The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-02-20
49, >
TO PRESERVE CABIN
OCCUPIED BY TWAIN
Reno Park to HaUe Abode
of Famous Hun1orist.

1t is in the ghost city of Aurora.
New, that Mark Twain wrote though
ing It." The cabin that he occupied
still stands just about as he left 1t,
IF. N. R." writes In the Kansas City
Times. Here. and there can be seen
the marks of souvenir hunters, but in
most respects the cabin, is in a good
state of preservation. The stove upon
which he did his own cooking, covered
with rust and CRIME, is just as 1t was
when he took the stage that carried
him on the first lap Of his journey to
the East and world fame
In one corner of the cabin is the
wooden bunk upon which one can
imagine Mark Twain lay weaving in
his mind many Of his western no
mances, as he watched the smoke
rings from his old pipe floating lazily
upward to join the cobwebs on the
ceiling. AS / sit here on the edge of
Mark Twaln's old bunk writing these
brief notes l have feeling that his
spirit is lowering hear.
When word was received recently
that citizens Of Mono Lake, CAL, were
starting movement to remove the
Mark Twain cabin to that place..
few Nevada old-tiiners suddenly awoke
to realization of the value Of this
early-day treasure and bestirred
themselves to keep 1t within the Dor
ders of the state that has greater
claim on this man who made the.
whole world smile with his quaint
humor and homely philosophy. Ar
ranxements have now been completed
TO transport the cabin and its his
toric contents to the Wingfeld park
at Reno. The surprising thing is that
this was not done long ago.
Walking through the streets of this
most interesting of Nevada's ghost
cities, a vision comes to one of its
past hectic days, the days when day
time and nighttime In Aurora were
one and the same, when the merry
click of the roulette wheels could be
heard at an hours of the night or day.
when the doors Of Its many dance
halls were never closed, and one Gun
understand whence came the inspiras
ton for Mark Twain's unrivqfed tales
of those pioneer days, the like Of
which will never be seen again.
1t is truly deserted village. Not
human being in sight. No sign OF ami
NAL lifer Nothing but empty and de
serted buildings Along the ma.H
street stands three-story brick hotel
several two-stQry bricks. others of on
story, all still in very good conaitiop
Many of these buildings compare "a
verably with similar structures /,
such cities as Reno. The doors q
most Of these buildings are open fsr
all who wish to enter; few hay,
iron bars across the doors. but will
windows broken one can easily see al
within. In one Of these Is hearse
upon which it is said the abseni
owner still pays taxes, just why n.
sone knows; it may be he thinks tn
camp will some day stage "come
back" trick that Nevada ghos
cities have.
The building once ussd as court
house, where justice was dispensed in
the true and easy pioneer style, has
it's jail doors wide Open swinging
back and forth with every breeze that
sweeps down the once-busy street. In
one of the cells Is chain shackled
to the floor Indicating the strenuous
character of some of its former occu.
pants. In another cell are four dusty
coffin lids, gruesome evidence of the
old days when men were wont to shoot
first and talk afterward.
In one of the ons-story bricks stands
a long bar and back of 1t bevel glass
mirror, and in >front the shattered
evidence of the familiar brass rail
upon which rested the feet Of many
men who later became prominent In
the business and financial affairs o:
San Francisco and other Pacific coast
cities. With feet on this rail, and
with the tinkling Of glasses, men made
deals involving thousands of dollars
Those were free and easy days, as the
timers will tell you with many q
Sigh and lonesome look.
1t was amidst such scenes and such
environment as this that Americas
foremost humorist spent his YOUNG
manhood days.