General Sherman, Mark Twain Address Crowds from Train

1912

SET TWAIN AT "WORK"

HOW GEN. SHERMAN MADE HUMORIST PAY FARE

Author Compelled to Pose as Famous Soldier While the Latter Smoked Contentedly in His Private Car

Albert Bigelow Paine tells of the time when Mark Twain on his way to West Point to deliver an address found himself in the same train with General Sherman, who had been attending a dinner in Hartford.

"A pleasant incident followed, which Clemens himself used to relate. Gen. Sherman attended the banquet and Secretary of War Robert Lincoln. Next morning Clemens and Twichell were leaving for West Point, where they were to address the military students, guests on the same special train on which Lincoln and Sherman had their private car. This car was at the end of the train, and when the two passengers reached the station Sherman and Lincoln were out on the rear platform addressing the multitude. Clemens and Twichell went and, taking seats, waited for them.

"As the speakers finished the train started, but they still remained outside, bowing and waving to the assembled citizens, so that it was under good headway before they came in. Sherman came up to Clemens, who sat smoking unconcernedly.

"'Well,' he said, 'who told you you could go in this car?'

"'Nobody,' said Clemens.

"'Do you expect to pay extra fare?' asked Sherman.

"'No,' said Clemens; 'I didn't expect to pay any fare.'

"'O, you don't! Then you'll work your way.'

"Sherman took off his coat and military hat and made Clemens put them on.

"'Now,' said he, 'whenever the train stops you get out on the platform and represent me and make a speech.'

"It was not long before the train stopped and Clemens, according to orders, stepped out on the rear platform and bowed to the crowd. There was a cheer at the sight of his military uniform. Then the cheer waned, became a murmur of uncertainty, followed by an undertone of discussion. Presently somebody said:

"'Say, that ain't Sherman; that's Mark Twain,' which brought another cheer.

"Then Sherman had to come out, too, and the result was that both spoke. They kept this up at the different stations and sometimes Robert Lincoln came out with them, and when there was time all three spoke, much the satisfaction of their audiences." —Harper's Weekly.

—The Daily Commonwealth, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, December 17, 1912, page 2.