Evening journal., 1899-12-26

How the Famous Fun-Maker Became
"A Literary Person."


Mark Twain's first appearance in an
Eastern magazine was made over the
name of "MarS Swain" How II came
about he. explained in the Century
Magazine: ef
IN those days had already pub
lished one little thing ("The Jumping
Frog') In an Eastern paper, but / did
not consider that that counted In
my Views, person who published
things in a mere newspaper could not
properly claim recognition as liter
airy person; he must rise away above
that; he must appear In a magazine.
He would then be a literary person;
also, he would be famous-right away.
These two ambitions we're strong up
on me. This was Ia 1866. / prepared
my contribution. and then looked
around for the best magazine 10 50 TO
glory in. I selected the most import
ant one in New York The contribu-
ton was accepted ! signed It Mark
Twain" for that name had some cur
rency on the Pacific coast, and It was
my idea to spread it all over the world
now, at this one jump. The article
appeared In the December number
and | sat up a month waiting for the
January number; for that one would
contain the years list OF contributors,
my name would be in il and | would
be famous and could give the banquet
/ was meditating.
l did not give the banquet. | had
not written the Mark Twain distinct
ly II was a fresh name to the eastern
printers, and they put It Mike Swain
or "MacSwain," / do not remember
which. At any rate, was not cele-
brated, and did not give the banquet.
! was literary person. but that was
ala buried one; buried alive.
My article was about the burning OF
the clipper-ship Hornet on the line,
May 3, 1865 There were thirty-one
men on board at the time, and ! was
in Honolulu when the fifteen lean and
ghostly survivors arrived there after
a voyage of forty-three days in an
open boat, through the blazing tropics,
on ten days rations of food. A very
remarkable trip; but It was conducted
by a captain who was a remarkable
man, otherwise there would have been
no survivors. He was a New England.
er Of the best sea-going stock Of the
old capable times-Captain Josiah
Mitchell.
was in the island TO write letters
/ for the weekly edition of the Sacra-
mento Union, a rich and influential
I daily journal which hadn't any use for
I them, but could afford to spend twenty
I dollars a week for nothing. The pro
I prietors were lovable and wellbeloved
men; long ago dead, no doubt, but In
I me there is one person who still holds
them In grateful remembrance; for
] dearly wanted to see the islands, and
they listened to me and gave me the
opportunity when there was but slen
der likelihood that it would profit
them in any way.
had been In the islands several
/ months when the survivors arrived
was laid up in my room at the time
and unable to walk. Here was a great
occasion to serve my journal, and
not able TO take advantage OF it
Necessarily was in deep trouble Blu
by good luck his Excellency, Ansoi
, Burlingame, was there at the time, OF
his way to take up his post in China
where he did such good work for thu
United States. He came and put M
on a stretcher and had me carried 4
the hospital where the shipwreckel
men were, and / never needed to asl
a question. He attended to all tina
himself, and l had nothing to do bu
make the notes II was Ike him &
. take that trouble. He WAS grea
man and a great American, and it wa
, in his fine nature to come down iron
his high office and do q friendly turf
whenever he could.