A Brief History of Mark Twain

A Brief History of Mark TwainThe Early Years ChildhoodMark Twains childhood has been described by some as torrid and by others as lucid. Mark Twain grew up on an Indian reservation in central Oklahoma. He was adopted by a loving Indian couple who changed his name from Samuel Clemens to Mak Twain, an Indian phrase loosely translated as the second little abandoned boy. It is therefore believed that Mark Twain has a brother, although the presumed first little boy might not have been related. It was on this reservation that little Mark first learned to speak, and first learned about bullfrogs. The following is a short anecdote as retold by a descendant of a doctor who once visited the reservation. I remember a young lad who would constantly run around in circles and then let out a loud croak. His parents called him Mak, but the other children referred to him as Little Bullfrog. - Peter Hailding EducationMark Twain attended school on the reservation until the age of 12, when his family moved to Sarasota, Florida. The only records of Twains family are the school records and some invitations to his Bar Mitzva. He finished high school in Sarasota and attended the University of South Carolina at Quarzdale, but dropped out after only two years. His First JobAfter dropping out of the University, Mark travelled west to find fortune and fame. Twain stopped in Roanoke, Detroit, St. Louis, and Carson City, and finally settled for a time in Sacremento. He got a job running a printing press for the local news paper. But, unfortunately for Mark, he was accused of stealing ink and was fired. Furious, Twain moved back East. Later records show that a fellow employee had actually stolen the ink, but alas, Mark was already gone. Life on the MississipiThe Riverboat MythFor years it was thought that Mark Twain had captained the riverboat Missisippi Queen at the age of 26, shortly after leaving Sacremento. However, this was not the case. As was the custom on riverboat lines of the time, employees of the The Riverboat Company used employee numbers. Mark Twains number was 10559 while his fellow employee and friend, Jason Green, was number 18559. Green went on to become captain of the Jesuit Lady while Twains career was somewhat less illustrious, leaving the company a mere 3 years later having been only a dockworker and clerk. Company records, however, were smudged causing historians to at first read 10559 (Twains number) rather than 18559 (Greens number). This is why it was believed for so long that Mark Twain was the mighty riverboat captain, but you know what I mean. HungryvilleHaving left The Riverboat Company, Twain began his life of philanthropy. Twain remained in Missouri, but moved to the small, very poor town of Edburg, Missouri. In fact, this town was so poor, it had been nicknamed Hungryville after the war. Twain immediately recognized the need of the people of Hungryville and perhaps for the first time in his life found a purpose. Twains work at Hungryville to try and bring the people a life of prosperity may be responsible for the Steinbeckian overtones in his writings. The Great Author Hidden MessagesAlthough not yet widely recognized, many students of American Literature believe that many of Twains passages are actually puzzles. The answers to these puzzles may be clever riddles or the locations of the Clemens familys fabled riches. Most historians disagree, but researchers at the University of Central Missouri have recently discovered a pattern in his writings that they say is undeniably a puzzle. This may also explain the occasional use of random phrases and words that appear misplaced to those of us who arent reading between the lines. For example, Mark Twain once said The reports of my death have been greatly exagerated. If we take the first letter of each word in this quote, TROMDHBGE, then translate by one letter so that A-B, B-C, etc. We get USPNEICHF. Rearranging, his message was U Spin, Chef. Similar tricks can be applied to many of Twains passages. Golden Locks Turn to SilverLittle is known about Twains declining years. However, it is known that on his death bed he said He beat me.