The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-03-27
MIsFoRTUNEs OF MARK TWAIN.


Financial Reverscs Compel Him at the Age
of Sixty to Begin His Work Anew.
Mar Twain is now impoverished and
slave to debt. He is in poor health,
confined to modest lodging in London,
and burdened with age and the woes of
broken heart. 1t is probable that the
end has come.
There is but single hope for this
man, who for 20 years has shared the
neld OF American letters-as the Eu-
ropeans estimate American letters
with Bret Harte. He is home from a
trip around the world. Itbegan in VAN
cover and ended in London-a failure
from the start. He has been working
Tor weeks on the manuscript of the
story, but the few who have hunted
INN in the modest room fear that the
inspiration has gone. He is working
under forced conditions, and the pre-
'uiction is that the tale of the tour will
be like plant forced to blossom in un-
natural conditions.
Mark Twain is 62 years old and handi-
capped by the fact that his best efforts
have not been his latest.
There is no question as 10 the posi-.
ton he used to hold in the English and
continental estimate. No one has ever
divided his standing as the American
humorlst. "The Innocents Abroad"
was translated into the tongues of the
leading nations, and since 1869 all the
iacts 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
aifairs by Europeans that Missouri in
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 Neyadas.
This was in 1862 ard 1868. 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
admiration of the critics and people
over here.
lie came over the Atlantic first in
1867. He had previously rambIed 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 "lnnocents Abroad" in 1869, rather
placed him IN the public eye as pro-
iesslonal humorist. 1t gave him the |
reputation for broad and healthy hu- |
NOR. The first impression was that he |
would not succeed in any other field.
There is always evidence that his life
on the big river left the most secure inn
pressions on his mind. 1t was from this
period that he got the name under
which he went into literature and I
under which he is known.
Clemens, as boy, had the greatest |
ambition to excel. Next to being at the
mead OF his class, he hoped to be a star
In circus. He tells that he used to
give exhibitions of his prowess during
recess He could walk farther on his
hands, jump higher and turn neater
than any other boy in
school. 1t was this romping. rowing
spirit that laid the foundation for his
subsequent health, which could not be
undermined by hard work. but which
IS failing under the stress of disappoint-
ment
IL has been insisted that Twain's
stumbling step and drawing method
Of speech are affectation. The men who
'emember him as boy claim that the
'wo peculinritics were distinguishing
rats in the boys young habits. He
vas 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 a boy created just for
un,' and his perpetuaIly tired, weary
AIT and ludicious speech made him
uch joke that, had anyone ventured
o pick one of the Clemens boys as a
oming great man, the choice would
ave surely fallen upon Henry or 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 when 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 {