Regarding John Bird's inquiry: Indeed, Emperor Norton was written up many times. I've been amazed that I haven't been able to find any Mark Twain writings on him considering M.T. was a journalist in San Francisco during the time of "Emperor Norton's" reign. From PIONEER JEWS / A NEW LIFE IN THE FAR WEST, by H. and F. Rochlin,Houghton Mifflin Co., 1984: Emperor Norton (1819-80), called the "wisest and shrewdest of madmen," lived off the generosity of (San Francisco) merchants, banks and restaurant owners who honored his worthless "Imperial Currency." At his death his estate was found to be a "two dollar gold piece, three dollars in silver, and an 1823 franc." Norton was the son of South African settlers. When they died, and an only brother, he went to San Francisco in 1849 with an inheritance of $40,000. He losy the entire fortune in a bad investment and disappeared for a time. When he surfaced, he had renamed himself Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, but later dropped the Mexico part. He wore a blue uniform with gold epaulets, had a blue cap or a beaver hat ornamented with a feather and a rose, and carried a carved serpent-headed wooden cane. His two pet mongrel dogs, Bummer and Lazarus, were his constant companions. Restaurant, shop and theater owners, stationmasters, and steamship officials all honored his personal scrip. His edicts and pronouncements were covered by the leading California newspapers. When he died in 1880, 30,000 San Franciscans attended his funeral. Rejected by his Jewish co-religionists, Jews, who found him an embarrassment, he was laid to rest by the Episcopalians in the old Masonic cemetery. When those burial grounds were abandoned 50 years later, San Franciscans raised funds again for a full service featuring the Municipal Band of San Francisco, vocal music of the Olympic Club, and a salute by a United States Army infantry battalion. I have also read accounts of his San Francisco doings in popular histories of San Francisco, and I believe, some years ago, in American Heritage Magazine. Maybe someone does know of something by Mark Twain? Elinor Reiss