Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1890 — How Mark Twain Was Discharged. [ARTICLE]

How Mark Twain Was Discharged.

From Virginia City, Mark Twain drifted, as a matter of course, says William M. Clemens in the Boston Transcript, to San Francisco—the harbor of all adventurers on the const. He was in a chronic state of impecuniosity when he arrived at the Golden Gate. He had furnished sofne correspondence to the Morning Call from Nevada, and -to the office of that newspaper he immediately betook himself. He wanted work and money. He wore a ragged felt hat, a soldier’s blue overcoat and pantaloons whioh had foriped a passing acquaintance with the tops of his boots. George Barnes, who was at that time the editor of the Call, told him to.come to work the next d y, and gave him an order on the business office for money enough to mike himself look respectable. The nejt dffY Twain took possession of his aud fax six weary months Barnes tried to get some work out of him. At the end of that time, in his goodnatured way, he tried to let Markdown and out easily and politely, by saying to him; “Mark, don’t you think you are wasting your time and talents in doing local work?” “What do you mean?” said Mark. “Why, I think with your style and talent you could make more money writing for first-class magazines than in such work as you are doing now.” “That means that you don’t want me any more. I suppose?” and he put his feet on the desk and smiled blandly at Barnes. “Well, I think you are better fitted for that class of work.” “The fact is, you have come to the conclusion that I am not the kind of man you want.” “Well, if you will have it,” said Barnes, “you are not. You are the laziest, most sniftiesß, good-for-nothing specimen I ever saw around a newspaper offic*. I have tried for six months to get some work out of you,- and failed, and I have come to the conclusion that it is useless to keep you any longer." “Barnes.’ 1 replied Twain, in his most placid manner, “you are not as smart a man as I thought you were. You have been six months in finding that out. and I knew it the day I came to work. Give me an order on the office for thrje days’ pay, and I git. ”