The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-07
INTERVIEW WITH MR.. TWAIN.
The Humorfst's Timely Aid to "a De-
%pnirinE Reporter.

(From the New Orleans Times Democrat.)
Il see that Mark Twain has returned
after his long absence abroad" remarked
an old newspaper reporter last night. but
l am sorry to note that he has changed his
mind about coming South to lecture.
hoped to have chance to interview him
and, incidentally, to thank him again for
big favor he did me a coed clany years
ago. 1t was rather an odd experience"
the old reporter went on. Il was young
and green at the time, and had just Sc
cured trial job on a newspaper in De-
troit when Mr.. Clemens came to the city
to deliver lecture. 1t so happened that
all our best reporters were off that night
on local murder sensation, and the city
editor called NE up, very reluctantly, as
l thought, and assigned me to have talk
with the great humorist. l had stepped
cut of the Office, but was still within ear
shot, when tae night editor came in Who
have you got on the Clemens interview
l 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 apprehension
were present il about equal quantities;
but it also put me on my mettle. and
determined to get that interview or perish
in the attempt The city editor had said
that he wanted something about column
long and very bright and snappy, and
while | was waiting at the hotel for Mf.
Clemens to return from the opera house,
where ne was speaking, l tried to frame
in my mind a series Of suggestive ques-
lions | can't say | was particularly sue
cesstul, and many time in after years
have thought of the folly, not to say cru
city. OF sending inexperienced boys on
such errands and expecting anything like
results. However, that's neither here nor
there. The fact is that | writhed and
sweat blood, and by the time the night
clerk told me that Mr. Clemens had just
gone up on the elevator l was in a con-
dition bordering on nervous prostration.
Il found the humorist standing before
the fireplace" continued the old rep er,
smoking a briar pipe and attired
suit of pajamas. His appearance startled
me- for l didn't dream that he had had
time to undress, and I promptly lost my
few remaining shreas of self ossession.
All my questions few out OF my brain
like a scattering eovey of quail, and alb
solutely the only thing l could think of
asking him was how he liked the town.
He looked at me quizZically. Consider
ing that I arrived after dark he drawled,
and was driven direct TO the theatre
and then direct to the hotel, my impr5s
sions are favorable | think you have a
very good quality of nights in Detro {,
he added, after pause; fully equal II
the nights / have encountered anywhere
That was 4 capital lead, but ! was too
ratified to take il. I stumbled through
q few idiotic commonplace. and rCa,-
iZing, evidently, that there was no use
wasting any more fun on such chump
he answered in weary monosyllatleS II
a few minutes I gave up in despair NV,
don't make too much of this he re-
marked, as I started for the door, and
while the caution was no dcub- pTom.teI
by fear that would write something phe-
nomenaIly stupid it had the eject IF
putting me suddenly at my case. Don't
worry about that, Mr.. Clemens / re-
Piled; I'm not going 10 write anyt hing
at all, except my resignation; and tn re-
upon l told him briefly of my assignme Mt
AS l had by that time fully determined
to throw up my job and was no longer
apprehensiye, | suppose ! told il easily
and naturally. AT any rate his eyes
twinkled and when l came to the Fart
about the night editor he threw back bis
head and roarsd with laughter Held
onI' he exclaimed when he caught his
breath; we'll have to tlrn the tables on
that fellow, sure! Just sit down hire
with your paper, and III sse whsther l
can't dictate something
L obeyed in a sort of daze, and he be-
gan striding up and down the room, puff
ing his pipe and running his fingers
through his bushy hair. In half an hour
ne had given me column monologue
about his experiences on the train, COM
ing in The road was a VIGOROUSLY ram
shackle affair, and he roasted it in his
happiest vein. Now, you must cut that
up into paragraphs he said, when he rot
through and sling in q few questions
here and there to make it look diaIoguy.
Then ! think you'll have about what you
want Tell those other fellows, as you go
out that I've gone to bed Those ether
fellows were two reporters from rival
sheets who had sent up their cards and
were then cooling their heeeis in the cor
Tidor. l tried to thank him. but he cut
me short and / went away walking on
ambient air. When l turned in my copy
the city editor nearly fell out of his chair
His establishment pleased me more than
a raise in salary, but was little dis
appointed in the demeanor of the night
editor I expected he would look shamed
and remorseful but he didn't He merely
remarked that appearances were - de-
ceptive, which | took as unkind." Did
you ever tell them how you got the
story?'' asked one Of the younger men, who
had been listening No" replied the old
reporter; II never told. let conceal
ment. like the worm l. the bud, prey on
my damask cheek. / had a good deal ef
cheek in those days" he added thought
fully. as he started down stairs
DRUG STORE PHYSICIANS.