Europe and elsewhere, by Mark Twain [pseud.] [with an appreciation by Brander Matthews and an introduction by Albert Bigelow Paine]

TO MY MISSIONARY CRITICS

would be that. I have great confidence in Dr.
Smith's judgment concerning this detail, and he calls
it "theft and extortion" —even in China; for he
was talking about the "thirteen times" at the time
that he gave it that strong name.' It is his idea that,
when you make guilty and innocent villagers pay
the appraised damages, and then make them pay
thirteen times that, besides, the thirteen stand for
"theft and extortion."
Then what does one third extra stand for? Will
he give that one third a name? Is it Modified Theft
and Extortion? Is that it? The girl who was
rebuked for having borne an illegitimate child
excused herself by saying, "But it is such a little one."
When the "thirteen-times-extra" was alleged, it
stood for theft and extortion, in Dr. Smith's eyes,
and he was shocked. But when Dr. Ament showed
that he had taken only a third extra, instead of
thirteenfold, Dr. Smith was relieved, content, happy.
I declare I cannot imagine why. That editor-quoted
at the head of this article-was happy about it, too.
I cannot think why. He thought I ought to "make
for the amen corner and formulate a prompt apology." To whom, and for what? It is too deep for me.
To Dr. Smith, the "thirteenfold extra" clearly
1 In his Open Letter, Dr. Smith cites Dr. Ament's letter of
November I3th, which contains an account of Dr. Ament's collecting tour; then Dr. Smith makes this comment: "Nothing is said
of securing 'thirteen times' the amount of the losses." Farther
down, Dr. Smith quotes praises of Dr. Ament and his work (from
a letter of the Rev. Dr. Sheffield), and adds this comment: "Dr.
Sheffield is not accustomed to speak thus in praise of thieves, or
extortioners, or braggarts." The reference is to the "thirteen-times"
extra tax.
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