davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
THE AUTOBIOGR Ably OF
MARK TWAIN

mind all on fire with his romantic project, and
building and enjoying his surprise in advance He
was always enjoying things in advance; it the
make of him. He never could wait for the event,
but must build it out of dream stuff and enjoy it
beforehand; consequently sometimes when the
event happened he saw that was not good the
one he had invented in his Imagination and so he
had lost profit by not keeping the imaginary one
and letting the reality go.
to the back door and slipped off his boots and crept
up stairs and arrived at the of those elderly
ladies without having wakened any sleepers. He
undressed in the dark and got into bed, and snugged
up against somebody. He little surprised
but not much; for he thought it brother
Ben. 1t was winter, and the bed was comfortable.
and the supposed Ben added to the comfort; and
so he dropping off to sleep very well satisfied
with his progress so far, and full of happy dreams
OF what was going to happen in the morning
But something else was going to happen sooner
than that, and it happened now. The maid that
being crowded fured and fretted and struggled,
and presently came to half waking condition and
protested against the crowding. That voice par
alyzed Orion: He couldn't move limb; he couldn't
get his breath; and the crowded one discovered his
new whskers and began to scream. This removed
the paralysis and Orion was out of bed and clawing
round in the dark for his clothes in fraction of
second. Both maids began to scream then; so Orion
did not wait to get his whole wardrobe. He started
with such parts of it as he could grab.
He flew to the head of the stairs and started down,
and was paralyzed again at that point, because he
saw the faint yellow flame of candle soaring up
the stairs from below and judged that DR.. G. was
behind it; and he was. He had no clothes on to
speak of; but matter, he was well enough fixed
for occasion like this, because he had butcher
knife in his hand. Orion shouted to him, and this
saved his life, for the doctor recognized his voice
Then in those deep-sea going bass tones of his that
used to admire SO much when little boy.
he explained to Orion the change that had been
made, told him where to find the Clemens family
and closed with some quite unnecessary advice
about posting himself before he undertook another
adventure like that-advice which Orion probably
never needed again as long as he lived
ONE bitter December night, Orion sat up reading
~ until three o'clock in the morning, and then
without looking at clock sailed forth to call on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05

he could leave the new PROJECT alone,
and it would extinguish itself the same
night. Orion thought he would like to
become lawyer. Mr. Bates encouraged
him, and he studied law nearly week,
then of course laid it aside to try some
thing new. He wanted to become an
orator. Mr.. Bates gave him lessons. Mr..
Bates walked the floor reading from an
English book aloud and rapidly turning
the English into French, and he recon-
nlended this exercise to Orion. But as
Orion knew no French, he took up that
study and wrought at it like volcano
for two or three days; then gave it up.
During his apprenticeship in St. Louis
he joined number of churches, one after
another, and taught in their Sunday
schools changing his Sunday school
every time he changed his religion. He
was correspondingly erratic in his poll
tics-Whig to-day Democrat next week,
and anything fresh that he could find in
the political market the week after. l
may remark here that throughout his
long life he was always trading religions
and enjoying the change of scenery. |
will also remark that his sincerity was
never doubted; his truthfulness was
never doubted; and in matters of bust
ness and money his honesty was never
questioned. Notwithstanding his forever
recurring caprices and changes, his prin-
ciples were high, always high, and abso-
lutely unShakable.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
A Strange Human Mixture

HE was the strangest compound that
ever got mixed in human mold
Such person as that is given to acting
upon impulse and without reflection;
that was Orion's way. Everything he
did he did with conviction and enthusi-
asn and with vaing glorious pride in the
thing he was doing; and no matter what
that thing was, whether good, bad, or
Copyrs, by Harper All Rights Reserved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
DICTATED MARCH 20, 1oo6.1

Ron CLEMENS was born in James
town, Fentress County, Tennessee,
in 1925. He was the family's first
born, and antedated me ten years.
Between him and me came sister,
Margaret, who died, aged ten, in
1887, in that village Of Florida,
Missouri, where l was born; and
Pamela, mother of Samuel E..
Moffett, who was an invalid all her
life and died in the neighborhood
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
Orion Clemens, "a Strange Human Compound "

Indifferent, he repented of it every time in sackcloth
and ashes before twenty-four hours had sped
Pessimists are born not made. Optimists born
not made. But think he was the only person
have ever known in whom pessimsm and optimism
were lodged in exactly equal proportions. Except
stable as water You could dash his spirits with
single word; you could raise them into the sky
again with another You could break his heart
with word of disapproval; you could make him
as happy as an angel with word of approval. And
there was occasion to put any any vestige
of mentality of any kind into these miracles any
thing you might say would answer.
He had another conspicuous characteristic, and
it was the father of those which have just spoken
of. This intense lust for approval He
so eager to be approved-so girlishly anxious to be
approved by anybody and everybody, without dis
elimination that he commonly ready to for
sake his notions, opinions, and convictions at
moments notice in order to get the approval of
any person who disagreed with them. / wish to be
understood reserving his fundamental principles
all the time He never forsook those to please any
body. Born and reared among slaves and slave
holders, he yet abolitionst from his boyhood
to his death. He always truthful; he
always sincere; he always honest and honorable.
But in light mathematics of small consequence,
like religion and politics and such things-he
acquired conviction that could survive a dis
approving remark from cat.
He was always dreaming,-he was dreamer from
birth-and this characteristic got him into trouble
and then.
A Reversed Surprise
~ years old, and was become journeyman, he
conceived the romantic idea of coming to Hannibal
without giving notice, in order that he might
furnish to the family pleasant surprise If he had
given notice, he would have been informed that we
had changed Our residence and that that gruff old
bass voiced sailorman DR.. G., our family physician,
was living in the house which we had formerly oc-
cuped. and that Orion's former room in that house
was occupied by DR.. G.'s two middle aged
maiden sisters Orion arrived at Hannibal per
steamboat in the middle of the night, and started
with his customary eagerness on his excursion his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05

of New York year ago, aged about seventy
FIVE Her character without bemish, and
she was of most kindly and gentle disposition.
Also there was a brother Benjamin, who died in
1913, aged ten or twelve
Oron's boyhood was spent in that wee little log
hamlet of jamestown up there among the knobs
SO called, of East Tennessee. The family migrated
to Florida, Missouri, then moved to Hannibal
Missouri when Orion twelve and half years
old. When he was fifteen or sixteen he was sent to
ST. Louis, and there he learned the printers trade
One of his characteristics eagerness. He woke
with an eagerness about some matter or other every
morning; it consumed him all day. it persisted in
the night, and he fire with fresh in
terest next morning before he could get his clothes
on. He exploited in this way three hundred and
sixty-ive redhot eagernesses every year of his
life. But am forgetting another characteristic,
very pronounced one. That his deep glooms,
his dependencies, his despairs; these had their
place in each and every day along with the eager
nesses. Thus his day was divided-no, not divided,
mottled-from sunrise to midnight with alternating
brilliant sunshine and black cloud. Every day he
the most joyous and hopeful that ever
was, think, and also every day he the most
miserable man that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
Unnecessary Argument

WHILE he in his apprenticeship in ST. Louis,
w he got well acquainted with Edward Bates who
afterwards in Mr.. Lincolns first Cabinet. Bates
was very fine man, honorable and upright man,
and distinguished lawyer. He patiently allowed
Orion to bring to him each new project; he dis
cussed it with him and extinguished it by argument
and irresistible logic-at first. But after few weeks
he found that this labor was not necessary; that
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28
she WAS NO HAssgEN.
Smoking Car Just the One Old Woman
Was Looking For.

Madam" said the brakeman as the
train stopped at n village station and
a little old woman started TO enter
the smoking car. the car back Is the
one you want
How do you know" she tartly
asked.
Because this Is the smoking car"
She pushed past him and climbed
up the steps. and after taking seat
she pulled out and filled pipe. struck
match on the sole OF her shoe. and
after drawing n few puffs she said to
n man smoking cigar across the
aisle:
THAT young feller out there don't
know half as much as he thinks he
does
How so?" was asked.
He took me for an old woman that
had never rode on the cars before. and
told me this was the smoking car.
And you wanted this carr"
why. l never ride in any other
not unless my pipe Is broke. my to-
bacco all out and none O. you men.
folks will lend me a cigar"
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28
COURT TO RULE
ON COMMITTEE.
A TEMPO RARY lNJUNCT'oN
AGAINST REPUBLICAN STATE
CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
IS SECURED BY PARKS
LEGAL POINTS IN DENVER Gun
TRoVERSY TO BE ARGUED
BEFORE JUDGE sHATTuck.

Tenyer-A temporary restraining OF
der directed to the Burger committee
pr seven to the officers and mem
hers of The Republican state cen
lruI committee and all parties
in interest. was issued Friday
evening num the District Court to
prevent the appointment of the pro
posed new Republican county commit
Jvp and tn keep that committee from
usurplng the functions OF the present
Republican city and county committee.
II which Fred W Parks is chairman:
And Friday. Chairman Fred w
Parks OF The Republican city and coun-
rs COMMITTEES issued an official call Tor
that committee to meet on MohahS'
Auuust eth. to take steps To hold lne
lrlWarira and county convention which
will elect delegates to the state con
lrutiun and nominate IA full county
tlch,t for Dcuv'r MIR. Parks as chair
uAn OF the legislative committee also
removed Fred II Chaffin. secretary OF
thar CummttCu COmpuscd OF counties
Heated with Denver in the election OF
senator's and rcprcs' natives, and ap'
pointed William B Pfouts in his stead
The restraining order was issued by
in lEg Hubert l. Shattuck on com
rluint OF Nh Parks. who through his
attorney. H. j. Hcrscy. takes :Esuc with
the Republican state committee in de-
posing him and his full committee with
ont q hearing and without charges
having been filed. contrary. he alleges.
10 the rules of the unrtV and the stat
utcs \ hearing will be given August
2Gth on the application to make the
temporary order permanent
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28
Favor Kansas,coIorado Railroad.

Canon City Pres. 5. II. Atwater
Il the Kansas Colorado Power & Rail
road Company. who with other officials
has just completed a tour In the inter.
's.s OF the enterprise through eastern
Colorado and western Kansas. has the
following to say regarding the enthusi-
assn with which the proposition is be.
ing received and the possibilities OF the
enterprise:
Il have received so many assurances
from the people in the lower part of the
Arkansas valley that II seems almost
impossible for anything but the most
favorable outcome to our efforts. |
have been told many wonderful stories
about western Kansas. but when saw
1t with my own eyes 1t was beyond
anything | had ever imagined. The
people everywhere received us most
heartily and were greatly Interested
In our enterpris."
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28
PROMISES OF ELECTRICAL ERA.
Advancement That viii Open Natures
Heart to Man,

Fire made man master OF the mole
cule; electricity makes him master OF
the atom and opens natures heart.
Fire melted sand to glass and pre.
pared the path for a telescope for Gal.
leo. camera for Daguerre, a micro.
scope for Pasteur, engines for Watt.
Stephenson, Parsons and De Laval:
all the streams of lead and iron. con.
per and zinc ever smelted from their
ores, all the acids, oils and alcoholic
But all these electricity can do. do
1t better than fame, and greater works
than these, tasks beyond the power Of
fire. The electrical era is only dawn.
Ing. There are motors and dynamos.
heaters and lamps, chemical dividers
and batteries. The larger the field Of
electricity the cheaper 1t will become
and the bigger will be the demand.
When there are not only telephones
In every house. but sewing machine
motors. fans. smoothing irons, chafins
dishes and the like, electricity will BE-.
gin to mean as much for man to-day
a.. long ago. did the first kindlins al
IRE with slowly won arts Of furnace
and lamp. oven and smelter. crucible
and still. Thus saith Z prophet r
elsctricity.
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28
OPEN DsALlNo ~ FAINT.

Buying paint used to be like the
proyerbial buying OF "pig In .
poke" Mixtures In which chalk,
ground rock. etc. predominated were
marked and sold as Pure White
Lead" the deception not being ap-
parent until the paint and the paint.
ing were paid for. This deception is
still practiced, but We have learned to
expose II easily.
National Lead Company. the larg.
est makers OF genuine Pure White
Lead, realizing the Injustice that was
being done to both property owners
and honest paint manufacturers. set
about TO make paint buying safe.
They first adopted a trade mark. the
now famous "Dutch.Boy Painter" and
put this trademark, as a guaranty OF
purity. on every package Of their
White Lead. They then set about
familiarizing the public with the
blow.pipe test by which the purity
and genuineness OF White Lead may
be determined. and furnished blow.
pipe free to every one who would
write them for It. This action was in
itself n guaranty OF the purity Of Ma.
tional Lead Company's White Lead.
AS the result OF this open dealing
the paint buyer to-day has only him.
self to blame II he is defrauded. For
test outfit and valuable booklet on
painting. address National Lead Com.
pany. Woodbridge Bldg. New York.
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28
Will Marry in the Heavens.

Pueblo. Colo,-A novel feature will
he given spectators at the State Fair
Pueblo Day. when Miss Ada REM. an
aeronaut. will be married while 900
feet in the air to Walter II. Williams
of St Louis. according to n letter re-
ceived by Secretary a. G. Watson, OF
the State Fair Association.
The letter came from Charles Bre.
nard. who will have charge of the bal.
loon races during the fair.
II stated that Miss REM. to whom
Williams has been engaged for two
years, had promised to marry him in
Pueblo IL he would consent to have the
ceremony performed in a balloon. Ac.
cording to her suggestion. Immediately
after the ceremony, they will drop in
separate parachutes and she Is to re.
main on terra firma for the balance
Of her life.
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28

"A breaker of fresh water and may
hap some hard bread"
Good" said Seton. reassured that
tee fugitives were not starving at any
rate. Now. want to get to Ports
f.outh, and want to go by sea
He judged that since Darlington
was probably headed in that direction,
by land. it would be best for him to
follow directly upon the course OF
t.e fusitives which he had so luckily
run down.
"Thatn be easy enough. your hon
or" said the sailor, there's other
boats in the harbor."
There's VIII Hawkes. boat yonder.
VIII amt abroad to-day, bein down
with a spell of fever
Very good" said Seton. Go and
see him, tell him that Sir Charles
Seton wants to charter his boat for a
run TO Portsmouth. Are you free TO
take charge of herr?
That | am. master.
Set about II at once, said Seton,
while | arrange TO leave my horse
at the tavern. By the way. what 5
your name?"
"Whibley. sir. John whitley, a,
yer honor's service.
whitley was as good as his prom
ise A half an hour found Sir ChaTles
afloat in a small lugger with Whioley
for captain and two boys, the own
er's son and another that he had
picked up. for crew.
You said this was a fast boat
Sir Charles remarked to his sailing
master.
"Ay. ay, sir. With wind like this
and indeed there was ripping
breeze blowing mp the channel-"we
ought to reel off between 10 and II
knots an hour"
Spare nothing" said Seton. an
extra guinea apiece TO the three OF
you If you overhaul the other boat,
Beg your pardon, sir said Whlh'
ley after a moments thought but
beins as they've took my boat. |
should like to know how. II 'tain't too
bold. who or what them parties is
you're chasin'?'
Two women returned Seton.
bravely
Hum" said Whibley under his
breath. I've knowed OF a man chasin
one woman half round the world, but
I've never heard OF a lover chasin
two
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28

astride of horse Generations of
fox-hunting fathers had given him
heritage Of horsemanship which the
years he had spent upon the sea
could not eradicate. Not only was
he an expert rider. but he was thor
oughly familiar with what could be
got out of horse. He knew how to
ride him to the best advantage, when
to spare him and when to press him.
He had but one desire. to ride down
Strathgate and wrest Ellen from his
hands. He had no doubt that the
three were headed for Portsmouth.
As If to punish him for his misuse
of noble steed who responded gal.
lantly to every incentive of whip.
spur. voice and appeal his master
brought to bear. Sailor had the bad
luck to cast shoe. A few leaps and
he went instantly lame. With bit
ter curse Darlington dismounted and
examined the horse. The poor beast
stood painting and exhausted his
fianks heaving, his heart beating, his
head dropping. The groom had been
distanced and left behind. Caring.
ton was alone with a lame horse miles,
apparently, from a posting station or
blacksmith's shop. There was moth
ing to do but wait. He sat down by
the roadside. his eyes strained back
ward in the direction whence he had
come, looking for the groom. After
half an hour or SO of delay, which
fretted him beyond measure, he dis.
covered the fellow leisurely trotting
over hill. Aroused by the halloos
Of his master, the boy suddenly
quickened his pace and soon drew rein
beside him.
What do you mean," cried Car.
rington, furiously, "by loafing along
in that way? l told you to- keep up
with me-"
MY lud," said the boy, touching his
hat and dismounting, mo man on
earth could keep up with you without
killing his horse, and there are few
horses, even II killed. that'd be equal
to Sailor, sir. 'Tisn't in this mare.
know. She was In distress several
miles back, and pulled her up. II i
hadn't, she wouldn't be here"
There was sense In what the boy
said, and Carrington could not but 20.
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28

Glenwood Springs has voted bonds
ior a public school gymnasium.
two-year-old black bear was can.
tured eight miles from Trinidad a few
Gays ago by two Mexicans. who sold
1t to Trinidad butcher.
Lake San Cristobal in Hinsdale
county Is to be the center of one OF
the finest pleasure and health resorts
IN Colorado. Incorporation papers were
taken out Monday by prominent bust,
ness men OF Lake City, who will spend
100000 on preliminary plans for the
resort. Hotels, cottages and various
amusement places will be built around
the lake. The company is Incorporated
under the name of the San Cristobal
Health & Pleasure Company.
Ten thousand souvenir books adver.
tising Colorado's advantages for health
seekers will be distributed at the Ma.
tional tuberculosis congress at Wash.
lngton. DR.. Charles Denison Of nen.
ver. ". william Beggs and other au.
tnorities on the white plague win com.
pile the books, each contributine An
number Of capitalists. Including a
y. Parks OF Glenwood Sprinea ~ q.
tereeted IN reservoir proposition =,
Hunter Mesa, near Rifle. vhich q - =. s
rleo through, viii furnish suffic{ent
watsr y ass 70 irrisats between 5000 ~
The Ordway new era., 1908-08-28
(Copy right, isos. by W. o. ch.pmAn.)
SYNO SIS.

The Escapade opens, not in the ro-
nance preceding the marriage of Ellen
Slocum. a Puritan miss. and Lord Car
rington OF England. but in their life after
settling In England. The scene is placed,
Just following the revolution, in Caring
ton castle In England. The Carringtons.
after a house party. engaged in family
tilt. caused by jealousy. Lord Caring
ton and his wife each made charges OF
faithlessness against the other in con-
tinuation OF the quarrel First objccting
against playing cards with the guests,
Lady Darlington agreed to cut cards with
Lord Strathgate. whose attentions to
rington- The loss OF $4,000 failed to per
turb her, and her husband then cut for
his wife's l. o. L. and his honor, Car
rington winning. The incident closed eN-
cept that liking for each other app9g-
emily arose between Lady Darlington and
Lord Strnthgate. Additional attentions
OF Lord Darlington to Lady Cecily and
Lord Strathgate to Lady Darlington com
PEELED the latter TO vow that she would
leave the castle. Preparing to flee, Lady
Darlington and her chum Deborah. an
American girl. met Lord Strathgate at
two a. M. he agreeing to see them safe
ly away. Ellen fled. Strathgate driving
He attempted to take her 10 his castle,
but she left him stunned in tn. road
when the carriage met with an accident.
She and Debbie then struck out for
Portsmouth. where she intended 10 sail
for America. Hearing news OF Ellen's
flight. Lords Darlington and Seton set
out In pursuit.