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JUST FOR LAUGHS | |
| Samuel Longhorn Clemens, the picturesque literary figure of America, known by the pen name of Mark Twain, remains to this day a most adored humorist. His life was as fantastic as a book, full of travels and adventures, and his works are his life. It is the countryside, wherefrom originates his unstained humor. Straight from Nature’s experience, was his source of humor.
He was reputed for his lethargic habits. Often he wrote, ate, and conversed form his bed. Once, when his Secretary, a lady, called to take notes, Mrs. Clemens announced her. ‘Send her in’, said Mark Twain. “But Clemens! Protested his wife, “She is a lady and it isn’t proper to ask her to sit and take notes, while you are lying in bed.“Tue”, Twain shook his silver head thoughtfully. His face brightened and his eyes twinkled as he said, “Ask someone to bring in another bed”. On his belief in Heaven or Hell, Mark Twain said: “I don’t want to express an opinion. You see, I have friends in both places.” At a speech in his honor, in England, a speaker, wishing to have a little fun at the cost of the American nation, said that Mark Twain was a true representative of the nation, which carried cotton umbrellas. Rising to the occasion, mark Twain replied that cotton umbrellas were the only items the English steal. Anti-climax was another note of his style. When his first book was presented to him, he thanked the printer and said, “It is a nice book, I might even read it one day!” Mark Twain, in his early lecturing days, was booked to speak in a small Western town. When he arrived, he saw no sign that his lecture was being advertised, so he thought he would find out if the citizens were aware of the treat in store. He called in the general store and asked the shop man: “Is there anything in the way of entertainment here to help a visitor while away an evening? The store-keeper, who was sorting mackerel, wiped his briny hands on his apron and said: “I expect there’s going to be a lecture. I’ve been selling eggs all day.” April I. This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are in the other three hundred and sixty-four. Once Mark Twain was reported dead, even while he was alive. He told the reporters that the report about his death was a “slight exaggeration.” On the day Mark Twain arrived in England, a gold train was robbed. Newspaper offices put up posters featuring the two incidents- “Mark Twain arrives” and “Gold Train Robbed.” He hastened to assure the Press that the two incidents were not related as cause and effect. That is Mark Twain, the born humorist. | ||
| Prof. Tom C. Varghese | ||
