Mark Twain on Antiques Road Show

"Mark Twain's autograph manuscript of  Chapter XX of A Tramp Abroad, published in 1880, has come to market. It is being offered for £50,000 ($75,825) by Peter Harrington Rare Books of London.
The chapter provides an amusing account of Twain at the mercy of his passion for collecting ceramics. As collectors we are slaves to an object or book that inflames our imagination and are weaklings against a good story which we hope the dealer is accurately telling as he stokes the fire in our brain. Twain was no exception."

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What, you've never seen Mark Twain with his shirt off?

Now you have!

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Mark T. looks like he's been hitting the gym.  But a picture is NOT worth a thousand words whatever our image soaked culture may say.  So how about a few words from you on why Mark T. took off his shirt for this photo.  And historical truth and accuracy are not required as part of your speculations.

When did Samuel Clemens become Mark Twain?

Clemens and Twain

Henry Sweets says Samuel Clemens officially became Mark Twain on either Feb. 2 or Feb. 3 of 1863.  That’s the first time an article by Clemens was published with the famous pen name.
Sweets, who is the curator for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, MO, says pinpointing the exact day has grown more difficult over the years.

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Sweets also says Mark Twain "was his most famous pen name, it was not the first used by Samuel Clemens."  

Anyone out there who can tell us another one or two?