Thanks, Kent -- good fun. And the story *does* sound kind of familiar, though I couldn't say exactly why. *_________________________________* *Peter Salwen /* salwen.com *114 W 86, NYC 10024 | 917-620-5371* On Mon, Nov 30, 2015 at 8:25 PM, Kent Rasmussen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > 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. > ___________________________________ > > 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.) >