The San Francisco call., 1910-07-10


against the project Could his voice
fill the hall? asked one. Mark said he
would9risk the voice if his popularity
filled the hall in the first place. Had
the public any interest in the Sand
witch islands? demanded another. The
public would simply yearn to annex
the whole group when It heard him
talk about the islands. averred the fu-
ture lecturer, with confidence he was
far from feeling.
The last man he consulted was the
proprietor of leading San Francisco
newspaper, whose name have forgot
ten. They met on the street and the
newspaperman said the scheme was
madness. Twain would not get 10 peo-
pie in all California who would pay 81
each merely to hear him talk if he had
no magic lantern, no trick dogs,
couldn't do conjuring and wasn't ven-
triloquist. The idea was absurd.
The man in the street thoroughly
convinced the would be lecturer that
he was in the wrong, and, feeling he
ought to apologize to an insulted pub
lie. Mark Twain tu<ned deJectedly
away, when Mcguire tapped him on the
shoulder, an instance of the right man
appearing on the right spot at the
right moment-an example common
enough in real life, but absolutely use
less in fiction. for discriminating
public sneers at coincidence.
Il beg your pardon" said Mcguire,
7 oV-arbea r-d tha Ia few sentences
and your plan, is first rate one. I
own six opera houses and have three
or four vacant for next Sunday night.
Now, you get your lecture ready, see
to the advertisements and I'll light up
the house, provide ushers and all the
rest I feel certain you'll have a big
audience, and if you don't you can't
lose. for the theater shan't cost you
anything"
TROUBLE AT
An embryo lecturer could hardly ask
better terms. so Mark wrote out the
advertisement announcing that he
would lecture on the subject of the
Sandwich islands at a specified place
of entertainment. adding, The trouble
will begin at g." a phrase which has
often been quoted since and doubtless
had much to do with attracting the
large audience that came.
There was little time for prepara-
tion, as it was on Saturday that Ma
guire's proposition was made and ac-
cepted. The lecturer sat up all night
writing out his discourse, inventing at
the same time a device which would
conceal the manuscript from the audi
-ence, hoping thus to give an extern
porary character to his remarks, q de-
sire that was amply fulfilled when the
test came, for after the first few sem
tences the born lecturer found the man
uscript of little use to him.
The financial and artistic triumph Of
this first lecture did much to confirm
Mark Twain In a habit he never sue
ceeded in breaking, and familiarity
with the applause which invariably
greeted his appearance on the plat
form never dulled the pleasant thrill
such greeting gave him. When he
crossed the apparently boundless seas
to distant Australasia, seeming to float
so far from the world he knew to some
other planet, where he considered it abb
surd to suppose his name had preceded
him, he never quite recovered from the
surprise at finding himself cheered in
the English tongue, for cheer be-
longs TO a language quite as much as
do its words.
Journalism was not without its ex-
elements in the early days out west,
for when a constant subscriber ques-
toned the accuracy Of an item he did
so with a drawn revolver in his hand,
and the editors reply was as apt to
be as lead laden as the aforementioned
frog Still it must not be imagined
that all citizens took this somewhat
uncertain method of obtaining -retrac-
ton, for the higher class of law abid
ing fellow countrymen sent q formal
challenge to the writer and fought the
matter out according to the esta blished
rules Of the code. The paper with the
greater number of challenges on hand
was respected as enterprising, and a
reporter who could not shoot straight
as we'll as write straight soon faded
away from turbulent world, being a
mere incumbrance to a hard working,
conscientious city editor.
Steve Gillis could hardly be called a
journalist, because his general useful
ness on a paper included journalism as
a mere side show. His nominal pro-
fession was that OF a type setter, but
he had as keen a regard for the honor
of the paper with which he was con-
nected as If he had been the editor
in chief. ellis weighed 90 pounds or
thereabouts. but he could thrash any
man double his weight with an ease
and celebrity leaving nothing to be
desired. He had no use for a six
shooter, and If an indiscreet enemy
drew upon him ellis would first re-
move the weapon and then with his
fists proceed to lay the victim up for
week.
Great giants, armed like modern iron
clads with quick firing guns, went
about in craven terror of little ellis,
and sneaked rapidly UP obscure alleys
when they saw him approach. Not
only could Gillis overcome any man
in Virginia City. but when the arm
of the law proved stronger than his
own and he was compelled to fly to
California, he laid low the flower Of
San Francisco's slum chivalry as ex-
peditiousIy as he had hoored the less
numerous roughs of Nevada.
NEAR A COMBAT
When Mark Twain took charge of