Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-02
Mark .Twain--Hfs Exploits at Nj
aEara.
From the Buffalo Express.l
Z The following telegram explains itself
"NIAGARA FALLS, August rs.

1 4tAA0hhA AbAct NAubuot ~.
"To the Editor Of the Express; "AN
II borrowed Jenkins's velocipede, and
tried the slack rope performance over
Niagara, but it is only q partial success.
have got to the, middle, two hundred
and twenty feet above the river, as well
as jenkins or any other man could do it,
but cannot 90 any further. 1 stopped
like that other ass to have my picture
taken, and ] can't get her started again.
I cannot back up or go ahead. My posi-
ton is exceedingly ridiculous, not to say
uncomfortable. Near-sighted English
sportsmen are practising on me with shot
guns and such things because they take
me for a sort of curious bird-and | am
Il am a rooster. They have torn my
clothes good DEAL How am ! going to
get cut of this2 I-have been suspended
long enough--I wish to suspend the exhi-
bition for while now. But if the thing
is going to be permanent, please send me
an umbrella. 1t is warm here.
"P. S.-Does my salary 60 on2 Be-
cause was instructed to try this afro
cious experiment by one of the Erpress
firm. He said it would be good card
for the paper if succeeded-but this
wretchsd thing won't bulge, you UNDER
stand. Iwss to have been married to-
day. Il wish was out Of this.
Yours, in great suspense,
MICHAEL J. MURPHY,
Reporter, Express"
From the Rochester Express.l -,
The abose is o pretty adroitly con-
trived dispatch. If it were entirely
truthful we should enjoy it none the less.
There is secret history, however, con-
nected with the transmission of this dis
patch, that will perhaps prove quite as
intereating as the telegram itself. 7
When Marx Twain bought into the es-
tablishment and entered on bis editorial
duties, week ago Saturday, he wrote q
platform" setting down his principles
and mods of action, in q comicsl way,
which seemed pleasant burlesque on
the usual mode OF sssBnaing editorial
position; every one took it in that light,
ourselves included. We even went SO
Tar as to publish his "salutstory," and
jocularly remarked to other members Of
the "staif" how valuable an auxiliary
our Buffalo neighbor had received in one
who evinced spch playful spirit while
entering with earnestness upon the srdu-
GUS duties of conducting Radical sheet.
Such sensations as the following we're
interspersed in the platform: ,-s ~
al sm simply going to do my plain,
unpretendipg, when | cannot get ont of
it; l shall work diligently aud honestly
and faithfully at all times and upon all
occasions, when privation and want shall
compel me 10 do it; in writing, l shall
always con6ne myself strictly to the
truth, except when 1t is attended with
inconvenience."
1t appears. that the other proprietor
and members ef tbs staff of the Buffalo
Erpress took this portion Of tie platform
as those whom the paper reached, think
ing il was capital JOKE and would ma
terially aid The reputation OF their organ,
Twain had been doing pretty well
ihroagh the week. and all seemed to be
running smoeinls hnt since Il was GER
tain that Professor Jenkins would s..eppt
to cross Niagara river on velocipede,
over tight rope, Twain had eyipcsa a
tendency togafd fss;llsssssuess, a7d Wed.
,s.s>s morning sRrpEssa tns f5jieesIia f5ijiiesial
STAFF by the slssseaaee@eRtt Ie sPs