Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-04-27
MARK TWA|E'S NO MORE
Noted Humorist Passed Away in
His Connecticut Home
DEATH DUE TO BROKEN HEART
He Occupied a Unique Place in
American Literature

ding, Conn, last Thursday night,
April 81, 1910, OF angin pectoris,
aged rs years.
Samuel L. Clemens was born in
village of Florida, Mo-, in 1885. When
he was about 2 years old his family
packed up and journeyed by wagon
to Hannibal. a town on the Missis-
sippi. which he later made famous in
Life on the Mississippi and other
books. His father dying, the lad
became an apprentice in the Office of
The Hannibal Courier, and next
worked as compositor 10 Eastern
cities. In 1861 be went to New da
and became city editor of The Vir-
ginia City Territorial Enterprise. In
this paper he began 10 use the pen
name which soon became much bet
ter known than his own. 1t was
taken from the call OF the leadsmen
on the Mississippi steamers as they
sounded the depth of the water.
Mark twain" was used to desig-
nate two iathoms.
His next move was to San Fran
cisco. where he worked on The
Morning Call, varying his writing
with prospecting trips. In 1867 he
published THE Jumping Frog of
Calaberas County, and Other Sket-
ches." This frst-named is one OF
the best known stories in American
fiction.
With the passing Of Mark Twain
from American life there disappears
one of the most picturesque of con-
temporary public men. His death
comes as personal bereavement to
reading Americans, who feel for
him the same personal affection that
our fathers felt for Longfellow. In the
place he held in the hearts of his
readers he is best to be compared
with Dickens.
1t may more justly be said that
he did for period in American his
tory what Thackersy did for an
epoch of English life. He gave per-
petual life to phase of American
development which, as fashions
change will be forgotten, but which
will be Ineligible to future genera
tons because he will present to them
that human nature which is kin
under all conditions.
Tho thing that gave Mark Twain
his wide popularity and that will
some day make his works classics
is the fact that he was in many ways
the inc irnation of the national spirit
and characteristics. His virtues
were national. his faults we're ma
tional. Intensely democratic, ire
weren't often towards traditions, I'M
awed bv conventions. with a touch
of vulgarity, yet always healthful.
Mark Twain began as humorist,
but his work in the end, mellowed
and ripened by experience and
wider opportunities of culture, had
truth and seriousness mingled
with its humor that gave a greater
Importance.
AT the same time, Mark Twain
held place by his personality that
no other man in America ever
possessed. 1t may roughly be said
that he was the owner of original
artistic temperament, and did
things for the edification of the pub
lie that no other American ever at
tempted without becoming the butt
of ridicule. Rostand with his
vagaries in his mountain retreat,
Rejane driving through Paris with
her white mules, Bernhardt in her
coffin bed. George Sand in her red
tights, Dumas with his unquench,
able thirst for notoriety, never
furnished more news than did this
American who had nothing of the
poseur about him.
Mark Twain was striking in ap
pearance. He was a small man will
q huge mop of snow-white hair
which he wore long; very heav.
eyebrows, from beneath which peer
! ed out keen, dark eyes. and rathe
unkempt, heavy white mustache
: which was caricatured thousands O