Good Morning, Its Mid-Week

One of America’s most popular writers was Samuel Clemens, better known as “Mark Twain”. I would venture to say most children have read one or more of his stories as school assignments. There have been several movies made of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Prince and the Pauper is another story that has received much attention and may have been a hit in England. Have you read this one?

In his later life, Samuel Clemens lived in Hartford, Connecticut. Below is a picture of his home. As you can see, it is getting spruced-up. We visited in the late 80’s when this photo was taken.

As I recall, off to the left, is the home of a famous female author of the same period, but I don't recall who. (It'll come to me, a senior moment that should pass )




The question for today is straightforward and should not be a challenge.

Were did the name Mark Twain come from?

Now! Don I know I have heard the explanation to this but I am having one of these senior moments...Are they contagious?
I have a hunch that it is some sort of anagram. Does 'ink' come into it? If I had more time I would try a bit harder.
Sorry, Gillian :santa: :<tumble>

I didn't know this, but wanted to!!
so cheated a bit and did a web-search found an article that explains it in detail - but this is just a snippet from it............

About Mark Twain.......
"....... he realized a boyhood dream when he was finally entrusted with the powers and duties of a steamboat pilot on April 9, 1859 in St. Louis.
Twain loved the paddlewheel steamboat and he loved the river. As a matter of fact, it was during his years on the river that he chose his pen name. "Mark Twain" was a frequent call of the leadsman. It meant that the water was 2 fathoms (12 feet) deep and indicated safe water......"

Quote:

"Mark One" 6 feet above the lead, one strip of leather is woven in. "Quarter One" 7-1/2 feet above the lead, a white piece of cloth is woven in. "Half One" 9 feet above the lead, a red piece of cloth is woven in. "Quarter Less Twain" 10-1/2 feet above the lead, a black piece of cloth is woven in. "Mark Twain" (safe water) 12 feet above thc lead, two leather strips are woven in. "Quarter Twain" 13-1/2 feet above thc lead, a white piece of cloth is woven in. "Half Twain" 15 feet above the lead, a red piece of cloth is woven in. "Quarter Less Ta-Ree" 16-1/2 feet above the lead, a black piece of cloth is woven in. "Mark Ta-Ree" 18 feet above the lead, 3 leather strips are woven in. "Quarter Ta-Ree" 19-1/2 feet above the lead, a white piece of cloth is woven in. "Half Ta-Ree" 21 feet above the lead, a red piece of cloth is woven in. "Quarter Less Four" 22-1/2 feet above the lead, a black piece of cloth is woven in. "Mark Four" 24 feet above the lead, one leather strip, with a hole in it is woven in. "No Bottom" Any depth over 24 feet.

Its all at this page.............
http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/marktwain.htm
:ck-wink: and I've borrowed their nice image of a paddlewheel steamboat...

This picture reminds me of that musical - I can't remember the name of at the minute - but one of the songs was that brilliant old classic........ "Old man river, thad old man river, he just keeps rolling along...."

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Carole, Smith Project/Smith Chat Admin
Nothing is too small to know, and nothing too big to attempt (William Van Horne)

Carole,

Now that's cheating , but all is fair. I'm glad you went after it. :>>:
To expand a little, twain an old word for the number two, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon twegen.

oh dear, oops, yes I cheated!! but couldn't wait to talk about it
once I'd found it, haa haaa

Aaah twain means two - oh right!! and that makes sense of the old
saying "never the twain shall meet"

Signing off now - see y'all tomorrow night at some time or other.

Carole

Carole was the musical Porgy and Bess? And yes I love that song too Gillian

Hi Carole and Gillian.

Old Man River is from the film Show Boat.

Luv Jean.