The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1884-11-05
MARK TWAfN,s START.
How He Accepted q Place on
The Virginia CITY Enierprlse.

lfH ftl BITS
Mark Twain was mining out
near Virginia City, way back in
the sixties said ah old reporter
the other night. sHeswas hardp up
andmaking nothing Hewas un.
known TO the world. The Fourth
of July came along, and Mark,
having more time than money, sat
down aud wrote a Fourth Of July
grafton. It was a splendid one-a
slem,winder -perhaps the best
work he eyerdid.
II was never delivered. Mark
wrote it, claiming that /. was de.
liyered by d rough miner in the
camp. The thing was sent 70 the
Territorial Eaterniss at virginia
Eci,y, and printed. Il soi the Vir.
ginia City people Wild. Judge
Goodwin was the editor Of the En-
tapsissS he read it and was greatly
pleased. He made up his mind
THAT the author Of that paper was
a rare genius. Immediately a let.
ter was dispatched to hint 4
"sIE-1f $40 a week will induce
you to take a place on the EnIT.
prise staff, come az once.a
This was all the letter said.
Nothing was heard Of Clemens.
Days passed into weeks, Finally
about the middle Of August, all the
staff and several friends we're sit,
ting in the sanctum, discussing
various things, among which was
the famous oration and the un.
known author.
All Of a sudden The door slammed
back with fearful violence; the men
Jumped up pand slapped their hands
on their arsenals; all trenbled and
turned pale with fear and surprise.
Without a word, with a military
tread, looking neither to the right
nor to the left, a face covered with
a solemn, ghastly expression and a
five weeks growth Of hair, q man
stalked TO the centre Of the room,
with a great bundle-his earthly
etfects-on stick over his shoul-
der, miners costume, slouch hat
and general uncoulh appearance.
In the middle Of the room he dash.
ed the bundle to the floor. Turn
ing TO the preacher Of the town,
whom be took for the editor, Mark
said in gruff voice;
| "If ! don't believe I'm lousy, I'll
be d-d."
SIS he madY' was The first
thought Of all. aWho is he, and
what is he9o
Fully three minutes had passed
from The flinging open Of the door
until the bundle wasdropped. All
this time not a word had been ut.
tered. Mark made the remarkable
speech, as above and for fully a
minute didn'topen his head again.
The men looked at the great, rough,
starving creature; then at each
other. Still looking at the preach.
er, who was shiyeting greatly, Mark
said, gruffly;
"You sent for me. You want
me to work at $40 a week. l am
tiere."
The men looked at him again
Then at each other. Can he be
mad2 Can it be possible that that
man, that horrid specimen of hu-
manity, is the author Of that ia
nous speech, which had been cop
led into every paper in the land,
and had turned all eyes toYirginia
City, and brought the Enterprise
Unto fame at a jump Goodwin be-
gan to feel that he was sorry he had
written to Mark. Still Mark stood
in the centre Of the floor, looking
at the little meek'eyed preacher
AT this moment Goodwin stepped
out, and extending his hand, said;
"Y.e'e.s. Well, yes. We were
so much pleased with your speech
that we decided to hire you"
They shook hands. Mark took
off his dirk and revolver and laid
them on the table, and "fell in, "
and a half hour was very pleasant,
ly spent. Mark taking the lead in
telling his experience. Next day
Mark logged up a little, reported
for duty, and from that day the
Enterprise began to turn and bristle
with mirth and wonderful stories,
and Mark Twain's name became a
household word, as also did the
Enterprise"
"Have you weak eyesG' said a
lady to an applicant for a kitchen