The Explanatory Notes from the MTP critical edition references Columbus, suggesting that Hank was recalling Washington Irving's account of Columbus exploiting the eclipse. It also mentions Lou Budd's *Mark Twain Social Philosopher *that references H. Rider Haggard's *King Solomon's Mines* as the the source. There's also a mention of Howard Baetzhold's *Mark Twain and John Bull* On Mon, Aug 14, 2017 at 9:37 AM, William Robison <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > There is a fairly well known story that the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh > predicted both the solar eclipse of June 16, 1806 and the New Madrid > Earthquake of December 16, 1811, and used this to convince the Shawnee the > gods supported war against the white man. One version of the story says > Tecumseh knew about the eclipse in advance because he had seen it forecast > in an almanac. > > I have read speculation that Twain drew upon this story for the scene in *A > Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court *in which Hank Morgan out-wizards > Merlin by predicting a solar eclipse. > > Does anyone on the list know if there is evidence to support that? > > Thanks! > > Bill > > --=20 > William B. Robison, PhD > Department Head / Professor of History > Department of History and Political Science > Southeastern Louisiana University > SLU 10895 > Hammond LA 70402 > 985-549-2109 phone > 985-549-2012 fax > [log in to unmask] > http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/depts/hist_ps/index.html > http://www.tudorsonfilm.com/ > http://www.impairedfaculties.com/ > > History teaches students to read intelligently, think analytically, write > clearly, accurately assess past trends, rationally predict future > developments, and understand the real world. Now *that* is workforce-ready! > > History does offer us very real lessons, but they are seldom simple and > straightforward. To understand and benefit from them, you have to know your > history very well. That is why history matters as much as math, science, > technology, or any other subject. > > "A young horse is fast, but an old horse knows what's going on." =E2=80=93 > = > Muddy > Waters > -- Ben Click Professor, English Director, Writing & Speaking Center Director, Twain Lecture Series on American Humor and Culture (240) 895-4253 St. Mary's College of Maryland