Yes. I'm no MT scholar, to say the least, but the essence of Dustin's points have seemed likely to me since Kevin's discovery was first posted here: First, that it's almost certain, is it not, that the author of the Vanity Fair article derived the name from the same nautical reference that Clemens has been reputed to have done? And second for that reason, its appearance in an article he read could have been an echo of something he'd thought of before or since for his own reasons. In other words, I'd submit that reports that he'd plagiarized his pen name are greatly exaggerated. But then, what do I know? 

Ben 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dustin Zima" <[log in to unmask]> 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 2:56:12 PM 
Subject: Re: Link to article in Kansas City Star 

I have a quick question for the forum regarding Kevin's incredible discover= 
y.? Let me set it up first:? Sam began as a cub pilot in 1857; he received = 
his pilot's license in 1859.? The article that Kevin found is from 1861.? H= 
e adopts the moniker in 1863, which very well could have been as a result o= 
f the Vanity Fair article.? However, how does this conclusively rule out th= 
e previous assumptions/educated guesses as to the nom de plum ?? Furthermor= 
e, this leads me to at least question--most respectfully--Kevin's conclusio= 
n that the use of "Mark Twain" in the Vanity Fair article, combined with th= 
e assertion that it was a publication that Sam had read or been aware of, "= 
provides simple, logical answers to dangling questions, is contradicted by = 
no known facts," and that "everything fits like a glove."? Would Sam not ha= 
ve already been aware of the term's adaptability into a believable pen-name= 
?? Perhaps not since he did not christen himself "Mark Twain" until 1863--t= 
wo years after the Vanity Fair article.? However he was interested in writi= 
ng before becoming a cub pilot, and the years during his piloting days were= 
profoundly influential to Sam as a writer/thinker/observer--see Life on th= 
e Mississippi.? Would Sam not have been led more by his cherished days of p= 
iloting, specifically the language from those days? ? ? ?=20 
=20 

=20 



-----Original Message----- 
From: Kevin Mac Donnell &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt; 
To: TWAIN-L &lt;[log in to unmask]&gt; 
Sent: Fri, Aug 16, 2013 12:37 pm 
Subject: Link to article in Kansas City Star 

=20 
=20 
=20 
Martin Zehr did a fine write-up about my piece for which I want to thank hi= 
=3D=20 
m in this very public forum among colleagues.=20 
=20 
I hope those whose previous research on Mark Twain are cited in my article = 
=3D=20 
will accept those citations as my way of saying thanks to them for their in= 
=3D=20 
sights and hard work that suggested avenues of research and provided numero= 
=3D=20 
us clues that led me to my conclusions --whether or not you even agree with= 
=3D=20 
my conclusions.=20 
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I also hope that those who are not already subscribers to the Mark Twain Jo= 
=3D=20 
urnal will remedy that grievous oversight. The MTJ deserves the support of = 
=3D=20 
all Twainians.=20 
=20 
Here's the link to Martin Zehr's piece in the Kansas City Star: =20 
=20 
http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/16/4413137/a-new-theory-seems-the-best-e= 
=3D=20 
xplanation.html =20 
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If the crush of fame becomes overwhelming, you will find me hiding, many da= 
=3D=20 
ys out, under a nom de plume that's Twainian, yet reflects my Irish heritag= 
=3D=20 
e-- Begum O'Bengal. =20 
=20 
Kevin=20 
@=20 
Mac Donnell Rare Books=20 
9307 Glenlake Drive=20 
Austin TX 78730=20 
512-345-4139=20 
Member: ABAA, ILAB=20 
*************************=20 
You may browse our books at =20 
www.macdonnellrarebooks.com=20 
=20 
=20 
=20 
-----=20 
No virus found in this message.=20 
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com=20 
Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6582 - Release Date: 08/16/13= 
=20 
=20 

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