The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-24
JOKE on MARK TWAIN.
The Outcome of Hunting Expedi-
ton Which He was Never Able to
Appreciate,

From the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
In vicinities which have become distin-
guished by The permanent or transient
residence of some iilustrious person there
are a.most invariably a remarkably large
number Of men who profess TO have been
on very intimate, terms with their more
fortunal comrade, at least duricg the ear
lier PORTION of his life, and before he at
tanned to a station of eminence and re-
nown. These venerable aged citizens mar
rate, with much pleasure and self-satis-
faction, many anecdotes, humorous and
otherwise, which they declare occurred
while they were boys together with the
man who has since stepped out of the linn
tied circle of acquaintance with which he
was formerly environed into the admlriny
gaze of all the world.
These remarks may with great force and
propriety be applied TO the early career
OF Mark Twain. After he had rem Jved
with the rest of the family from the small
village of Florida, Mo-, where he was born
TO The city Of Hannibal, in the same
state, he was of that age when all the
lively elements in a young mans nature
is most strongly illustrated in his actions.
1t is said that young Clemens derived
much pleasure in hunting and fishing.
Nothing afforded him such satisfaction
and relaxation from the tolls OF life as to
spend short periods in the wo -ds in the
company of several jovial companions and
with a number Of trained dogs. 1t was
while he was thus enjoying himself that
the following incident t1anspired and the
truthfuness Of the story is Vouched for
by men who are known TO have been on
close terms of friendship with the cele-
brated hUmorist:
Marks success at hunting had been ex-
tremely bad on The day in question. Not a
rabbit or squirrel had he seen. His game
pouch was empty. His melancholy feelings
were weighed down the more from he fact
that every other person in the company
had met with tolerably good luck and had
shot several Of the small animals which
had been 50 anxiously looked for. AS even
ing came on the men prepared TO leave Tor
home. And seated in the wagon In the
midst of those whose spirits had been
much enllvened because of their fortunate
Gays hur ting, Mark iva was consp.c-
uous fer the disconsoiate and downcast
look which over spread his face.
AS the wagon was drawn fast over the
frozen and snow covered ground, one of
the men suddenly called out to the driver
TO stop the horses. The team came to
stand-still and pointing off to the right
of the road a short distance he drew the
attention of the company to a small bush:
DO you see that rabbit in the midst
of the hmbs?" he cried HE is sitting
and looking intently at us now. Let me
have gun, somebody, and I'll soon finish
him."
Here he was interrupted by Mark Twain.
mo, let me shoot him." he said. 81 have
not had single shot to-day"
The men consented without a word of
objection. But although the young sports
man took a long and steady aim before
he pulled the trigger, the rabbit did not
move. Queer" he said, as he again
placed the gun to his shoulder and made
ready to try the other barrel This shot,
however, had no more effect than the for
mer. The young man began TO be laugh
ed at for the inaccuracy of his aim, and as
the animal was but a short distance away,
the taunts stung him to the quick Again
he shot, but with no result. And eXns-
perated al his failure, Mark jumped from
the wagon and ran toward the bush. At
eSvery step he expected to see the rabbit
spring from his resting place and scamper
away, and he held his gun in constant
readiness to bring him to the ground at
his first move. In this respect, too, he
was deceived. For, although he had now
come close up to the shrubbery the ami
NAL did not move.
Samuel Clemens was in a quandary.
With a vicious kick, he sent the rabbit
spinning over the ground. 1t still retain
ed its former posture, however and did
not stir The disappointed huntsman
went and picked the animal up and exam
ined It. The discovery which he then
made solved the mystery.
The rabbit was frozen as hard as a rock!
BY this time Marks companions were in
an uproarious laughter. And when he re-
turned to the wagon Il soon developed that
one of the men had placed the animal in
the bush some time previously and they
had turned to the wagon IL SOM developed
that Twain should be the one to shoot at
Il.
Clemens is said to have uttered rot a
word during the entire trip back home.
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