The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-02
MARK TWAIN TO THE RESCUE.
Reporter Was I'm Had Way TIL the
Humorist Helped Him.

Il see that Mark Twain mas returned.
after his long absence abroad" remarked
an old newspaper reporter last night
but 1 am sorry to note that he has
changed hts mind about coming South
to lecture. / hoped TO have chance to
interview him and. incidentally, 70 thank
him again for big favor he did me a
good many years ago. 1t was rather an
odd experiences" the old reporter went on.
II was young and green az the time. and
had just secured trial job on news
paper in Detroit when Mr.. Clemens came
TO the city TO deliver a lecture. II SO hap
pened that all our best reporters were
off that night on a, local murder sensa-
ton, and the city editor called me Up.
very reluctantly. as ] thought. and as
signed me to have a talk with the great
humorist.
II had stepped out Of the office, but was
still within earshot when the night editor
came in. Who have you got on the Glenn
ems interview / heard him ask. That
new fellow the city editor replied, oh.
Lord" said the night editor. That brief
remark filled me with mingled emotions,
In which wrath. modification and appre-
hension were present In about equal pro-
portions: but II also put me on my mettle.
and l determined to get that interview
or perish In the attempt. The city editor
had said that he wanted something about
py, and while l was waiting at the hotel
for Mr.. Clemens to return from the opera
house where he was speaking. l tried to
frame In my mind series of suggestive
questions. / can't say / was particularly
successful. and many a time In after
years | have thought of the folly, not 10
say cruelty. OF sending inexperienced boys
on such errands and expecting anything
like results. However. that's neither
hpr Ic har 7
ed and sweat blood, and by the time the
night clerk told me that Mr.. Clemens
has just gone up on the elevator | was
In condition bordering on nervous pros
tration.
II found the humorist standing before
the fireplace" continued the old reporter.
smoking briar pipe and attired IN a
suit of pajamas. His appearance startled
me, for l didn't dream that he had time
TO undress, and / promptly lost my few
remaining shreds of self-possessien All
my questions flew out OF my brain like a
scattered covey of quail. and absolutely
the only thing could think of asking him
was how he liked the town. Considering
that | arrived after dark he drawled.
and was driven direct to the theater and
then direct to the hotel my impressions
are favorable. l think you have a very
good quality OF nights in Detroit. he add
nights I have encountered anywhere
That was a capital lead. but | was too
badly ratified 10 take It. | stumbled
through few idiotic commonplace. and.
realizing. evidently, that there was no use
wasting any more fun on such a chump.
he answered In weary monosyllables.
I'm few minutes ! gave up In despair.
Now. don't make too much Of this he
remarked. as ] started for the door. and
txh h4 inn M tod
by fear that ] would write something
phenomenally stupid, it had the effect Of
putting me at my ease. Don't worry
about that Mr.. Clemens. ] replied; I'm
not going TO write anything at all, except
my resignation; and thereupon told him
briefly the story of my assignment. AS 1
had by thst time fully determined to
throw mp my job, and was no longer APP
prehensive. ! suppose | told It easily and
naturally. At any rate. his eyes twinkled
and when | came to the part about the
night editor ne threw his head back and
roared with laughter. Hold ont he ex-
claimed when he caught his breath !.
wen have 90 turn the tables on that fell
low. sure, Just sit down there with your
paper and In SIC whether cant dictate
something.
II obeyed in n sort OF daze. and he be-
gan stri,iing up and down the room. puff
ing his pipe and running his fingers
through his bushy hair. In half an hour
he had given me n column monoloEue
about his experiences on the train COM
ing in. The road was a notoriously ram
shackle affair and he roasted IL in hts
happiest vein Now. you must cut that
up into paragraphs, he said. when he got
through. and sling In a few questions
here and there 20 make Il look daioguey.
Then I think you'lI have about what you
want. Tell those other fellows. az you
so out. that I've gone 10 bed Those
other fellows were two reporters from
rival sheets who had sent up their cards
and we're then cooling their heads IN the
corridor. I tried 60 thank him. but he
cut me short and went away, walking
on ambient air
ltor nearly fell out Of his chair. Ills as
tonishmen, pleased me more than a raise
IN salary, but 7 was little disappointed
in the demeanor q the night editor ?
expected ne would look stunned ana re-
morsefui bat BE- didnt Tie merely re-
marked that appearance were --- de-
ceptlye' which I took as unkind"
Dad syou ever tel them how you got
the story asked one Of the Younger
men. who had been listening
NO replied the old reporter. Il never
told. ] Jet conceaiment. like The worm &
the bud. prey on ms dRmask cheek. and
! had a Eood deal ~ check m those days b
he added thouFhtfaiiy, aa ne started
do~nstairs.- New orleans Times Demo
crat.