Mark Twain

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Mark Twain
An American Icon Voice of America Mirror of
America
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Twain Icon and Iconoclast

• The icon who broke the icon
• The voice of both praise and criticism
• The mirror reflects both the beauty and the ugly
• A money seeker in contempt of money
• a true man

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Why American Mirror?

• What is America?
• People
• Story
• Language
• Spirit
• Itself

An icon of America, Mark Twain was a true
original who possibly did more for American
literature than any other writer in history.
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• "When I was a boy there was but one permanent
  ambition among my comrades...that was to be a
  steamboatman."
• - Mark Twain

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the romantic icon of America's Mississippi River
history

• Though the career of steamboatman is not a common
  ambition among children today, the lure of
  steamboat travel is as strong as ever. There is
  no greater way to explore America's heritage than
  to make a timeless voyage aboard the authentic
  paddlewheel steamboat Delta Queen, fully restored
  with rich oak and mahogany woods and Tiffany
  stained-glass windows.

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• Join the National Trust on a very special
  exploration of America's heartland, where the
  scenery and pleasures of steamboating have
  changed little since the days of Huck Finn and
  Becky Thatcher.

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• Mark Twain was a lifelong creator and keeper
  of scrapbooks. He took them with him everywhere
  and filled them with souvenirs, pictures, and
  articles about his books and performances.

In 1872, he patented his self-pasting
scrapbook, and by 1901, at least 57 different
types of his albums were available. It would be
his only invention that ever made money.
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Mark Twain
Inspired by his invention of the scrapbook, this
electronic scrapbook records information about
probably the most famous and beloved humorist,
satirist, and entertainer in American history and
illustrates some of Mark Twains quotations about
every aspect of our lives.
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As a young man Twain worked as a riverboat pilot
on the Mississippi River. When he started his
writing career, Samuel Clemens adopted the name
Mark Twain, which meant two fathoms, a safe
depth for a riverboat.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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In 1861, Samuel Clemens avoided the brewing Civil
War by going west. He took his first writing job
as reporter at the Virginia City Territorial
Enterprise. Serious news was often mixed with
reports that had to be taken with a grain of
salt. Soon, he began using the name Mark Twain
and affixing it to sketches, reportage, and an
occasional hoax. It was a time when he first
discovered his talent, his calling, and his
voice.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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At 34 years of age he married Olivia Langdon
Clemens. She was the daughter of a New York coal
magnate, a member of the countrys wealthy elite.
She would be partner, editor, and fellow traveler
in success and failure for the next thirty-five
years. She would also furnish him her familys
home in Elmira, New York, a place where he
visited often and wrote many of his best-loved
books.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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Though his most famous novel is criticized for
being racist, Mark Twain never expected nor
intended the controversy that arose with the
publication of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain was
not racist, but depicted life in his times.
I vividly remember seeing a dozen black men
and women chained to one another, once, and lying
in a group on the pavement, awaiting shipment to
the Southern slave market. Those were the saddest
faces I have ever seen. Mark Twain.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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"I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices
nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that
a man is a human being, and that is enough for
me he can't be any worse."
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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By 1900 Twain had become Americas foremost
celebrity. He was invited to attend ship
launchings, anniversary gatherings, political
conventions, and countless dinners. Reporters met
him at every port of call, anxious to print a new
quip from the famous humorist. To enhance his
image, he took to wearing white suits and loved
to stroll down the street and see people staring
at him.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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In time, the Clemens home became a revolving door
for the leading names of the day Howells,
Sherman, Cable, Harte, and others. But it also
saw Clemens involve himself in fanciful
investment schemes that led to his bankruptcyand
eventual departure.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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Because of financial problems, Clemens lived in
Europe from 1891-1901, but this was neither his
first nor last trip abroad. In fact, he was an
inveterate traveler. From the age of 17 to the
last few weeks of his life he was always
discovering new places and revisiting old. He
crisscrossed the Atlantic more than a dozen times
and also saw Turkey, Palestine, Hawaii,
Australia, India, and South Africa.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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He developed as a speaker and traveled on lecture
circuits, much in demand. His early performances
combined humor, information and eloquence in
measures that delighted most people.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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When he died on April 21, 1910, newspapers around
the country declared, The whole world is
mourning. By then, Sam Clemens had long since
ceased to be a private citizen. He had become
Mark Twain, a proud possession of the American
nation.
I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of
the great authors, because they have a sad habit
of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead,
so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and Im not
feeling so well myself. Mark Twain
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is
coming again next year (1910), and I expect to go
out with it. It will be the greatest
disappointment of my life if I don't go out with
Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt
"Now here are these two unaccountable freaks
they came in together, they must go out
together."
Mark Twain died in 1910, the year Halleys Comet
appeared.
Pictures from www.pbs.org
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Mark Twain was one of the great artists of all
time. He was and is one authentic giant of our
national literature. Twain's quotes and humor
are as popular today as at any time in American
history. 
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Wisdom teaches us that none but birds should go
out early, and that not even birds should do it
unless they are out of worms.
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Fleas can be taught nearly anything that a
Congressman can. "It could probably be shown
by facts and figures that there is no distinctly
native American criminal class except Congress."
Picture from www.pbs.org
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Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you
live.
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he
never shows to anybody.
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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Nothing is made in vain, but the fly came near
it. I'd rather have ten snakes in the house
than one fly.
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Of all God's creatures there is only one that
cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is
the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it
would improve man, but it would deteriorate the
cat.
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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The dog is a gentleman I hope to go to his
heaven, not man's.
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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Humor is mankind's greatest blessing.
Against the assault of laughter, nothing can
stand.
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to
cheer somebody else up.
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In the first place God made idiots. This was for
practice. Then he made School Boards.
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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By trying we can easily learn to endure
adversity--another man's I mean.
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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Be respectful to your superiors, if you have
any.
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The man who does not read good books has no
advantage over the man who can't read them.
Classic--a book which people praise and don't
read.
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The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet
and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that
it will last through a whole lifetime, if not
asked to lend money."
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear
stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.
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"Good breeding consists in concealing how much we
think of ourselves and how little we think of the
other person."
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Humor is mankind's greatest blessing.
The End
Picture from Dave Thomson collection
www.twainquotes.com
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Bibliography Page
"Mark Twain." Public Broadcasting Service. 12 Aug
2004 http//www.pbs.org/marktwain/index.html .
Schmidt, Barbara. "Mark Twain's Quotations,
Newspaper Collections, and Related Resources." 4
Sep 1997. 12 Aug 2004 lthttp//www.twainquotes.comgt
. Pictures from the Dave Thomson collection are
found at http//www.twainquotes.com "easylit.
com." Mark Twain. 12 Aug 2004 http//www.easylit.c
om/marktwain/twainhistory.htm . Railton,
Stephen. "Mark Twain and His Times." University
of Virginia. 12 Aug 2004 http//etext.virginia.edu
/railton/