The record-union., 1897-07-04

In '64 Mark drifted to San Francisco
and became a reporter. in the course
of time he joined Bret Harte in publish
ing the Californian" and for the first
time these two famous humorists hob
ncbbed and came to know each other
well. After a while, in accordance with
a solemn compact, Mark and his part
ner deserted the pastepot and scissors
which they had used industriously ana
struck out for the mines.
Hard up again and in poor health,
Mark now obtained a commission to go
to the Sandwich Islands as correspon-
dent for a San Francisco newspaper.
When he came back he went before the
public with a lecture on Hawai-, anu
cleared 81, 400 from his first appearance
Then followed a lecturing tour Oh the
Pacific Coast States and territories
which was remarkably successful. soon
he had money to burn and settieu
down to the work of getting his pest
humorous matter together for pupHcd-
tiCn.
In 1867 the Jumping Frog" came
ont at once caught the eye and ear
of the people on both sides OF the Al
Iantic. The turning point in his car
eer came a year later, when he boarded
the steamship Quaker City, IN New
York. and went with her eXcurslonlsts
to the Holy Land. The result OF that
fortunate trip is well known. The rec
ord Of the humorists experience was
presented to the world in book, WhIch
created a great sensation, when most
people consider the funniest, bright
est and best he has ever written, Whlch
brought its author a snug fortune, ana
which sells we'll and is eagerly sought
in the libraries to-day. Where is the
man. woman or child of reading age
who has not laughed till his or her
sides have ached over 'Innocents
Abroad pa book which, besides being
mine of humor is one Of the best Old
World guide books ever written.
From the day the first edition of this
book reached the public until short
while ago Mark Twain rode on the
crest of a tidal wave of prosperity. AS
editor and publisher he made money,
and added largely to HIS fortune when
once again he had broken away from
the editors desk and followed his own
intellectual caprices. His "Gilded
Age" was a money maker as Rough
ing IT, had been; so were Tom Saw
yer" "a Tramp Abroad" 'The Prince
and the Pauper," Life on the Mississ-
ippi'' and the Adventures of Huckle-
berry Finn
III luck did not overtake this indom-
liable worker and prolific writer until
some years after he became publisher
in the firm of Charles L. Webster &
Co., of New York City. On the death
Of Mr. Webster, Mr.. Clemens became
the controlling member of the firm and
continued the general publishing busi-
ness Had he not become too ambi-
tious and branched out into some other
commercial dealings, one of which was
the handling or a new typewriter. the
success which had been achieved down
to that time might have continued.
These outside ventures brought trouble
and made an assignment necessary.
This was made about three years ago,
leaving Mark Twain as poor as he was
when he began work on the Virginia
City Enterprise" thirty years or so
before.
1t is said that he became personally
responsible for over S200,000 of the con-
Germs debts. To earn the money with
which to pay this liability was the OBJ
ject Of the extensive lecturing tour
abroad.
Columns and pages might be written
descriptive of Mark Twain's life, but
he has told the story of it in his mimi
table books and sketches as no other
can tell it.
AS a writer he has never been a great
eXaggerator Of character, only of cir
cumstance. Even his most eXtraordi-
nary descriptions have smacked of re-
atty and this, coupled with his droll
humor, has ever been one of his pecu-
liar charms. Those who know him well
Will tell you that at times he can be
very serious, but after such a spell he
is certain to surprise and startle you by
suddenly confronting you with some
grotesque and irresistible master
stroke.
William D. Howells, in writing of
Mark Twain some years ago, declared
that his humor would live forever, "be-
cause of its artistic qualities" That
was we'll put, for Mark Twain is an art
ist Of far more than ordinary power as
we'll as a maker of fun. ArtemuS Ward
was a very funny man, and so was
Josh Billings. Yet little that the former
wrote is remembered now and nothing
that came from the pen of the latter
AS Mr.. Howells truthfuly wrote, Mark
Twain portrays and interprets real
types, not only with exquisite appreci-
alton and sympathy, but with a force
and truth of drawing that makes them
permanent. New York Herald.