Post by Bob Tregilus

43d

#OTD in 1863.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, in signing a humorous letter to the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City, Nevada, first uses the pen name Mark Twain.

Twain first used his pen name, when he wrote a humorous travel account titled "Letter From Carson – re: Joe Goodman; party at Gov. Johnson's; music" and signed it "Mark Twain".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain_at_the_Territorial_Enterprise

Books by Mark Twain at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/53

#books #literature

Mark Twain with no mustache in 1863.

The 1863 photo of Mark Twain, taken when he was around 27 years old, is notable because it shows him without his iconic mustache—quite a contrast to the familiar image of the famous author in his later years.

In this portrait, Twain (then still known as Samuel Clemens) appears youthful, with wavy, slightly unkempt hair and a clean-shaven face.

His attire is typical of the time, likely a dark suit with a high-collared white shirt and cravat.

ALT

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43d

@gutenberg_org Indeed! As a former resident of Virginia City, Nevada, one local legend said that Clemens, after a day's work at the Territorial Enterprise, would trundle up to Piper's Corner Bar on B Street and tell the saloon keep to "mark twain" on his tab. Of course, mark twain was a reference to his riverboat piloting days meaning two fathoms (12 feet), safe water, all clear.

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@elaterite Thanks for sharing, really appreciate it!

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