Mark Twain

Lisa and I were treated to a whirlwind tour of Elmira, New York - Mark Twain country. Lisa had a show to do in the Park Church where Mr. Twain entertained some billiards, cigars, and good conversation; oh, and when he was prodded a bit, a sermon or two. He was not fond of organized religion, but he did support this particular in any way he could.

He was respectful though. His wife Olivia, and her family, were very much the First Family of Park Church, so Samuel had to be on his best behavior.
Earlier that day, a special visit was arranged at Woodlawn Cemetery where Samuel Clemens(Mark Twain) is laid to rest. It was an inspiring moment for all of us.

Samuel's wife Olivia. They were as close as two people could get. Clemens first beheld her image in an ivory miniature in her brother's stateroom aboard the Quaker City, the voyage on which Clemens recorded for Innocents Abroad. Soon after his return, he visited the Langdons and less than two weeks after that, he was in love and proposed to her. She rejected his offer at first but after a couple years and a couple hundred letters, they were finally engaged. During this courtship, Clemens made some remarkable reformations - "Livy disapproved of drinking, smoking, Western manners, and even humorists, and he courted her by offering, in all sincerity, to make over his character and his habits to meet her desires. For a while, he came close to religious orthodoxy, prayed, and went to church..." To Olivia's dismay and continual frustration, these efforts to reform himself curbed off after his courtship, and he reverted back to some of his old habits and religious unorthodoxy.

The study where Mark Twain penned his classics. It was originally stationed on the grounds of the Quarry Farm owned by Olivia's family, but later moved to the University in town.