I could not let this day pass without pointing out Mark Twain who would be 176years old today. Mark Twain was much more than a writer. Oh yes, he gave us American stories about life on the Mississippi, such as 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'. My favorite book of his is 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.'
Mark Twain was quite successful, not only as an author but as a public speaker, critic, and man of great wit. He made friends with presidents and influential people from all over the world. There was no character like Mark Twain, and I doubt there ever will be again.
Did you know Mark Twain was not his real name? Silly question, as most people do know he was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He chose Mark Twain in a most ingenious way. For a short time, he worked as a steamboat pilot. Mark Twain meant 'on the mark, the depth of two fathoms.' The name worked for him, although his creative intelligence was much deeper than two fathoms.
Did you know he was born at the time when Halley's Comet made a showing, and died one day after it appeared again? Here is a quote from Mark Twain about that:
In 1909, Twain is quoted as saying:
I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.'
Although I enjoy his writings for the humor, I most love his quotes. So in honor of a great American man, here are some of my favorites. Please feel free to tell your own favorites as a remembrance of our great Mark Twain:
Do not put off till tomorrow what can be put off till day-after-tomorrow just as well.
Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.
The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them.
Golf is a good walk spoiled.
The lack of money is the root of all evil.
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.
Familiarity breeds contempt -- and children.
Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
Of all the animals, man is the only one that lies.
Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself.
And my absolute favorite:
Last week I stated that this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister and now wish to withdraw that statement.
At a toast given in honor of King Edward in 1901, Mark Twain was asked to speak. When he stood, guests cried out "Mark Twain, for he is a jolly good fellow."
Writers and poets, please stand with your pen in hand; readers and historians, please stand with your favorite book, all others please stand and let's all cry out to the heavens above:
To you, Mark Twain, for you are a jolly good fellow.
May we and future generations never forget this great man.
LHR
And now, I must take but a moment. Some of you may have noticed a couple of changes on my blog. I had belonged to a group of creative people. I say had, because I had a disagreement with one of the members, a disagreement that could not be solved and I chose to leave the group. A dear friend told me it was hard to watch a close friendship dissolve in front of her. I understand. As our disagreement reached the point of no return, I too watched that close friendship dissolve. To the others I apologize for the disruption and for having to witness this.
DM Yates
