In 1861 he went to Carson City, Nevada, as secretary to his brother. "He next edited for two years the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise and in 1864 moved to San Francisco as a reporter" (Magnusson 1482). "In 1866, Twain traveled to the Hawaiian Islands, where he acted as a correspondent for the Sacramento Union. Following his return to San Francisco, he began a profitable lecture tour. In 1867, Twain took a voyage to Europe and the Holy Land aboard the steamship Quaker City. In the 1800's, Mark Twain established and operated his own publishing firm. He also became interested in various investments, especially an elaborate typesetting machine. He lost almost $200,000 in investment in the machine between 1881 and 1894. Also, his publishing company declared bankruptcy in April 1894. Thus, in January 1895, Twain found himself publicly humiliated by his inability to pay his debts. Twain eventually recovered from his financial difficulties, thought his continued writing and a successful lecture tour in 1895 and 1896. During his much publicized tour, Twain lectured in such places as India, South Africa, and Australia. By the time he returned, he had become an international hero. Twain enjoyed this attention, and his habits of smoking cigars or a pipe and wearing unconventional white suits contributed to his showy image" (World 529).
Orion, Pleasant, Margaret, Benjamin, and Henry Clemens were Samuel's siblings (Waisman OL). He was four when the family moved to Hannibal, where his father kept a dry goods and grocery store, practiced law, and entered local politics. At age 11, Samuel's father died. "From that time on, it became necessary for Samuel to contribute to the family's support" (Gwinn 75). Twain encountered a woman named Olivia L. Langdon (World 529). "Olivia Langdon was born in Elmira, New York, the daughter of a very wealthy coal businessman. She was an unhealthy teenager, suffering from tuberculosis of the spine from age 14 until about 20.
