The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-03-22
MARK TWAIN AS A REPORTER.
His First Pen Name was Gosh"

-
His First Pen Name was Josh"
Mr. Clemens first pen name, when he
commenced to write for Joe Goodmans
"Territorial Enterprise" in Virginia
City. New, about 1868, as correspondent
from Esmeralda district, where he
mined for a living, was JOSH The
fun and humor that dubbed up in his
letters tickled the Washoeites and
made the paper sought after. They
sent for him and he came, gladly re-
llnuuishing the pick and shovel, the
Windlass and the bucket, for the jour
nalists pen. Mr.. Clemens came to Vir-
ginia City dressed in the usual garb of
a miner. Well-worn at that, and de-
meaned himself with all a miners free
dom. He had. also. in a greater degree
than subsequently,. the exceptional
dra.wl in his speech, which he chose to
consider one factor in the sum of his
distinctive individuality. He took
readily to reporting the varying for
tunes of the mining community. and
strengthened the writing force on
"The Enterprise" materially, while, at
the same time. ayailing himself of le-
Ultimate opportunities to require fleet"
in the Comstock and shares in different
outlving mines. He was accounted
ouite rich in this kind of property at
one time. With liberal remuneration
for his work, his personal appearance
pa nidlv imnroved and he grew to be a
swell in a mild way. besides cleaner in
speech as we'll as in dress.
Becoming dissatisfied with his pen
name "Josb., he changed it to MARK
| Twain nv which at the present day,
he is known in the literature of the
world
! About 1854 Mr. Clemens came to San
Francisco IT cannot be said he made
manv friends in Nevada. There were
| Some who affected his company on ac-
count of his writings. but he had not
the faculty. of winning friendship. Be-
fore he arrived in the city he had accu-
murated as before stated. a good deal
of money every silver of which he
SINK in Hale &, Norcross. Then he
] fool, IN tho hurdan of literary life
aeain He wrote San Francisco letters
~ his old nane, "The Territorial En-
i ternrise . and For some real or fancied
| cause attacked the local police so per-
sistentlv and f1ercely that Martin G. J
| Rurlxe who was chief of the force at
| a. t;n,e brought n suit for libel
. e,oinst tha naner Such envenomed
oo,,,y,nnioa tions as Mr.. Clemens wrote
~ +his srbieo+ have rarely been
rarned Tbev made the official eoua-
,,ir,it,r of The old citv hall boil like a
oa1dro,, of osnba1tuo the fume and
sta,,ob ho;ng i, nronortion He also
oo,+rihutad for Charley Webb (.sIni-
ero,N ~ "Tbe californian for 1.-THE
| So,do,, nv. ;, ond Ala oil sorts of lite
70 wv worlI wbarehv ba could turn a
oart II n,.s a terrih,e nnbill business
80 ,ass da+arrined man than him
40 a,,1a t,ova ahandorod tbe s+rug-
er1a and ,.on,ai,ed ~ rho hasa Mr.
11a,,,a,s 1uas 81 steamboa+ snrines
Nov for bis health when the letter
,,,rit+a,, offe,ins hin, oIaca IN
CIV. C.11,, ue can,e down shortly af-
a., hu+ iudoirg fron, bic annearance
eo,,t,,,,o 49, boa,, Waving sc,,rvv tricks
,ri+t hin, in tho ;nterim without do
inc, tho geot1en,an anv iniust;ce If can
he frealy, etated that although at the
| tinoo GOOD eenara1 writar and corre-
snondart he made M an Indifferent
ranorter He only nlaved at itenizing
| cons;darine bis exnarience in the
mountains he bad an inexn1ica b1e
oyars;on ~ u,aI,,inr and in nutt;ne bis
,,a++ar an nanar he was to pse his own
| exnressiop .ss1ower than Tho wrath n
come " MANY funny and chara cteristic
INCIDENTS occurred d,rino bis few
months, stav IN "Tbe Gallo He on1y
wanted to remain LONG anoneb he said
when ba ENGAGED n o. 70 work r.
noLe 10 staka, h,,t IN Iaovi,,a HE