twain

MARK TWAIN (1835-1910) Author 23 TEDWORTH SQUARE, LONDON SW3 “It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” (Mark Twain) Samuel Clemens’ pen name comes from the cry that would have been heard by Huckleberry Finn and Jim as they floated on their raft down the majestic Mississippi from the steamboat leadsmen when only two fathoms showed upon their dangling strings between the hull of the boat and the river bed, leaving two marks showing. The British version would have been from the ferry across The Mersey where the same cry would have left him with the name “Wotchout Softlad”.