MARK TWAIN’S ILLNESS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13053, 22 April 1910, Page 5

MARK TWAIN’S ILLNESS.

CONDITION SERIOUS.

Press Aasociation—Tcif-oranli —Gnpvri<rht NEW YOR K,April 21.

Mr Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain! has had another attack of angina pector'6. brought on as the result ci over-smoking, and his condition is serious.

UNCONSCIOUS. Received April 22 9.15 a.m. NEW YORK, April 21. Mark Twain has declined, and is now unconscious.

A FAMOUS HUMOURIST. “By the mark one, by the mark twain.” It is perhaps a little-known fact that from this qnaiot .'all of a Mississippi pilot the world’s greatest humourist borrowed juname. Throughout his school days re was ft hopeless incorrigible, learning little or nothing, but spending his time watching the Salt River flowing to the Mississippi and hoping that one day he would become a pilot. Eventually he ran .away to Nev York with 12 dollars in his pocket, but. meeting with no success, tramped through Philadelphia back to St. Louis, earning his livelihood on the way as best he.could with the aid of a travelling printer’s outfit. At St. Louis be obtained the steam-boatman’s job, and the seven years which he spent in travelling up and down the Mississippi in this capacity ga»e him the materials for his first literary effort, “The Jumping Frog.” This did not bring him immediate wealth, though it made S. L, Clemens notorious as a joker. And it was not long before his eccentric nature enhanced that reputation. He »oon came to he credited with the absurdest actions. On one occasion he borrowed 1200 dollars from General McComb for a trip to the Holy Land V\ hat security he offered is not known ’ut soon after his return “The InnocmU Abroad” made its appearance. Thereafter kls inimitable books of humour followed .each other in quick succession. Mark Tw-ain who is now 75 vears of age, has had but indifferent health for some years, and the shock occasioned by the recent loss of his youngest daughter, who was drowned in her bath as the result of an epileptic nt, affected him very seriously.