His Name Was Mary Aoa.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 53

His Name Was Mary Aoa.

At an entertainment giver, for the benefit of the seamen on board the steamer Kaiser Wilhelm II on her voyage from New Yoik to Genoa, Mark Twain was called on for an address. On being introduced, he iof.e, and, in his peculiar tone of voice and manner, said :

"My friends, 1 .see (hut niy name is on the programme for an address-. As ll.is was done without consulnng me, I shall gne you an anecdote in its plnce. Now, you know, there aie anecdotes and anecdote*, f-ho t liicuc and lono niche. I shall give you a, long ineire. one with a snapper at the end. It is sbout a Scotch-Irish minister who thought Lo was called to pieach Hio gospel, while lie know th.H he had (he gilt of oratory, ar.d he never mis&ed an opportunity to display it. An opportunity wus afforded on the occasion of a christening. There was a considerable audience, made up of tho relative.*, friend*, and neighbour-j of the parents. The preacher begpn by saying: "'We have met together, my friends, on a very interesting occa.-.ion — the christening of this little child — but I &cc already a look of disappointment on your faces. Is it because this infant is &o Sir.ull? We must bear in mind that this &lobe upon which we live is ;iwie up of small tiling— infiuitcs'imal objects, v/e might say. Little drops of water make ihe mighty ocean ; the mountains which rear their hoary heads toward heaven, and are often lost in the clouds, aic mado up of litile grains of sand. Besides, my friends, we must take into consideration the possibilities in the life of this little spec of humanity. Ho may become a groat preacher, mul'iludes may bo swayed by his eloquence, and brought 10 see ;\nd believe in (lie truths of the Gctpel. He may become a distinguished physician, and his fame as a healer of men may roach the uttermost parts of the earth, and his name go down to posterity as one of the great benefactors of humanity. He may become a tjreat astronomer and read the heavens as an open book. lie may discover new stare which may bo coupled with that of Newton ond other gioat discoverers. He may become a distinguished statesman and orator, and by the strength of his intellect and eloquence be may control the destinies of nations, and his name be engraved upon monuments erected to perpetuate his memoiy by hia admiring and grateful countrymen. He may become an author and a poet, and his name may yet appear among thoso tio'v entombed at Westminster. Re may become a great warrior and lead armies to battle and victory; his prowess and valour may change the map of Europe. Methinks I hear the plaudits of the people at the mention of his deeds and name. He may become— er—er—he might — cr — er ' "Turning to the mother: 'What is his name?' " The mother, 'What is (he baby's namo?' " ' Yes, what is his name? 1 " The mother : ' Mary Ann, 6ir.' "