In memory of old times in El Esmeralda & Carson—times ‸(in the former case, at least,)‸ when it was above ordinary to have dried apple pies on Sunday, & absolutely aristocratic to have canned peaches.1
Samℓ. L. Clemens. (Mark Twain.)
Buffalo June, 1870.2
Explanatory Notes
They lived principally on hardtack and beans. On Sundays, however,
they managed to get hold of some few extras in the grub line. When
Sunday came they feasted on canned oysters, canned turkey, chicken
and the like, with something in the fruit and jelly line. When the
cans had been emptied of these luxuries the
“boys” ostentatiously threw them out in front
of the door of their cabin. In the course of a few weeks the accumulation of cans that had
contained oysters, turkey, jellies and other good things began to
attract attention. Miners passing their cabin used to gaze upon the
many cans and say: “By Jove, those fellows live like
fighting cocks!” It was finally noised about the camp that Clemens and Howland lived
like two princes—fared sumptuously every day. It was
thought they never ate anything but oysters and turkey and they were
looked upon as “Big Injuns” by the whole
camp. Anxious to preserve their reputation under the scrutiny of some
suspicious miners, Clemens and Howland reportedly resorted to nocturnal
foraging in garbage dumps to maintain their facade of empty cans
(“How They Played It,” 28 Apr 76, 3).
Source text(s):Previous publication:
L4, 147–148.
Provenance:donated to CU-MARK in 1977 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert
M. Gunn.
