The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-19

IN the January Harpers Albert Bse- \ 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 Captain Horace Bixby. who taught Mark Twain, and in 191O was still at the wheel. In 1851 Mark Twain went aborad the Paul Jones.
 Horace Bixby, pilot of the Paul Jones, then a. man Of S2--still living Q910) and at the wheel-was looking out over the bow at the head of Island No. 35, when he heard a slow, pleasant voice say:
 Good morning.
 "Bixby was a clean cut, direct, cour- teous man.
 Good morning, sir, he said, briskly, without Joking around.
 "As a rule MT. Bixby did not care for visitors in the pilothouse. This one pres ently came up and stood little behind him.
 q How would you like young man to learn the river?' he said.
 eThe pilot glanced over his shoulder and saw a rather slender, loose limbed young fellow with fair, girlish complexion and a great tangle of auburn hair.
 "I wouldn't like it. Cub pilots are more trouble than they're worth. A great deal more trouble than profit
 The applicant was not discouraged.
 "I am a printer by trade,' he went on, in his easy, deliberate way. It doesn't agree with me. l thought I'd go to South America
 "Bixby kept his eye on the river, but note of interest crept into his voice.
 What makes you pull your words that wayY ('pulling'' being the river term for drawling), he asked.
 "Tho young man had taken a seat on the visitors bench. "'Youn have to ask my mother he said, more slowly than ever. She pulls hers, too
 "Filot Bixby woke up and laughed; he had keen sense of humor, and the man ner of the reply 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 Joking at the sunlit water.
 "Did you ever do any steeringg Bixby questioned.
 T have steered about everything on the river but a steamboat, l guess
 "'very well; take the wheel and see what you can do with a steamboat. Keep her as she is-toward the lower cotton wooG snag.
 | "Bixby had a sore foot and was glad of l.ttle 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 I would take, young man to learn the river that is, for money
 What do you charger Five hundred dollars, and I to be al no expense whatever "Ir those days pilots were allowed to carry learner, or cub, board free. MT. Bixby meant that he was to be at no ex- pense in port or for incidentals. His terms looked rather discouraging.
 "I haven't got s500 in money,' said Sam; I've got lot of Tennessee land worth % cents an acre; I'll give you 2ooO acres of that
 "Bixby dissented.
  estate 1 have too much already.
 "The young man reflected upon 'le amount he could probably borrow of Pam cla's husband without straning his credit.
 "'Well, then, I'll give you $loo cash and the rest when l earn it.
 .'Something about this young man had won Horace Bixbys heart Ills SLOW pleasant speech, his unhurried, quiet man ner with the wheel, his evident sincerity of purpose-these were cxtcrnals, but be- heath them the pilot felt something ol that quality of mind or heart which latei mace the world love Mark Twaln. The terms proposed were agreed upon The deferred payments were to begin wher the pupil had learned the river and was receiving q pilots wages. "Ai St. Louis Sam borrowed from MT