News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-02-20
MARK WAS "NOT SO EASY"
New York Cabman Ran against Logical
PrOpOsitiOn---llad Twain visited Norris
vile He Wouldn't Have Been Over
charged.

charged.
Nearly everybody knows Mark
Twain-or think they do-and the
mere mention of his name to a well
person causes a smile and to a sick
person acts as better medicine than
Doctors pills. In Morrisville he is
acknowledged to be good fellow
although he never lived here. Not
long ago he passed a few days in New
York City, and while there had occa-
sion to do little reforming and to
put into practice one of the ideas of a
man whom he once met and after
wards "wrote up" Thousands OF
people have read a book Untitled,
Chow to Tell a Story and Other
Essays" written by Mark Twain, and
published by Harper & Brothers in
1897. One of the sketches in that
book gave his observations while
Travelling With Reformer.
Perhaps the "Reformer" impressed
Mark Twain for good, much more
than either realized, while they travel
led together on a railroad train, one
time. Twain, however, realized that
the "Reformer" possessed sterling
qualities. At the beginning of the
story, Twain said:
Last spring went out to Chicago
to see the Fair, and although | did
not see it my trip was not wholly lost
there were compensations. In New
York l was introduced to a major in
the general army who said he was
going to the Fair, and we agreed to
go together. had to 60 to Boston
first, but that did not interfere; he
said he would go along, and put in
the time. He was a handsome man,
and built like a gladiator. But his
ways were gentle, and his speech was
soft and persuasive. He was COM
panionable, but exceedingly repose-
full. Yes, and wholly destitute of the
sense of humOr. He was full of inter.
est in everything that went on around
him, but his serenity was indestructi.
BILE; nothing disturbed him, nothing
excited him.
"But before the day was done I
found that deep down in him some
where he had passion, quiet as he
was-a passion for reforming petty
public abuses. He stood for citizen
ship-it was his hobby. Hisidea was
that every citizen of the republic
ought to consider himself an unoffi-
cial policeman, and keep unsalaried
watch and ward over the laws and
their execution. He thought that
the only effective way of preserving
and protecting public rights was for
each citizen to do his share in pre-
venting or furnishing such infringe.
ments of them as came under his per-
sOnal notice.
cit was a good scheme, but
thought it would keep a body in trou-
BILE all the time; it seemed to me that
one would be always trying to get Of.
Tending little officials discharged, and
perhaps getting laughed at for all re.
ward. But he said no, | had the
wrong idea; that there was no occa-
sion toget anybody discharged; that
that would itself be failure; no, one
must reform the man-reform him
and make him useful where he was"
His closing paragraph was as fol-
lows
81 missed the Fair it is true, but /
picked up some diplomatic tricks
which | and the reader may find
handy and useful as we go along"
1t has proved to be'eyenso. When
Twain visited New York, not log ago,
cabman imposed upon him by over
charging him for a ride, which
offense he quickly reported to the
proper city officials and the claimants
license was revoked. The tricky cab.
man was taught a lesson that he will
never forget. Afterwards Mark Twain
helped the fellow to regain his license