Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1916-09-21
BIRTHPLACE CT
MARK TWAIN
All Roads in Monroe County Lead to
It--House Built in 1835-Ori-
gin of The Name "Mark Twain"

writer to visit recently the birth.
place of Mark Twain at Florida, Mon
roe county, in company with Dean
Walter Williams of Columbia; Mr.
J. B. Powell, Instructor in Advertis-
ing in the University, and Edwin, son
of Mr.. Williams. The Journey was
comfortably and quickly made for
Will, the chauffer, was master of the
machine and conducted us over the
hills and hollows with care and skill
At MOlino we were kindly greeted
by DR.. J.F. Flynt, the genial physician
of that locality, and Mr.. p. H. Cau-
thorn, the successful cashier and
manager of the Molino Bank. After
the usual questions had been asked
as to the purpose of the tall building
which stands on the west side of the
town, and the usual answers had been
given, we proceeded northward past
the well-appointed farms of w. E.
Cauthorn, James Dudley, T. c. Hen
derson, Henry Fisher, j. A. Bolts
and others; on to Santa Fe, the
northern terminus of the electric
line. The MONDAY lunch was spread
in the shady yard of Mr.. Nelson Dull
near the village and after it was dis
posed of we set out to find the road
to Florida. That town resembles
ancient Rome in one particular at
least, viz: that all roads lead to it.,
or seemed so from the various direc-
tions received from different ones.
each having his favorite route and
no two the same. After drawing
straws, so to speak, we chose our own
way and in due time arrived at our
destination.
Probably the chief point of inter
est to the visitors vat Florida is the
house in which Mark Twain was
born 1t is frame building of two
rooms, erected prior to 1885, kept
in as good repair as possible, and at
the same time so kept that its antique
appearance is preserved. The walls
and ceilings are rudely plastered
and neatly whitewashed. Rag car
pets cover the floors and the furni-
ture, all of which is at least one
hundred years old, consists of cord
ed bedstead and bedding of feathers
with counterpane of large white and
blue checks, a spinning wheel for
wool, one for fax, split bottom chairs
(no rockers) and tables on which
are plentifully displayed Indian rel
les of various kinds.
Near the building the state of Mis-
souri, has placed monument to the
memory of Mark Twain. 1t consists
of a base and square shaft of Garth
age stone mounted by bronze head,
the whole standing about twelve feet
high.
The house and grounds are jeal-
ously and almost reverently cared for
by Mr. Merritt Violette, who cordial
ly welcomes all visitors and furnishes
any desired information.
Florida has not yet become a mec-
ca for lovers of gooG literature and
admirers of great authors, ands one
reason is the condition of the roads
in the region Immediately adjoining
the village. The town itself is sit
uated at the confluence of Salt River
and North Fork and the gorges thru
which these streams flow are deep
and the roads approaching the town
are steep and somewhat rough. If
these nearby roads were put in good
condition for a mile or two out from
the town, they would run into roads
as good as there are in the county
and the county as a whole is famous
for the excellence of its highways.
Mark Twain" as is well known, is
not the real name of the celebrated
writer, but the pen-name of Samuel
l.. Clemens. Mr.. Clemens once when
a young man was a pilot on Mis-
sissippi River steamboat. The river
men at times took their soundings to
ascertain the depth of the water, and
as they cast the lead they called out
MARK twain, mark twain" instead
of mark two," 1t is said that this
suggested to Mr.. Clemens the pseu-
donym which he adopted and by
which he 10 hast known
The Clemens family few years
after the birth of our hero removed
TO Hannibal, Mo-, where he spent his
boyhood. His parents were poor and
his own struggle with poverty was
hard. Ii there are self-made men,
Samuel Langhorne Clemens was one.