The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-09
MARK TWAIN ESCAPED JAr1,
TWICE Arrested and Freed as Being
the Greatest Man in the
Country

Yes" said Mark Twain, with an
ar or conscious Importance. 81 have
been arrested. l was arrested twice.
so that there could be no doubt about
IT, have, lived many years in the
sShF OF my country an apparently
\ uncaught and blamcless life, model
'Rr the hoary-hcadet. But at las, the
la% has laid its hand upon me-" saws
an annapolis dispatch to PHILADELPHIA
I'clgeS.
"MiNc was no ordinary offensc
When IhHffront the law, choose to
do so in Mo obscure, insignificant,
trivial man}rT. Mine was a crime
against nothing less than the Federal
government. Tile officers who arrest
ed me were no common or garden
policemen; theyjw clothed with the
authority Of tile Federal constitu-
charm. The millions of the law faltcr-
cigar within a government rcscrva
ton. | was charged with smokin" a
ed. / came near setting stone pile
on fire.
cit IS trne that the arrest was not
mace effective. One of the party
whispered to the marines what Cover
nor Warficld was going to say, and
did say, in introducing me to the aud
leEce at my lecture-that I was one
OF the greatest men of the world.
don't know who proposed to tell that
to the marines. but it worked like a
charm. The min1ons of the law flatcr-
ed, hesitated, quailed, and today I
am free man. Twice they laid hands
upon me; twice were overcome by
my deserved reputation.
"Pcrhaps 1 ought not to say my
self that it is deserved. But who am |
to contradict the governor of Mary
land? Worm that I am by what right
shon!d | traverse the declared opin-
ION OF that man of wisdom and iudo-
mcnt, whom I have learned to ad-
mire and trust? l never admired him
mI"c than iil when he l,id my audi
ience that they had with them the
greatest man in the world. | believe
that was his expression. | don't wish
to undertake his sentiments, but will
60 no further than that--at present.
Why, it fairly warmed my heart. 1t
almost made me glad to be there my
ysef. | like good company.
d. Why Bishop Potter is Great.
H "Spcaking of greatness, it is Gu
aEl"nS how many grounds there are
#B$or great rcputations; how many diff
,}erent phases, that is to say, great
Yness may take on. There was Bishop
Potter. He was arrested few
months ago for il crime similar to
4mlnc; in"u"h ne lacked :he imayin:-
2tion to select United States govern
kment property as the scene Of the
3guilty deed. Now Bishop Potter is IA
8grcat man. | am aware he is, because
8a street car motorman told me So. \
Bmot' man is not a governor of Mary
Jana, out then Bishop Potter is not Il
Shumorist. He could hardly cxpcc. Il
acertilicatc like mine.
NIT rode with the moiorman one
day on the front seat Of his car. There
Was#a blockade before we got very
faI. and the motorman, having moth
.lnSto do, became talkativc. 'Oh yes,
hhsesSsaid, Il have good many distin-
guisshed men on this trip. Bishop Pot
teroften rides with me. lie likes the
ffSnt8sea. Vow ihera': i '.reA: man
Ytn--- Bishnp pnltcr.'
s$lss33sslIt#iS trnc.' | responded. 'Dortor
Potter%}is indeed Il mighty man of
Gpd,ian eruditc theolo"ian, wise al
administration Of his Great diocese. an
exegete$of-'
SssSsIles, broke in the motorman, his
facs#beamin% with pleasure as he rec
osnizedSthc justice Of my tribute and
hasteAad I" aGd one Of his own. 'Ycs,
andgheSs the only nan who rides with
nls$sWllo, can spit in the slot every
$sts sstsstfsat9Tliat > Il "cod story. isn't if? I
like $$IaE good story well told. That is
the reason ! am sometimes foccd 10
atell them myself. Here Is one, of
iSWhich | was reminded yesterday as [
iSssSy8s investigating the naval acadc-
'ny. / was much impressed with the
naval academy. | was all over it, and
now it is all ,ver me, I am full of
theSnavy. | talk, think, eat, drink and
dream navy. wanted to march with
!. fhem on parole, but they didn't think
lA,ask mo; curious inattcntion on