Can anyone verify that Mark Twain actually said he spent $25 to research his family tree, and then had to spend $50 to cover it up?  If so, where might I find the quote in his writings or lectures?  Thanks for any help you can provide.  Best, Loren Ghiglione

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kent Rasmussen
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2015 7:26 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A story for Mark Twain's birthday

At the risk of adding to the already large stock of bogus information about Mark Twain, I'm passing along an anecdote I just stumbled on in a
1903 newspaper, as my way of honoring Mark Twain's birthday today. I don't know if it's true, and if it is true, I don't know who the principal figures in the story were. It may have happened, it may not have happened; but it COULD have happened.
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On one occasion a Westerner, who owns a big cattle ranch far out and lives on most of the time, was at the Lotus club with a New York business acquaintance who is a pretty close friend of Mark Twain. The two men were having a bit at a table when the humorist entered and at once proceeded to the table of his friend. He sat down and was duly introduced, but as Mr. Clemens instead of Mark Twain. The Westerner, whose literary acquaintance did not extend beyond the newspapers, didn't know the difference, and was soon swapping yarns with the newcomer. 
Finally after looking him pretty closely for a moment, he said:

"Did anybody ever tell you looked like Mark Twain? I mean like the pictures of him; that's as far as I know him."

"Um--er--," Mr. Clemens hesitated, while his friend was dumb. "I don't recall that any one ever did, though it is possible some one might have done so, because I have thought that way myself at times."

"Well, you do," the Westerner went on, "and I noticed it when I first looked at you, though I should say, meaning no disrespect, that Mark had a little the bulge on you for beauty, and he ain't so d---- handsome, neither."

The humorist was in for having more of it, but the friend couldn't stand the pressure, and he changed the subject to something the Western man knew more about.

(from "Very Snappy Stories of Well Known Authors," AUGUSTA CHRONICLE [Ga.], December 20, 1903.The story has the feel of a syndicated item, but I was not able to find it in any other newspaper.)