The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-05
MARK TWAIN'S POVERTY.
Great American Hunorist Strug-
cling with Misfortune.
Financial Reverscs Bring him to the
Necessity of Beginning Anow, It
Three Score Years, the Work
of bis Life.


Mark Twain is now impoverished and
slave to a debt. He is in poor health,
confined to modest lodging in;London,
and burdened with age and the woes of
a broken heart 1t is probable that the
end has come.
There is but a single hope for this
man. who for 20 years has shared the
field of American letters-as the En-
ropeans estimate American letters
with Bret Harte. He is home from a
trip around the world 1t began in Van
cover and ended in London-a failure
from the start He has been working
for weeks on the manuscript Of the
story, but the few who have hunted
him in the modest room fear that the
inspiration has gone. He is working
under forced conditions, and the pre-
diction is that the tale of the tour will
be like plant forced to blossom in I'M
natural conditions.
Mark Twain is 81 years old and handi
capped by the fact that his best efforts
have not been his latest.
There is 10 question as to the posi-
ton he used to hold in the English and
continental estimate. No one has ever
divided his standing as the American
humorist THE 1nnocents Abroad"
was translated into the tongues of the
leading nations, and since 1869 all the
facts concerning his life have been
eagerly read. 1t was in looking for
these facts and searching for the early
incidents in the life OF the man that
all Germany has come to know the
story of Samuel L. Clemens. The i'm
portance that those facts attached to
Missouri led many to imagine in the
usually intelligent grasp of American
affairs by Europeans that Missouri is
the capital of the United States.
There are many stories about his
early adventures. 1t is known he was
once a pilot on the Mississippi. He is
known as journalist, but the most
active Journalism he ever talks about
is his term as city editor of the Enter
prise, published In Virginia City, New
Or as joint reporter and deputy sheriff
at Dutch Flats, in the Sierra Nevadas. |
This was in 1862 and 1863, while he was
searching for fame and wealth in the |
west and before he had published him
self into the attention of the east or tho |
of the critics and people |
over here.
He came over the Atlantic first in |
1867. He had previously rambled over
the islands of the Pacific and had begun |
the publication of articles which were |
beginning to attract attention. He re-
turned TO America from the continent,
and "Innocents Abroad" in 500, rather |
placed him in the public eye as pro-
fessional humorist. 1t gave him the
for broad and healthy hui
nor. The first impression was that he
would not succeed in any other field.
There is always evidence that his life /
IN the big river left the most secure i'm /
oressions on his mind Itwas from this
period that he got the name under
which he went into literature and
Under which he is known.
Clemens, as boy, had the greatest
'm bition to excel. Next to being at the
head of his class, he hoped to be star
u circus. He tells that he used to
i've exhibitions of his prowess during
recess" He could walk farther on his
lands, jump higher and turn neater
'onersaults than any other boy in
chool. 1t was this romping, rowing
pirit that laid the foundation for his
health, which could not be
by hard work, but which
S failing under the stress of disappoint-
nent.
1t has been insisted that Twain's
Rambling step and drawing method
II speech are affectation. The men who
emember him as boy claim that the
wo peculiarities were distinguishing
rats in the boys young habits. He
'as then thick set, with shaggy hair,
nd a face so full of freckles that there
vas not room for one freckle more.
He looked like boy created lust for
un," and his perpetually tired, weary
ait and ludicious speech made him
UGH joke that had anyone ventured
o pick one Of the Clemens boys as
oming great man. the choice would
ave surely fallen upon Henry OF Orion
anyone but Samuel.
Mark Twain has been honored with
memberships in most of the leading
riders and societies of merit on the
ointment. He wore the ribbon of the
egion of Honor, and V hen asked about
he did not draw himself up with
ride. but replied that he had the dis
motion Few escape it, he added.
18th his customary drollery. And the
eadiness OF the bit of humor is but
OF the readiness with
'hich he saw the fun in everything.
was this readiness that made him one
the best takers that ever stood at
anquet table.
There is now no more personally
opular writer in London. The reading
ublic here knows him as il knows =
ousehOld, but there are not many who
calize the plucky fight ne is making,
18th all odds against him. He is
'robably working harder now than
er before. Sad it is the results do not
ok promising.-London Cor. Chicago
imes-Hcrald.