The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-15
Mark Twain at Worlds Fair
BY RoeERTus LOVE,

BY RoBER The standardization of Mark Twain has been effected. Mark Twain has been or ganized into an association, This Is mo- fable as the first instance in the history of mankind where an individual has been organized into national association Ii would seem that for such uses pretty big man. and a versatile one, would De required: and in these respects the pro motors of 'The National Mark Twam Association" do not appear to have reek- oned without their host. sfhey figure that Mark Twain is of national dlmen- sions. though 1t is admitted that he can ocounv but one state at time. They hold that Mark Twain belongs to the Tinted states-and to Hannibal, Mo.
 Therefore. "The National Mark Twain Association" with headquarters at Han nibal the old town on the banks or the Mississippi river where Samuel Lang horne Clemens passed his boyhood, has coma Into being to boom the claims or Mark Twain as a national exhibit ut lne Worlds Fair in St Louis-in person. he can be secured for few days ana If not In person, then by proxy or HIS fame ...,,
 If Is nroposed by the National Mark Twain Association to hold a nauohai coii- xention at the Worlds Fair early Ill Jnne. wherein shall sit from lOOOo 10 2n 0nO fair women and a limited huhlpeF of brave men. Each of the ladies IS To be accredited delegates from her nome town somewl ere in the United States oa America to this convention, Wmch sheh have for it's aim the popular expression and perpetuation of the fame or Mark Twain as the great American humorlst'
 Selecting Delegates.
 According to the plan as submitted to inc Worlds Fair by Thomas r. datts of Hannibal, Mo, one of the organizers of the National Mark Twain Association, the delegates are to be selected Tn eaeh town by popular vote. voting contests for the honor, through the local news papers or otherwise, are to be cafrled on in every city and town, the ten young ladies standing highest on the nst ae inc close of the contest being declared winners. The one who shall nave re ceived the highest number of votes is to he especfallv honored. All are to be en- titled to sit as members of the national convention within the Worlds Far grounds during the first four days lh June They may vote, read papers, make speeches or perform any other functions of duly accredited delegates Eaeh VIII wear the Mark Twain badge provided by inc association and will carry eertin- cate of membership.
 It Is intended that this association shall be made permanent the headquar- ters to remain at Hannibal, where nearly
 md has some sacred association with Mark Twain.
 In future years 1t Is intended that Han nibal shall be a shrine for pilgrims from All parts of the United States, who shall visit the city and pay homage to the creator of Tom Sawyer. Huck Finn, Col onel Sellers and other celebrated char acters whose lives, in fiction and perhaps more or less in fact, had Hannibal and its vicinity as a field of action. The as- sociation will strive to create wider interest in the writings of Mark Twain, by a general discussion of his works and the dissemination thereof by systematic effort. As an offshoot of the associa- tion there may be formed the Mark Twain Tract Society, to distribute leaflets of wisdom from the works of the master and thus cultivate laughs on broad scale.
 Mark Twain Day.
 At the request of the associations rep resentatives, the Worlds Fair has named June 8, 1901, as Mark Twain Day at the Exposition The humorist has just de- parted for Italy, where he expects to remain year for the benefit of Mrs. Clemens health, but 1t Is hoped that he may return in time to be present at the Exposition on Mark Twain Day; how ever, should he not return in person, the thousands of pretty and popular young ladies whom the National Mark Twain Association proposes to collect as delegates will represent him The asso- cation proposes to devote the first four days of June to convention purposes.
 The organization formed at Baltimore last May, known as the American Press Humorists will hold It's second annual convention at the Worlds Fair from May 2S to June 1, inclusive, the first day of June having been designated by the exposition management as American Press Hunorists' Day. The Mark Twain Association annouuces as one feature or It's convention the privilege of meeting and mingling with nearly a hundred newspaper writers of verse, hunor and paragraphs. who will attend the Press Humorists concenuon. There Is, how ever. no official connection between the Press Humorists' organization and the National Mark Twain association It Is planned by the newspaper writers Of humor to make an excursion to Hannibal during their convention, to visit the boy hood haunts of Mark Twain. The man. agers of the Mark Twain association also have in view a pilgrimage to that shrine for their delegates, and, therefore, 1t Is probable that next June the old town of at, fnr brief period large number of persons from various sections who will make the visit because a boy named Sam Clemens lived there half a century ago and en-