The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-05-06

AsAa AH'
Five Famous Afissourians'' is the title
of a book of authenticated biographical
sketches of Samuel l.. Clemens. Richard
Parks Bland, Champ Clark. James NJ.
Greenwood and Joseph O. Shelby. written
by Wilfred r.. HOLSTER and Harry Nor
man. Introductions TO the various bios-
raph'es are written by Walter Williams.
Champ Clark. Joseph w. Bailey. Professor
John r.. Kirk and Mrs. T. J. Henry.
One OF the anecdotes told in the sketch
of Mark Twain Is one which illustrates the
fact that some of Mr.. Clemens's later char
acteristics were forshadowed IN early life.
Overlooking the river near Hannibal.
Mo. where Mark Twain spent his boyhOod.
stands Lovers Leap a magnificent pro-
jectins blur. one day Samuel and a COM
ranion assembled this broad-faced cliff. and
while contemplating the great distance
down TO the base Samuel wagered his
companion that he coald jump from the
projecting cliff anal not be injured. The
otter accepted, Samuel spat upon his hands.
counted three and juinped-not down upon
The rocks far below. but into a tree n few
feet downward and TO one side Of the cliff.
He won the bet.
O Mark Twatn's companions and the
youths composing Tom Sawyer's CCiemens's)
Gang some have become OF State and even
national prominence. Sidney Haines was Ad-
iutant General OF Colorado during Grants
administration: George Butler was United
States Consul TO Egypt during the admin
is;ration OF the same President; Frank L.
Pitts became Treasurer Of Missouri; Robert
n. Bodine served with distinction in Con-
gress, and Samuel Clemens has q world
wide fame.
The thrilling experience of Tom Sawyer,
Becky and InJun Joe In the cave, SO graph
ically depicted In Tom Sawyer are found
ed ON fact. The great cave near Hannibal
was explored by a youthful band, young
Clemens being the leader. and they We're
lost for u time IN the darkness of the
cavern.
In personal appearance in boyhood, Mr..
Clemens is described as having been 4
shasSy-headed, freckled-faced youth with
but one attractive f~eature-the bright eyes
that twinkled from beneath the heavy eye
brows. To add to this unattractive appear
ance. his early playmates tell Of a drawing
form of speech, which has been character
istic of him in later years. Because OF his
eccentric disposition. many writers have
said that Mr.. Clemens affected this pecu,l-
arity, but the following statement oEca
made by his mother disproves the assertion:
"I-dont-know-what = understandable
that-way. Neither = his = father . nor = his
acknowledgements
His hair was luxuriant. bristlins in its
nature and reddish brown in color. the ex-
act color and texture of which was the sub
ject of much discussion among the girls Of
Sans acquaintance. one of his early play
mates, Barney Farthing, thus speaks In ref
A.. ks,,,,o lr -. ID.
1T looks more like the name Of a lion In
texture and tangled iuxuriance than any
thing else; but more distinctly than any
thing else / remember on that subject WAS
that 1t was some remark 1 CHANGED to make
about its appearance which occasioned oLr
acquaintance and necessitated my going
home with a bloody nose
For three years. commencing in 1867,
Mark Twain Was editor of the Virginia
city. Nevada, Enterprise. spending Il part
of the time as Legislature correspondent
from Carson City. He signed his contribu-
tons Mark Twain getting the pseudcnym
from all old river character, Captain Isaiah
Sellers. the pioneer OF all Mississippi River
pilots. who reported river new for the New
Orleans Picayune. Captain Sellers died u
short time before Clemens began writing,
50 the latter appropriated rne nom &c
guerre."
The sketch OF Mr.. Clemens is complete
and satisfactory, and covers the several
periods of his life. his early struggles. first
successes, attainment Of fame and wealth.
disasters, and at last a renewed prosperity
and continued fame.
All the biographies in the book under dis
cussion are careful records Of the chief
events in the lives of the famous Mis-
sourians."