The Washington herald., 1906-10-20
MARK TWAIN'S DEBUT.
His Experiences on His First AD-
pearance Before the Public.

Mark Twain did not introduce his
daughter. Miss Clara Clemens. TO the
audience that crowded the gymnasium
M Norfolk. Gem. 10 hear the young
contraito make her American debut He
closed she evering. however. with few
I remarks. ia which nc recalled the agony
Of his own first appearance upon a public
stage
My heart Eoes out in sympathy to
any one who IS making his first appear
ance before an audience Of human beings.
BY "a dire process Of memory I 90 back
forty wears. less one month-for I'm
older than I look" he said. wagging his
snowy head.
j recall the occasion Of my first ap-
Tcarance. Sar Francisco knew me then
only as "a reporter. and I was TO make
my bow 10 san Francisco as q lecturer.
] knew that nothing short Of compuision
would get rae 10 the theater. SO I bound
myself by hard-and-fast contract so
that ] could not escape. I got to the
theater forty-fve minutes before the hour
set for the lecture.
My knee were shaking so that
didn't know whether I could stand up.
If there is an awful, horrible malady IN
the world. il is stage Highland seasicK-
fright Their foI the first and last time. I
was only seasick once. too. II was on a
little ship on which there were 200 other
passengers I-was-sick ! was so sick
that there wasn't any left for those other
% passengers.
1T was dark and lonely behind the
scenes in that theater. and I peeked
through the little peek holes they nave
IN theatcr curtains and looked into the
big auditorium That was dark and
empty. too. Ry and by it lighted up and
the audience began 20 arrive.
Il had got a number Of friends Of mine.
staIwart men. 10 sprinkle themselves
through the audience. armed with big
clubs. Every time I said anything they
could possibly guess 7 intended 10 be
funny. they were to pound those clubs
on the floor. Then there was a kind
lady in q box up there, also good
friend Of mine the wife OF the governor.
She was 70 watch me intentIy. and when
ever ! glanced toward her she was going
10 deliver a gubeTnat0riai laugh that
would lead the whole audience into ap-
plause.
AT last I began. I had the manu-
script tucked under United States
flag ia front Of me. where I could get at
it in case Of neeG. But ! managed To
get started without it. I walked up and
down. was young IN those days and
needed the exercise-and talked and
talked.
Right 81 the middle of that speech I
had placed p gem I had put in NOV
inc, pathetic part which was 90 get at
the hearts ard souls OF my hearers
When I delivered il they did just what
hoped and expected. They sat silent and
aWcd ! had touched them Then I
happened TO glance up al the box where
the governors Wife was-you know what
happened
''Well. after the first agonizing five
minutes my sage fright left me. never
10 return. / know if / was going 20 be
hanged ! could get up and make a good
showing, end I intended 20. But I shall
never forget ny feelings before the
agony left me- and 7 got up here to
thank you for her for helping my daugh-
ter by your kindness TO live through her
first appearance. And I want to thank
you FOR your appreciation OF her singing.
which is, by the way hereditary.