Arizona republican., 1902-06-13
 j. : MARK TWAEN'S :, BIRD.
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It is a cruel thing when man mas to explain his own jokes. Mark Twain has had to do this because so many people have written to ask him what he means by a certain sentence in his Double Barrelled Detective Story" 1t was only q joke, MT Clemens says, only a harmless, well-intentioned lt- tie joke: but it has excited general su:s pcion. Therefore MT. Clemens nas been moved to write letter to the Springfield Republican, in which i:e says:
 TO the Editor of the Sprinfield Re
 publican:
 "One of your citizens has asked me la question about the 'oesophagus. and wish to answer him through you. This in the hope that the answer Will get around, and save me some pen manship, for I have already replied 10 the same question more than al times, and I am not getting as much holiday as I ought to have.
 II published a story lately. and il was in that that I put the oesopnagus. I will say privately that I expected it to bother some people-in fact, that was the intention-but the harvest has ! been larger than l was calculating rp- on. The oesophagus has gathered in | the guilty and the innocent alike. whereas I was only fishing for the in | nCcent-the innocent and confiding. 1 knew q few of those would write and ask me: that would give me but little ! trouble; but l was not expecting that the wise and learned would call upon me for succor. However, that has | happened. and it is time for ne to speak up and stop the inquiries if I 1 can, for letter writing is not resttul to me, and I am not having so much fun out of this thing as ! counted on. That 1 you may understand the situation l 1 will insert q couple of sample inquiries.
 The first from d public instructor in the Philippines:
 Santa Cruz Ilocos, Sur. P. l.. 1 Feb. 15, 1902. My Dear Sir-I have just been read ing your latest story entitled "A Dou- ble- Barrelled Detective Story occurs this passage: Far in the empty sky a solitary "oescphagus" slept, upon mo- tionless wing: everywhere brooded stiffness, serenity, and the peace of God Now, there is one word I do not understand, namely, 'oesopnagus. My only work of reference is the Standard Dictionary but that fails to explain the meaning. If you can spare the time | would be glad to have the mean ing cleared up, as l consider the pas sage very touching and beautiful one. It may seem foolish to you. but consider my lack of means away 0Gt in the northern part of l-uZon Yours very truly"
 Do you notice? Nothing in th4 para graph disturbed him but that ono word. It shows that that para graph was most ably constructed for the de- ception it was intended to put upon the reader. It was my intention that II should read plausibly, and it is nov plain that it does; it was my inteuti0n that it should be emotional and louch- ing, and you see yourself that it fetch ed this public instructor. Alas, if had but left that one treacherous word out. l should have scored, scored everywhere: and the paragraph would have slidden through every readers scnsibilities like oil and left not a sus- picion behind.
 The other sample inquiry is from q professor in q New England university
 It contains one naughty word (,:nicr l cannot bear to suppress). but he is not in the theological department, SC it is nc harm:
 Dear Mr. Clemens-'Far in the empty sky a solitary oesophagus slept upon motionless wing
 Tt is not often I get chance tc read much current literature. but have just gone through at this belate period, with much qualification and ed
 ification, your Double Barrelled Det ec-
 tive Story.
 But what in hell is an oesophagtis
 keep one myself, but it never sleeps
 in the air or anywhere else. My pro-
 fession is to deal with words ;nd oesophagus interested me the moment
 l lighted upon it. But as companion !, of my youth used to say: I'll be ater-