MARK TWAIN IN THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC CHRONICLE
1865
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This item has not been previously republished elsewhere. It is included in this collection because of its potential to be the work of Clemens and is deserving of further research and consideration.]
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BIG "CITY ITEM"
Under the head of "City Items," our ponderous, but sprightly contemporary, the Alta, yesterday published a "poem" of ninety lines, and occupying within a stickful of a column. It is entitled, "Ode for the National Thanksgiving," and the modest Fitz Smythe, instead of claiming the glory of the performance, in the most self-abnegating spirit, writes over it "For the Alta Californian" as if it were a communication -- and prefixes to it the name of another poet. But then, you know, genius is always modest.
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[transcribed from microfilm]
