MARK TWAIN AND BABY CLEVELAND

Dunstan Times, Issue 2087, 23 July 1901, Page 3

MARK TWAIN AND BABY CLEVELAND

Mark Twain once used a successful ruse to attract the attention of President Cleveland to an injustice which he thought was about to be done to Consul-General Mason, at Frankfort, one of the best men in the service. Mason was notified that his resignation was expected, and that a Mr Rapp, of Illinois, was to be his successor. He was packing up his goods when Mark Twain happened around that way and visited the Consulate. Being informed of the situation, the latter wrote a letter to Ruth Cleveland, the baby daughter of the President, telling her that he could not interfere in matters of patronage because he was a Mugwump, but he. considered it a shame that a man of experience and ability, like ConsulGeneral Mason, should be turned out of office simply because some Democrat, who knew nothing about the duties, wanted the place. He said that he was acquainted with a great many Consuls, and that Captain Mason was the best he had ever known, and that if her father ever consulted her about the Consul service, he suggested that she should advise him not disturb good men merely to give places for politicians. About a month later, Mr Clemens received a, little note in President Cleveland's handwriting, hi which Miss Ruth Cleveland presented her compliments to Mark Twain, thanked him for calling attention to the threatened removal of Consul Mason, and said that if he knew of any similar cases the President would be glad, to hear from him.