A great story about Samuel Clemens ~ 

In order to apply for the post of reporter-at-large on the Territorial Enterprise, Samuel Clemens walked 130 miles to Virginia City in Nevada Territory.  He arrived at the newspaper's offices one hot afternoon in August, a dust-covered, weary stranger in a slouch hat, with a revolver slung on his belt, and a roll of blankets on his back.  He wore a blue woolen shirt and dusty trousers tucked into his boots.  Dropping into a chair, he announced, "My starboard leg seems to be unshipped.  I'd like about one hundred yards of line; I think I am falling to pieces."  He added, "My name is Clemens, and I've come to write for the paper."

(Albert Bigelow Paine commented, "It was the master of the world's widest estate come to claim his kingdom.")

Authors, take heart ~

When Mark Twain was an impoverished young reporter in Virginia City, he was walking along the street one day with a cigar box under his arm.  He encountered a wealthy lady he knew who said to him reproachfully, "You promised me that you would give up smoking."
"Madam," replied Twain, "this box does not contain cigars.  I'm just moving."

Excerpts from THE LITTLE, BROWN BOOK OF Anecdotes, Clifton Fadiman, 1985.