mark twain delivered this speech on june 9, 1909, at the graduation ceremony of misses tewksburys school in baltimore, maryland. frances nunnally was graduating and he had promised to attend her graduation. they met on board the minneapolis during twains 1907 trip to england to receive an honorary degree from oford university and she became a member of his aquarium club. twains brief remarks at her graduation was his last public speech.
i dont know what to tell you girls to do. mr. martin has told you everything you ought to do, and now i must give you some donts.
there are three things which come to my mind which i consider ecellent advice:
first, girls, dont smoke -- that is, dont smoke to ecess. i am seventy-three and a half years old, and have been smoking seventy-three of them. but i never smoke to ecess -- that is, i smoke in moderation, only one cigar at a time.
second, dont drink -- that is, dont drink to ecess.
third, dont marry -- i mean, to ecess.
honesty is the best policy. that is an old proverb; but you dont want ever to forget it in your journey through life.
