Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-10-19
Some Reminders of Twain's Visit.

Some 1semlnQerS VI AVIAN I" S'
T, the rurrent number of the Sdturddy
Erehinq Past. Of Philadelphia. is an ar
ticlc entitled Across the Contnent
with Mark Tw ain" written by Major
James +. Pond. The article covers the
Journey made 10y the great humorlst in
1895. during (which he visited this city.
Pond tells Of interesting events during
which he visited this city. Pond tells
of interesting events during the trip and
his article has Il local application. On
August 10 of that year the humorist and
his manager left Portland for this city.
ION the way" says Major Pond, "a
hevy OF young ladies' ventured to intro
duce themselves to Mark, and he en-
tertained them all the way to Olympia,
where a delegation OF leading citizens
met us, headed 10y John Miller Murphy,
editor OF the oldest paper in Washing
ton. They met us outside the city, in
order that we might enjoy a ride on a
new trolley car through the town. As
Mark stepped from the train, MIR. Mill
Ter said:
"'Mr. Twain, as chairman OF the re-
ception committee, allow me to vel
come you to the capital OF the youngest
and most picturesque State in the Union.
| am sorry the smoke is so dense you
cannot see our mountains aud our tor-
ests, which are now on fire.
"'Mark said: Il regret to see-l
mean to learn q can't see, of course, for
the smoke) that your magnificent for
ests are being destroyed by fire. AS for
the smoke, | don't much mind. / am a
perpetual smoker mySelf.'"
In connection with the. article is a
half-tone cut showing Mark /" at break
fast in the Olympia hotel dining-roon.-
Oympian.
And several other incidents con-
nected with that trip may not be with
out interest. On announcement that
the renowned humorist was to appear
at Olympia Theater, the late Judge
Dennison, one OF Marks sincere ed.
mirers, called upon the writer to ex-
press his qualification over that fact.
Said the Judge, in his deliberate way ::
" / congratulate you on your engage
ment of this wonderful man, whose
writings abound in such quaint humor
and powerful pathos. I want to meet
him, personally, and congratulate him
in what he has done in shaping the
nature and habits OF our people,"
The Judge was invited to be one of
party to meet Mr.. Twain and his
manager, Mr.. Pond, at the trolley-car
terminus, Tumwater, and ride with
them to this city. The invitation was
gladly accepted, but tie meeting of
one of the brightest legal minds OF
the State with humo.ist who had
made two worlds laugh. afforded a
study to the student OF human ma
ture, and showed that, however eminent
a man may be in his chosen PROBES
sion, his judgment Of people and
properties does not rise above the Az
erage opinion on such matters. 1t
was evident that the judge expected
to meet man OF robust stature, with
the laugh Of giant; a man contin'
ually bubbling over with humor, and
that to secure q continual flow OF wit
you had only TO tap and set him 60
ing.
Now, it is no disparagement oil
Marks reputation to state that his
personal appearance by no means por.
trays the genius within him; that, in
other words, being small in stature,
and with no special indication OF force
in his intellectual expression, he might
pass, on the road, with a proper
makeup, for an ordinary hobo. But
this only emphasizes the power and
adds lustre to the light that CLOVIS
within him. Judge D., when intro
duced, drew himself up to his full
height (Which was above the ordinary
and literally looked over the head oil
the redoubtable Mark. He said moth.
ing, while holding his hand, evidently
nonplussed by some condition that
was wholly unexpected. During the
ride to town, the conversation between
the reception committee, Mr.. Clemens
W Mark Twain y and Mr.. Pond, wal
commonplace and of the usual per
functory character, relating TO the
weather, the crops, and other topics
generally introduced to kill time and
pave the way to getting range, rs j,
were, for closer engagement.
When the Judge stepped from the
car at the Olympia hotel, he found op
portunity, in an aside" to the writer
to say: "Can it be possible, Murphy
that it was this man who wrote the
beautiful, as well as the grotesqu,
things, I have read in "Roughing It
and "Innocents Abroad?
And it is probable that the Judge
when he heard Mark" at the thea.
ter, in the evening, did not material,
change his opinion; for the majority
seemed to have settled down to the
belief that he only repeated thing.
that they had often heard before; 9
handicap which a man, whose utter
ances have become as household words
often experiences in the lecture field
1t was on this same trip Major
Pond published, in one OF the State
papers, his impressions regarding the
management of Olympia Theater
which he regarded as "truly ideal.
He said, in substance, that, while in
this city, he in the afternoon visited
the STANDARD, and talked with III
editor and became acquainted with his
sons, its publishers. What was biz
surprise, q few hours later, to find the
editor performing the role OF manager