Evening star., 1897-06-05
MARK TWAIN As A REPORTER.

From the San Francisco Call.
Mr.. Clemens first pen name, when he
commenced to write for Joe Goodman's
Territorial Enterprise, in Virginia City,
New, about 1888. as correspondent from
Esmeraida district, where he mined for
living, was JOSH" The fun and humor
that bubbled Up in his letters tickled the
Washoeites and made the paper sought
after. They sent for him, and he came,
gladly relinquishing the pick and shovel,
the windlass and the bucket, for the jour-
nalists pen. Mr.. Clemens came to Virginia
City dressed in the usual garb of a miner,
weli-Worn at that. and demeaned himself
with all a miners freedom. He had. also.
in a greater degree than subsequently. the
exceptional drawl in his speech which he
chose to consider one factor in the sum
of his distinctive individuality. He took
readily to reporting the varying fortunes
of the mining community. and strength
er ed the writing force the Enterprise
materially, while, at the same time, avail
Ing himself OF legitimate opportunities to
acquire feet in the Comstock and shares
in different outlying mines. He was ac-
counted quite rich In this kind of property
at one time. With liberal remuneration
for his work. his personal appearance rap
idly improved. and he grew to be swell
in mild way, besides cleaner in speech
as well as in dress.
Becoming dissatisfied with his pen name
JOSH he changed il TO Mark Twain"
by Which, at the present day. he is known
In the literature of the world.
About 1874 Mr.. Clemens came to San
Francisco. 1t cannot be said he made
many FRIENDS in Nevada. There were some
who affected his company on account of
his writings. but he had not the faculty of
winning friendship. Before he arrived in
the city he had accumulated, as before
stated. a good deal Of money, every silver
of " hich he sunk in Hale & Norcrcss.
Then he tnok up the burden of literary
life again. He wrote San Francisco letters
to his old paper, the Territorial Enterprise.
and for some real or fa:1cied cause attack
ed the local police persiStently ana
fieroely that Martin G. ]. Burke who was
chief of the force at the time brought
a suit for libel against the paper. Such
envenomed communications as Mr.. Glenn
ems wrote on this subject have rarely been
penned. They made the official equanim-
ity of the old city hall boil like ca.dron
Of asphaitum, the fume and stencil being
In proportion. He also contributed for
Charley Webb (''Inigo'D to the Califor-
nian. for the Golden Era. and did all sorts
of literary work whereby he could turn
cent. 1t was terrible uphill business, and
less determined man than himself would
have abandoned the struggle and remaineo
at the base. Mr.. Clemens was at Steam
boat Springs. New. for his health, when
the letter was written Offering him a place
On the Call, He came down shortly after,
but judging from his appearance fortune
had been playing scurvy tricks with him
In the interim. Without doing the gentle
man any injustice 1t can be freely stated
that although at the time a good general
writer end correspondent, he made but an
Indifferent reporter. He only played at
itemizing.
Cor sidering his experience in the noun
tains. he had an inexpIicabie aversion to
walking, and in putting his matter On pa
per he was, to use his own expression,
slower than the wrath to come" Many
funny and characteristic incidents occur
red during his few months stay On the
Call. He only wanted to remain long
enough. he said. when he engaged to go to
work, to make "a stake" but on leaving
his purse was no heavier than when he
came. The most notable thing he did that
can now be recalled was a philippe against
some undertaking employees. where the
morghe happened TO be. for the deadhouse,
in those days. like the oid-fashioned plan
with the country school mistress and the
villagers, was boarded round" each un-
dertaker accommodating the coroner in
turn. 1t appears some one about the place
refused to give Mr.. Clemens information,
or to let MIN see "the slate" and next
morning he got SUCH a dose, commencing
these body snatchers," that a general
apology was Immediately made by every
man III the establishment. The proprietor
was east at the time, but when he read the
article he shivered, as he confessed after
ward, and considered his business ruined.
Mr.. Clemens parted from the Call people
on the most friendly terms when it was
found necessary to make the local depart
ment more efficient, admitting his repor-
tortal shortcomings and expressing sur
prise that they were not sooner discovered.