The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-17
TWAIN's TOM SAWYER, +"
The Original Now Runs a Saloon in San
Francisco,

Francisco.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
An old-fashioned sign over the doorway
OF 935 Mission street informs people who
look at 1t that Tom Sawyer is a dealer in
wines, liquors aud cigars.
Perhaps it is the way the letters are made
or the way the sign is hung that makes 1t
look so cordial. But instinctively you feel
that this Tom Sawyer must be a pretty
nice sort of fellow and more than likely
can tell good story and perhaps sing a
song or two.
When you have entered and called for a
drop OF whatever brand of LIQUID comfort
you are fondest Of you look around and see
more curiosities than many museum
contains. There are fire helmets, speaking
trumpets, sections of old fire engines.
buckhorns, old newspapers framed. pictures
OF nearly everybody, and lots OF things
that you don't know anything at all about.
You hear a voluble parrot addressing
insulting remarks to an oblivious cat who
is fast asleep In the arm chair In the corner
BY this time you are sure that this Tom
Sawyer is q character. So he is: for it was
after him that Samuel NJ. Clemens, or
Mark Twain as he is oftener called, named
his famous book. And the per Of the
little saloon on Mission street told him most
of the stories about the boy who induced
his fellows TO do most Of his work, under
the impression that they were enjoying
themselves.
Tom Sawyer says he is 66 years old, and
you don't believe him. He looks scarcely
IS. His face is not wrinkled, nor is his hair
gray. Perhaps it is his smile that makes
him look 80 young. He is not more than
inches taller than feet, but his dimen-
sions, so far as circumference ia con-
oerned, are quite ample, aud he likes to be
sociable.
Eyes, it was after me that Sam"-he al
ways calls Mr. Clemens Sam-"Damed his
book, and told him lots of things that he
put In it, too. You see, we use to knock
around aRood deal together, me and Sam,
and we was always telling each other stories.
| Sam was a dandy. He could drink more
and talk more than any other fellow ever
seen. He'd set down in chair and take a
drink, and then he'd begin to tell US some
! joke or mother, and then somebody'd buy
him another drink and he'd tell US another
| joke. Once be got started he'd set there all
night, but you had to throw a drink into
him every two or three minutes. The
crowd would always stay as long as he did,
too. Yes, sir, | tell you that Sam was the
greatest story teller the world has ever pro-
duced. lam not prepared to say how he
sizes up as liar, but | think he could hold
his own that way, too. But there was SO
never could exactly place 'em. | used TO
lie some myself. You see. had to be Ia
| the game. But never tried to compete
with Sam.
He was workin' on the Call when it was
a newspaper. He never had a cent, and
most OF the time his shoes we're worn out
and his clothes needed patchin'. But be
didn't care. They'd send him out down at
| the paper to write something up and he'd
tn the RuSa hnuaa md uiN tolI
ing stories and drtnkin' all day, Then he'd
go back TO the Office and write up what he'd
| been sent out for. Most times 10 was all
wrong, but mighty entertainin'. But be-
| lleve his city editor said he was unreliable,
He used to cost me about $50 a month.
You see, he was such good fellow. and he
didn't seem able TO look out much for him
self and sorter took care of him. He never
! had cent, and l used 10 pay for most of
| his clothes. | often hear from him now.
! He's comm out here just as soon as he gets
back from Europe. l s'pose after his comm
| into SO much money that he will be a little
high. but don't think it'll take long TO
make good Teller out'n him again. | ex-
! pect that naturally his society affiliations
have spoiled him bit He never went into
what they call genuine society none when
he was here. Some Of the fellers he used to
chase around with has got to be pretty swell
! people though, just the same us him
81 suppose you know how l came to get
the name of Mark Twain3 No7 Well, it
was up in Virginia City, away back In 1860.
! Tom Peasley was keepin' saloon there
then, and Larry Ryan was tendin' bar.
| Sam had been drinkin' some, aud spent all
his money. Maybe he'd gone against faro
bank little, too, but anyway, he was
busted and thirsty. He knew Tom and
Larry both just as we'll as anybody AID
he'd hung up many a drink there, too.
| They was both getting little tired of it,
but whenever they'd kick he'd tell some
! joke or other and walk off while they was
laughin' at it.
"Well, this time he comes in with a friend
and ordered two cocktails. After they were
| drunk Sam just held up two fingers at
Larry and winked. Larry made out as if
he didn't understand what sam was drivin'
| at. so Sam just leaned over the counter and
says in q stage whisper believe they call
it, Mark TWAIN meaning for Larry to put
two chalks on the slate. Well, Tom Peas
! ley heard it aud wasn't going to have il
that way, but Sam he started in to tell some
ridiculous thing or other and Tom had 20
laugh and say, AN right But always
after that he called Sam Mark Twain and
| when Sam commenced writin' books he
! signed that name. Sam was a dandy. Won
| bet He was his own original in 'Huckle-
| berry Finn you know, and | recognized
many an incident in that book as having
| happened to Sam himself.
! Sick haadacha uiaIJc