A FAMOUS JOKE

Evening Star, Issue 14497, 23 February 1911, Page 4

A FAMOUS JOKE

Tho origin of Mark Twain's world* famed witticism, "The report of my death v, as iiii exaggeration," is explained in an juticte in the 'Outlook' by Mr Frank Marshall White, entitled 'Mark Twain a* a Newepaicr Reporter.' "It was on, the Inst dav of May, 1897,'' writes Mr Whit*, "that my paper cabled me from New York Ihe. information that a report was current in the American Prees that Mark Twain was dying in poverty in London. I had seen him only a day :>r two before, and knew that, he was in food health and living in comfort, but the following morning I sent a reporter to hit house to show him tho cable from Xew York. He was writing in bed that- day, otv! a servant took the cable to his bedroom, whence he sent down tho folio-wins; note, out of which grew on* of the most famous of lie later wittidflMf 'James Ro?s Clemen.*, a conu'n of mnifc w&3 feriotisly il! three, months ago, brro ia well now. 'Die report of ay Clness pew out of his illness. The report of mr death was an eiaggeiation.' When I railed on Mark Twain later he eaid- 'Of course I'm dyine; but I'rr. trot dying farter than anybody else.'"