Mark Twain and His Daughter.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 January 1911, Page 4

Mark Twain and His Daughter.

Not very long ago Mark Twain contributed his autobiography to one ot the American monthlies. In one instalment Mark is concerned with his little daughter Susy's biography. The biography was begun in J.OBO, when Mark Twain was in the fiftieth year of his age and Susy was just entering the fourteenth of hers. The biography was done in her bedroom at night, and keut in hiding, but one day it was filched and read. The story commences:—

"We are a very happy family. We consist of papa, mamma, Jean, Clara and me. It is papa I am writing about, and I have no trouble in not knowing what to say about him, as he is a very striking character." "Tho spelling," said Mark, "was frequently desperate, but it was Susy's and it shall stand. I love it, and cannot profane it. To me it is gold. ' Another extract is in these words: "Papa has a very good figure—in short, he is an etxraordinarily finelooking man. All his features are perfect, oxcept that he hasn't extraordinary teeth. nis complexion is very fair, and he doesn't ware a beard. He is a very good man, and a very funny one. He has got a tempor, but we all of us have in this family. He is the loveliest man 1 ever saw or ever hope to see — and oh, so absent-minded. He does tell perfectly delightful stories. Clara and I used to sit on each arm ol'lu's chair and listen while he told us stories about the pictures on the wall." "Papa," the little biographer adds, "uses very strong language, but I have an idea not nearly so strong as when he first married mamma."