The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-03
MARK TWAIN'S REVENGE.
Senator Stewart Relates How The Great HumOr-
. iSt Got Even with Him.

Senator William NJ. Stewart of Nevada.
who was at the Hoffman House recently,
made many acquaintances during the few
days he passed in this city. The fact that
he led the Republican revolt against the
Force Bill and his championship of free
coinage has added interest to his person.
atty, says the New York Recorder A
gentleman who was introduced to the Sem
ator remarked that he had become IA
milar with Senator Stewards features
through picture of him that was printed in
Mark Twain's 'Roughing It." In this pic
ture the Senator has patch over his eye.
and it is not at all fattering. for the Sena-
tor is very handsome gentleman. 1t was
stated that the picture was published by
Mark Twain in retaliation for some advice
the Senator was said to have given Twain
about the purchase of certain mining
stock. which, if the humerist had followed,
would have resulted in large profit.
mark Twain did not print that picture
for that reason" said Senator Stewart,
but for the purpose of getting even with
me because | once threatened to fog him.
knew Clements while out West in tue
| mining camp. | was aware that he was
veiy brilliant man. and L took considerable
interest in him. When he returned from his
trip abroad, during which he gathered the
material for what l consider his greatest
work, 'Innocents Abroad he came to Wash
ington. He had no money, having spent
his savings on the trip. He told me his con-
ditoD, and said he was very anxious to get
out his book. He showed me his notes. and
l saw that they would make great book
and probably bring him a fortune. l
promised that would stake him until he
had the book written. ! made him clerk
to my eofnnilttee in the Senate, which paid
| him SO per day, then hired MAN for S1OO
| per month to do the work.
II then had rooms on + street. in a house
which was kept by an ancient maiden
| lady. She belonged to an old Southern
family whose property was lost dur
ing the war of the rebellion. had three
large rooms on the second floor and there
was also ballroom. l was very anxious
that Sam should stick to his work until
he finished 1t, as was almost as interested
as he. l took him TO live with me.
and gave him the half room to sleep in.
He did his work In the room which had
fixed up as a study. He would work during
the day and in the evening he would read
me what he had written, after which he
would stroll out about the city for recre-
alton. He usually returned to his hall bed
room about midnight and would sit up until
nearly morning, reading, smoking, whistling
ana singing.
His noise used to be a source of great
annoyance to the landlady. She was very
was burning in the house. She regarded
Sam as very careless fellow and l don't
think she liked him very well. She came
to me one morning with her eyes swollen
and her appearance altogether betokening
very dilapidattd condition. She said she
had been unable to sleep all night and that
in fact for week she had been losing sleep.
Sam was the cause OF all her trouble, and
she told me how he remained up all night
burning gas and creating a rumpus. in
formed Sam of the landlady's complaint,
and told him he ought to go to bed at
reasonable hour and not brighten the old
lady. Sam replied that that was ali the fun
he had, but he promised to mend his WAYS
and l thought no more OF the matter.
''ln week the landlady came TO me again,
and this time with tears in her eyes. She
said she knew she was receiving a very
handsome rent from me for the rooms, and
that she also was aware she could not rent
them again during the season. but she was
compelled to ask me to give them up on ac-
ing her life out. i felt truly sorry for
the old lady | called Sam in and re-
peated to him what the lapdlady had said.
l told him l would thrash him if | ever
heard another complaint. / said that | did
not want TO turn him out because | wanted
him to finish his book. He made one of his
smart replies at the expense of the landlady
and told him that would thrash him then
and there. He begged in most pitifnl way
for me not to do so and could not help
laughing
Seeing that he had gotten me into good
humor again, ne said that he would not an
noy the old woman again, but that be would
certainly get even with me for having
threatened to thrash him, if it took bin ten
years to do so. He did get even by printing
that internal picture of me in his blamed
book"