Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-26
How Mark Twain Got Hi. First Job.


In the January Harper's. Albert Bige-
low Paine, the authorized biographer
Of Mark Twain. tells the story Of how
the great humorist began his career
as a Mississippi pilot. The facts of
the story were all obtained from Cap
tain Horace Bixby. who taught Mark
Twain. and in 1910 was still at the
wheel. In 1857 Mark Twain went
aboard the Paul Jones.
Horace Bixby. pilot of the Paul
Jones. then a man OF 32-still living
G910) and at the wheel-was looking
out over the bow at the head of Island
No. s5, when he heard a slow, pleasant
voice say:
"'Good morning
'Bixby was a clean cut direct. court
eous man
Good morning, sir he said briskly,
without looking around
"As rule Mr.. Bixby did not care for
visitors in the pilothouse This one
presently came up and stood little be-
hind him.
GLOW would you like young man
to learn the river?" he said
THE pilot glanced over his shoulder
and saw rather slender loose-limbed
young fellow with a fair. girlish COM
plexion and a great tangle Of auburn
hair
81 wouldn't like it. Cub pilots are
more trouble than they'reEworth. A
great deal more trouble than profit"
THE applicant was not discouraged.
81 am printer by trade" he went
on. in his easy deliberate way. ut
I
go to South America
"'What makes you pull your words
that way. ("pulling" being the river
term for drawling). he asked.
1.-The young man had taken seat on
the visitors bench.
you'll have to ask my mother he
said. more slowly than ever "She pulls
hers. too
"Pilot Bixby woke up and laughed:
he had a keen sense Of humor. and the
manner Of the deply amused him.
Come over and stand by the side Of
me- he said What is your name?
"The applicant told him. and the two
stood looking at che sunlit water.
"Did you ever do any steering?
Bixby questioned.
"1 have steered about everything on
the river but steamboat. guess
livery well: take the wheel and see
what you can do with steamboat
Keep her as she is-toward that lower
cottonwood snag.'
'Bixby had a sore foot and was glad
of little relief. He sat down on the
bench and kept careful eye on the
course BY and by he said:
"'There is just one way that would
take a young man to learn the river;
, that is for money
"'what do you charger
alive hundred dollars. and I to be
at no expense whatever
TN those days pilots were allowed to
carry a learner, or cub board free
Mr.. Bixby meant that he was to be at
| no expense in port or for tncidentais
His terms looked rather discouraging
| "I haven't got $500 in money. said
Sam; I'VE got lot OF Tennessee land
worth Is cents an acre: I'll give you
900 acres OF that
"Bixby dfssented.
"No; don't want any unimproved
real estate. I have too much already
"The young man reflected upon the
amount ne could probably borrow OF
Pamela's husband without straining his
credit
"we1l then. I'll give you 800 cash
and the rest when earn It.
Something about this young man
had won Horace Bixby's heart. Hia
slow, pleasant speech, his unhurried
quiet maner with the wheel. his evi-
dent sincerity Of purpose-these were
externals, but beneath them the pilot
felt something Of that quality OF mind
or heart which later made the world
love Mark Twain. The terms pro-
posed were agreed upon. The deferred
1 payments weFe to begin when the
pupil had learned the river and was re.
ceiving pilots wages.
i sat st. Louis Sam borrowed from
4 Mr.. Moffett the funds necessary Il
make up his first payment, and 10 con.
Il cluded his contract. - - X.
Horace Bixby was a lightning pilot
/ With method OF insirusison - > s.::. -
and fofcftae - II was effective. n,
was . small man, hot and quick firinG
! tho kindly, too, ana gentle when b,
thad blown on After oee satheps DysS