A small world of great people. The day is lost

On which you did not laugh.

Mark twain

All modern American literature comes

from one book by Mark Twain

called Huckleberry Finn.

Ernest Hemingway

Ex.1. Read these wonderful stories¹ attentively to find out:

	1) they have in common;
what
	2) they differ in.

Mark Twain’s Jokes

Mark Twain was not only a famous writer but also a famous humourist. He travelled very much making speeches in different towns. During these speeches he always told funny stories.

Wherever he went he was followed by reporters who wrote down everything he said. His stories were told and retold, and passed down from generation to generation. His remark (when he heard a rumour that he was dead) “The rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated,” has become an American by-word. There are many humorous stories connected with his name. Here is one of them.

Once Mark Twain and two of his friends were sitting in a restaurant. One friend had just returned from a trip to the mountains. He said that the air in the mountains was very clear. In many places the echo of a voice came back five times stronger than the original voice.

“That is nothing,” said the second friend. “In Colorado, in many places the echo of a voice spoken in the morning comes back in the afternoon.”

Mark Twain laughed. Then he said, “Listen, the echoes which you have told about are very unusual. But in a small church in Hannibal where I was born, there is an echo more unusual even than those.”

“What is so strange about the echo there?” asked one of the men. “Well, I’ll tell you,” said Mark Twain. “The echo in that church is so unusual, that if one says in a loud voice, “Good Morning! How are you?”, echo comes back after a moment very clearly, “Very well, thank you. And how are you?””

Mark Twain and the Guard

Once Mark Twain was going from the north of England to Manchester by train. He was very tired and wanted to go to bed. So he asked the guard to tell him when they came to Manchester. “If I am sleeping when you come to me, I’ll be angry,” he said. “But I must be in Manchester in the morning. So, even if I am angry, please throw me out of the train”. The guard agreed, and Mark Twain went to bed.

When he opened his eyes it was morning. People were walking in the corridor, a boy was crying and his mother was trying to make him quiet. Mark Twain got up, put on his clothes and went out into the corridor. The guard was talking to a man at the end of the corridor, and Mark Twain went up to him.

“Haven’t we come to Manchester yet?” he asked.

“We passed Manchester two hours ago,” the guard answered.

“What!” Mark Twain shouted. “Why didn’t you tell me? I asked you – don’t you remember?”

The guard was surprised. “Are you the American who asked me to tell him when we come to Manchester?” he asked.

“Yes, of course,” Mark Twain said.

“Then, who was the other man?” the guard continued. “Oh, now I understand why he was shouting and fighting when I threw him out of the train in Manchester!”