Mark Twain arrived in St. Paul to research for his book, “Life on the Mississippi,” on May 21, 1882. He told a reporter that the river had inspired him in his early years. However, he “had nothing to say,” about St. Paul as “he had seen but little of the city, but was disgusted with yesterday’s climate.”
Here is part of what Twain said about St. Paul when his book was published: “Look history over; you will see. The missionary comes after the Whiskey. I mean he arrives after the whiskey has arrived; next comes the poor immigrant, with ax and hoe and rifle; next, the trader, the miscellaneous rush; next the gambler, the desperado, the highwayman, and all their kindred in sin of both sexes; and next, the smart chap who has bought up an old grant that covers all the land; this brings the lawyer tribe; the vigilance committee brings the undertaker. All these interests bring the newspaper; the newspaper starts up politics and a railroad; all hands turn to and build a church and a jail–and behold! Civilization is established forever on the land. But whiskey, you see, was the van-leader … Westward the Jug of Empire takes its way.”
Thank you to historian Steve Trimble for this post. Cabinet card photo of Mark Twain in 1882 by Jose Maria Mora. Wikimedia Commons, Sotheby’s.
Original source can be found here.
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