What, if any, was Twain's relationship to San Francisco publisher
Frederick Marriott -- other than his fascination for Marriott's
invention -- a flying machine named the Avitor?  Did Twain ever
contribute to Marriott's "San Francisco News Letter and California
Advertiser" -- described as the official paper of the Aerial
Steam Navigation Company?

According to the Diamond jubilee edition (for the years 1850-1925)
of the above -- published on Sept. 5, 1925:

"The News Letter has been a kindergarten that has developed an unusual
number of the brainiest and best known writers on the Pacific Coast,
writers that later developed national and, in many instances,
international reputations. Among them were: James F. Bowman, Frank C.
Cremony, Bret Harte, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), W.T. Carleton... ."
[p. 8].

Thanks,
Barb