The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-10-18

Exchange.

City Enterprise. The subjoined effort
was his first contribution, and the 9TH
ers we're in the same free-and-easy
strain. 1t is not necessary to say that
they drew wide notice. Reference is
made several times in this first letter
to "the Unreliable" He was the re-
porter of the well-known but long
since departed Virginia City Union, of
which Hon. Tom Fitch, the orator,
was the editor. This reporter and
Mark (then doing local work for the
Enterprise) were sent to Carson to re-
port the legislature Mark made wild
work of it. He was too lazy to pay
any attention to the routine proceed
ings, got everything wrong and his
reports were so unintentionally funny
that everybody roared over them. Joe
Goodman, editor of the Enterprise,
sent another reporter to Carson, but
ordered Twain to stay there, too and
continue his diverting record of legis-
lative progress. Now the Unions
scribe was as careful and accurate as
Mark was needless and truth-defYing
His reports were models of correctness,
and were used by the legislature every
day for reference instead of the official
minutes. Twain had the audacity, in
the face Of his own wretched perform
ances, to christen this pink of repor-
ters the Unreliable. The ironical
humor Of the title pleased the Washoe
fancy, and the nickname stuck. 1t
stuck so fast, indeed, that the poor
fellow, who prided himself upon his
accuracy more than upon anything
else in life, was called nothing else by
anybody. 1t became unbearable to
to him, especially as Twain kept con-
tinually rebuking him in print for his
assumed careless statements. The
Unreliable finally left Nevada to get
rid of bis name, and has been lost to
history,
SAN FRANCISCO, June 10, GO.
EDITOR ENTERPRISE; ] have Just
received, per Wells. Fargo, the follow
ing sweet-scented little note, written
in microscopic hand, in the center
of delicate sheet of papor-like a
wedding invitation or a funeral no
tice-and / feel it my duty to an
swer it:
Mr., MARX TWAIN: DO tell lis some
thing about the fashions. Do, now
tell us all you know about it, won't
your Pray, excuse brevity, for ! an
in Stch Il bury. BETTE.
P,S Please burn this as soon as
you have read it.
"Do tell us"--and she is in "such {
hurry" Well, l never knew a girl il
my life who could write three consecu
tive sentences without italicizing 6
word, They can't do it, you know
Now, if had wife and she-howeyer
Idon'tthink shall have one this week
and it is hardly worth while to borrow
trouble.
Bette, my love, you do me proud
in thus requesting me to fix up tn
fashions for you, in an intelligen
manner, you pay compliment to m,
critical and observant eye, and m,
varied and extensive information
which mind less perfectly balances
than mine could scarcely contemplat
without excess of vanity. Will / tel
you about the fashions' / Will, Bet
tie-you better bet you bet, Betsy, m
darling. / learned these expression
from the Unreliable; like all phrase
which fall from bis lips, they ar
frightfully vulgar; but then the
sound rather musical than othel
wise.
A happy circumstance has put it i
my power to furnish you the fashion
from headquarters-as it were, Betti,
] refer you to the assemblage Of fasl
ion, elegance and loveliness called tt
gether in the parlor OF the Lick hous
last night "a party was given by th
rroprietors on the occasion OF payin
up that little balance due on my boar
billy. will give you brief and luci
description of the dresses worn by Sc
eral Of the ladies Of my acquaintanC
who were present. Mrs. B. was ARA,
cd in superb speckled foulard, wit
the stripes running fore and aft, an
with collets and camaiis to match
also rotunde of Chantilly lace, en-
\ broidered with blue and yellow dos
and things, done in cruel and edge
with solferino fringe four inch,
deep--lovely. Mrs. B. is tall, al
graceful and beautiful, and Il
general effect OF her costume WI
to render her appearance extreme
lively.
Miss ]. w. wore a charming rol
polonaise OF scarlet rteche la Viel
with yellow fiuted flounces Of riC
bombazine, fourteen inches wide; 10
neck and short sleeves also Figa
veste OF bleached domestic selval
edge turned down with back site
and trimmed with festoons of bl,
chicoree tatfetas. Gayf I reckon NJ
Her head-dress was the sweetest thin