Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-01-07
MARK TwAIH's INSANITY.
Raseytsg aimsstf che 0be1isk, and
TrssbseA Ahsas Has his.s-
gly phtes.

The New York Sun OF December 70
came to hand todsy with it, letter
from Hartford. Conn.,. concerning Mark
Twain and his alleged dslusion that he
was the Egyptian obslisk. Ths Suns
correspondent says that he went to
Twain's back yard on Christmas. and
then continues his narrative A. follows {:
There I discovered the hunorist stand
ing on an empty dry goods box. His
posture was very erect. His arms were
tightly pressed against his sides. He
wore long ulster. reaching to his ankles.
and on his head Q hish.psshsd hat. pro-
cured during his travels In the Tyrol.
His face was solemn.
"Hsllo, Mark" said ! "whst are
you doing on that boxf I. Merry Christ
mas I"
He stifiy inclined bis head. "Didn't
you know" he demanded in allow. grave
tones, "thst I ant.dats the Christian
Era BY many centuries What 10 thun-
der do you mean in talking Christmas
In my presence |"
"Coms, come" said I. ono joking.
Get down of the box and 60 in whore
It's warm"
''If you refer to the pedestal" be re-
piled. II can't get down unless I'm
lowered. Aud a. to the temperature. II
has little effect on Q monelith seasoned
a. I an seasoned"
''You look like . nonolith." I I'D.
mitt-d. '.in that ulster and that Hat"
"You really think sof" be eagerly
asked. His features relaxed to an ex-
preston something like complacency,
and hs sat down upon the edge Of the
boz and began to drum against the side
With his heels. "You really believe I'm
the genuine. only original obeliskf"
"ObeliskI" said I. II saw the ODE.
LAX day before yesterday in New York.
They've got II a. Tar a. the trestlswork.
You're . humorist, not an obelisk."
Marx Twain Immediately ascsnded the
boz again. while his features once mere
assumed their stony look.
.You have been imposed upon." be
remarked with great dignity. "Thst
thing In New York 10 bogus. 1t 10
practical joke Of Gorringe's. II 10 .
Cardiff giant OF an ob-lisk; . composite.
plaster fraud concoot.d on the voyage
over. and palmed OF on an unsuspscting
community. The real obelisk was
shipped to Hartford BY Freight No. 81,
New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railroad. You behold IL st this identical
moment"
! took Of my hat. This seemed 10
please him . good deal.
Excuse me-" he went on. eft i Am .
tribe touohy on the subject. Every no.
aolith IL naturally sensitive when his az
th-nticity IL called In question. Don't
I appear stiff and hard enough 10 satisfy
the most skepticalf"
"You look stiff and hard enough"
said I. hut where are your hieroelyph-
icsl That's the test Of . true obslisk-
the hieroelyphics."
.'Just what ! expected" hs returned.
with some show Of feeling. "Thers
don't appear to b any hisroglyphics.
perhsps you think. Singular. but I'd
Noticed the fact myself. and tie given
me considerable concern. Do those
hieroelyphicsr' he continued. getting o..
cited. 'I don't know What TO make OF
IL. Sometimes I think Corrinss took
'sn and plsstsred 'sm on his shsm
shaft. Then I think Msrshsll Jewsll's
stnlen 'sm for . tslesraphie cipher. Then
again ! surniss that they've merely
struck In. and will blossom out again %
400 a. I've got aeclinstsd. But you'll
allow that lie putting . respectable
Egyptian antiquity ct . disadvantses to
steal his hisroglyphics. Any fool can
come along and ssy. You're no obslisk.
whsre the d r your hisroelyph-
leap"