The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-02
MARK IWAIN'S DEEUT.

Mark Twain's first appearance In an
Eastern magazine was made over the
name OF Mike SWAIN" How Il cam.
about he explains in the November
Century:
In those early days ! had already
published one little thing C'The Jump
ing Frog) in an Eastern paper but
did not consider that that counted, In
my view. a person who published things
in a mere newspaper could not properly
claim recognition as "A literary person
he must rise away above that; ne must
appear I'm magazine. He would Rhen
be "A literary person: also, he would be
famous-iight away. These TWO am
bitions were strong upon me. This was
in 1866. j prepared my contribution,
and then looked around for the best
magazine 10 go up to glory in. | Sc
lectad the most important one i'm New
York Tie contribution was accepted. l
signed IL Mark Twain for that name
badNome currency on the Pacific coast.
and il was my idea 10 spread il all
over the world. now az this one jump.
Tho article appeared I'm the December
number. and ! sat up month waiting
FOR the January number: for that one
would contain Che years list OF con-
tributors. my name would be I'm IL. and
l should be famous and could give the
banquet 7 was meditating.
did not give the banquet | had
not written the Mark Twain" distinct
y. il was a fresh name to Eastern
printers. and they put IL Mike Swain"
or "MacSwain." | do not remember
which At any rate was not cele-
brated. and l did not give the banquet.
I was a literary person. but that was
AHA buried one; buried alive.
10 "A hftr fnr Of
the. clipper ship Hornet on the line.
MAY 8. 1865. There were thirty-one
men on board at the dime. and | wax
I'm Honolulu when the fifteen lean AMI
ghostly survivors arrived there. after
a voyage - forty-three days i'm an open
boat, through the blazing tropics. on
ten DAYS rations OF food. A very re-
markable "trip; but II was conducted
by a caDtain who was a remarkable
man. otherwise there would have been
no survivors. He was a New England
or II the best sea going stock Of the
old capable times-Capt Josiah Mitch
ell.
was in the islands to write letters
FOR the weekly edition of the Sacra-
ment Union. rich and influential
daily journal which hadn't any use for
them. but could afford TO spend $50 a
week for nothing. The pr0prietors
were lovable and we'll beloved men:
long ago ueau. no DOUBT, nut III me
there Is al least one person who still
holds tn anl an grateful remembrance:
for | dearly wanted to- see the islands,
and they listened TO me and gave me
the opportunity when there was but
slender 'keiihc cd that il could profit
theri m any way.
7 had been i'm the islands several
months when the survivors arrived. |
was hid up in my room az the time,
and unable to walk. Here was great
occasion 30 serve my. journal. and not
able t0 take advantage OF IL. Neces-
sarily | vas i'm deep trouble. But by
good luck bis cXcellency Anson Bur-
iingame was there at the time. or his
way 10 tdkT up ilis post in China. .wnere
he dId such good work for the Unit a
States He came and put me on n
sfretcher and had me Carried - Lhe
n ysptql where the shipwrecked men
We're. and | never needed TO ask a
question. He attended 20 ali o. that
himself. and | had nothing 10 30 but
make the notes. Ii was like him TO
,ake that trouble. He was great
nan and a grca; American, and IL wls
IN his fine nature to come dowl from
his high office and do friendly turn
whenever he could.