applause

He was finishing up When he spoke this ti directly to me

“There’s a question I’ht have an opinion on this Why does a crowd of people stand by, smitten to the heart and ns pretend to enjoy a lynching?”

The rooh of one man at the b

ack

“Why does the crowd lift no hand or voice in protest?” Twain said “Only because it would be unpopular to do it, I think Eachwhich, to the general run of the race, is more dreaded than wounds and death”

Still the audience sat rapt, un

“When there is to be a lynching, the people hitch up and co their wives and children,” he said “Really to see it? No—they come only because they are afraid to stay at home, lest it be noticed and offensively commented upon

“No mob has any sand in the presence of a man known to be splendidly brave When I was a boy, I saw a brave gentleman deride and insult a mob, and drive it away

“This would lead one to think that perhaps the res is to station a brave man in each affected community But where shall these brave men be found? That is indeed a difficulty There are not three hundred of them on the earth”

That’s exactly what Mark Twain said that night I looked around and saw al their heads, as if they all agreed

Chapter 57