Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-22

attention of San Francisco editors, ana
offers began to tempt him.
In 1885 he left Nevada for San Fran
cisco. Here he worked upon the Alta CAL
ifornia, the Call, then owned by George
Clemens was commissioned by the Sac
ramento Union, in 1881, to go to the Sand
witch Islands and describe them and their
people. In 1860 he went to New York.
Most Of the '.Oid Guard who were in
timately acquainted with Clemens are
dead. The last one OF his close friends
of the early western days was Arthur
McEwen. an editorial writer, who died
three years ago.
In the early and middle '7O's Mark
Twain was a frequent visitor at the Bo-
herman Club here. William Greer Harri-
son recalls that Clemens was not con-
viyial man at that time. ..s :.
He was OF very temperate haDats,
said Mr.. Harrison, land was rather quiet
and unobtrusive."
1t was said of Clemens that, as a re-
porter here, he had not the slightest con-
ception oe the value of news. He would
ceedings after the manner of a society
wedding and would write UP a wedding
in the style Of prize fight.
Only the ridiculous appealed to him.
strike that key.
Clemens Eighty, Declares Friend.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April %
Mark Twain lacked only six months and
nine days of four score years of age,
said Judge c. c. Goodwin, veteran
editor, in commenting on the death Of the
humorist
recruits OF the brilliant company whose
genius has given the Comstock lode q
more enduring luster than all its silver. :.
II know he said he was only seventy
were in Virginia City. New. Sam was
older than I was. and I am seventy
eight. Here is the record of It,"
He opened a book of biographies by
Amelia J. Carver, published in 1889. There
Samuel L. Clemens. born November
II did not go on the Virginia City En-
terprise until Clemens left it, said Judge
Goodwin. but I never ceased to hear
from him.
HE first wrote a burlesque Fourth of
July grafton. which was published in an
Aurora, New, paper. AS l remember 1t,
it began I was sired by the great
American eagle and born OF a continental
damn.
This pleased Joseph T. Goodman, edi-
tor of the Virginia City Enterprise. He
wrote to Clemens, telling him that II he
were not making more than the Enter
prise was paying he would be welcomed
to the staff Of the paper.
Clemens First Appearance.
Zone day q man came into the editorial
sanctum. He wore a dilapidated hat,
jeans, a hickory shirt and carried q roll
OF dirty blankets.
That was Mark Twain's entrance into
literature. Except for his experience on
the Enterprise, It is doubtful II he would
ever have been known as a genius.
with him on that paper were the
owner and gifted editor, Joseph T. Good
man, now living in Alameda, CAL; the
inimitable Riley NJ. Daggetr.' William
Wright dan Dequill) and others. There
was a close comradeship between them,
and nothing of envy or jealousy to keep
them from giving full praise for every
fash Of genius.
HE was a marvellous humorist and his
books never became stale, because
through them there is woven in a wool
of royal good sense; underneath his hui
NOR were held in leash many Of the at
tributes of q statesman. Except for his
overpowering sense Of humor, he might,
In another channel, have won fame as a
leader OF men.