The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-07-29
MARK TWAIN's REVENGE.
A Picture of Senator Stewart with a
Patch Over the Eye.

Senator William M. Stewart of
Nevada, who was at the Hoffman house
recently. made many acquaintances
| during the few days he passed in this
city, says the N. Y. Record. A gem
tleman who was introduced to the
senator remarked that he had become
familiar with Senator Stewards feat
ures through picture of him that was.
printed in Mark Twain's 'Roughing
It." In this picture the senator has
patch over his eye, and it is not at all.
fiattering, for the senator is very
handsome gentleman.
MARK Twain printed that picture
for the purpose of getting even with
me because 1 once threatened to 'fiog'
him. " said Senator Stewart. II knew
Clemens while out west in the mining
camp. | was aware that he was
very brilliant man, and l took consid-
cradle interest in him. When he re-
turned 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 condition and said he was very
anxious to get out his book. He,
| showed me his notes and | saw that
they would make great book and
| probably bring him fortune. l
promised that l would stake him.
until he had the book written. 1 made
him clerk to my committee in the
senate, which paid him Sc per day;
then / hired man at 800 per month
to do the work.
81 then had rooms on street in
house which was kept by an ancient
maiden lady. She belonged to an old
southern family whose property was
lost during the war of the rebellion.
l had three large rooms on the second
floor and there was also hall room.
was very anxious that Sam should
stick to his work until he finished it, as
/ was also as much interested as he. /
took him to live with me and gave him
the hall room to sleep in. He did his
work in the room which 1 had fixed
up as 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 recreation. He usually re-
turned to his hall bedroom about mid
night and would sit up until nearly
morning reading, smoking. whistling
and singing.
His noise used to be a source of
great annoyance to the landlady. She
was very nervous in the house. / in
formed Sam of the landlady's COM
plant and told him he ought to go to
bed at a reasonable hour and not
frighten the old lady. Sam replied
that that was all the fun he had, but
he promised to mend his ways and l
, thought no more of the matter.
I'm week the landlady came to me
again, and this time with tears in her
eyes. She said she knew she was re-
ceiving 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 com.
pelled to ask me to give them up on
, account of the way Mr.. Clemens was
wearing her life out. l felt truly
) sorry for the old lady. 1 called Sam
; in and repeated to him what the land.
: lady had said. l told him l would
thrash him if / ever heard another
f: complaint. l said that did not want
t to turn him out because l wanted tc
see him finish his book. He made one
. of his smart replies at the expense ot
r the landlady and | told him that
would thrash him then and there. He
begged in most pitiful way for mt
t not to do so and 1 could not hell
3 laughing.
} Seeing that he had gotten me into
| good humor again he said he woulC
, not annoy the old woman again, bu
: that he would certainly get even will
me for having threatened to thrasl
S him if it took him ten years to d,
I so. He did get even by printing
: that Internal picture of me in hi
blamed book