Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1885 — Mark Twain a Fire. [ARTICLE]

Mark Twain a Fire.

Kansas City Times: Rev. J. Hyatt Smith knows more stories about more people than ten average citizens. Among them he relates this: “When I was living with my brother in Buffalo, Mark Twain occupied a cottage across the street. We didn’t see very much of him, but one morning as we were enjoying our cigars on the veranda after breakfast, we saw Mark coming to his door in his dressing gown and slippers and look over at us. He stood at his door and smoked .for a minute; as if making up his mind about something, and at last opened his gate and came lunging across the street. There was ah unoccupied rocking-chair on the veranda, and when my brother offered it him he dropped into it with a sigh of relief. He smoked for a few moments and said:

“Nice morning.” “Yes, very pleasant.” “Shouldn’t wonder if we had rain by and by.” “Well, we could stand a little.” g“™ s “Yes, we rather like it.” “How’s your family?” “Quite well —and yours?” “0, we’re all comfortable.” There was. another impressive silence, and finally Mark Twain crossed his legs, blew a puff of smoke into the air, and in his lazy drawl remarked: “I suppose you’re a little surprised to see me here so early. — Fact is, I haven’t been so neighborly, perhaps, as I ought to be. — We must mend that state of things. But this morning I came over because I thought you might be interested in knowing that your roof is on fire. It struck me that it would be a good idea if—” But at the mention of fire the whole family dusted up stairs, trailing language all the way up. When we had put the fire out and had returned to the veranda Mark wasn’t there.

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KO” Funeral notices must be accompanied by the address of the corpse, not for publication, but as a guarant e of prompt payment. Chicago Herald: “Pardon my public expression of grief,” said ,t passenger in a parlor car, as he wiped his eyes conspicuously with a nice, clean, linen handkerchief evidently provided for that very purpose, “I know it doesn’t look well, but I served my country three long years under the grand old commander, and I have a right to weep.” “In what capacity did you serve?’ “1 was postmaster down at our place.”