Posted by: thepinetree on 08/07/2009 12:49 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 08/07/2009 12:50 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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HARTE AND TWAIN RETURN TO LAKE ALPINE! Saturday, August 8, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Alpine Amphitheatre
Lake Alpine, CA...BRET HARTE -and- MARK TWAIN Subject: Francis Bret Harte and Samuel Clemens Out West. The well known authors and humorists Bret Harte and Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known to many as “Mark Twain,” will deliver a lecture on their adventures out West, including mining in the Mother Lode, on the Nevada Comstock, and at Jack Ass Hill in Tuolumne County, a sojourn in the Sierra Nevada, and camping at Lake Tahoe...
The Stanislaus National Forest
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Calaveras Ranger District
Presents
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Presenting Michael Needs as Bret Harte and Pat Kaunert as Mark Twain
Amphitheater opens at 6:30, the trouble begins at 7:00.
Admission: Free
Tickets: Not necessary
--Presentation Outline--
Introduction: Significance of Bret Harte in California History and important influence in American Literature, first “cowboy poet,” and created the “literary genre of the American West.”
Francis Bret Harte recalls his early background, heading out West, searching for gold, Jackass Hill, becoming a writer, speaking out about injustice, and taking sanctuary in San Francisco.
Bret discusses the “fierce race for wealth” and recalls some notable characters of the California Goldrush—Snowshoe Thompson, other figures, and young Samuel Clemens.
Bret feels their presence here this evening. Why wait, there’s Sam now! Samuel and Bret join in a warm reunion—it’s been 144 years.
Sam can’t remember how he got here. Sam tells Bret he too was searching for wealth and riches out West.
Bret asks Sam what happened back in Carson City. Sam tells the story of the Mexican plug, and his mining and timber ranching failures on the Comstock, including how he accidentally allowed his campfire to escape.
Sam tells Bret about his talent for telling stretchers and becoming a writer, adopting the pen name Mark Twain, leaving Virginia City and going to San Francisco. Sam thanks Bret for his advice on the Jumping Frog story.
Sam recognizes they had their differences, but Sam confesses his respect and admiration for Bret’s stories about the basic goodness of the human spirit. Sam asks Bret to tell him a story.
Bret tells Sam the story “Outcast of Poker Flat,” and Sam admits to Bret that he has discovered that the real Mother Lode exists within the human heart. As the time grows short, Sam bids Bret a warm farewell.
Bret turns back to the audience, and closes with his gold rush philosophy about human nature. He imparts his hard-learned wisdom to those who are gathered around the warmth of the campfire—and bids all a good night.
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