Samuel Langhorne Clemens, American Author, Journalist, Humorist, Steam boat pilot & Musician: Madeline’s Monthly Musical Tips Blog & Radio Show for September 2026
Our blog and Radio Show celebrates’ the life and work of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, American author, journalist, humorist, steam boat captain, and musician.
The new school year is also a wonderful opportunity to start learning a musical instrument to learn discipline, cooperation, teamwork, motivation, concentration and self-esteem. Studying a musical instrument develops millions of new connections, synapses, between nerve cells in the brain.
Many of the world’s authors, inventors, mathematicians, scientists, engineers, medical doctors, researchers, and teachers have studied and played musical instruments since they were children. These eminent individuals have integrated music into their thinking process.
Included is the article “New Jersey Symphony Highlights 2026 Gratitude Performances for Health Workers” by Tap into Montclair.
Our article of the month is “Instead of Giving Orders Ask Questions” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
Feature Question for September 2026: How did Classical music play a part of Samuel Langhorne Clemens’ life as an American author, journalist, humorist, steam boat captain, and musician and what musical instruments did he play?
https://madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-musical-radio-show/
Early Years: Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835 to Jane Lampton Clemens and John Marshall Clemens in Florida, Missouri. He was their sixth child of seven children. Samuel’s father was a lawyer and “operated a general store, served as country commissioner, county clerk, and acting conservative Whig.” (John Marshall Clemens, Wikipedia) Of the seven children, three survived childhood: Orion, Pamela and Samuel. When Samuel was four years of age, the Clemens family moved to Hannibal, Missouri on the Mississippi River. (Wikipedia Mark Twain)
Music: As a young boy in Hannibal, Missouri Samuel first “learned his rudimentary guitar and piano skills from his older sister, Pamela who taught the instruments to help supplement the family income.” (NPR, June 4, 2005, “Mark Twain’s Guitar”)
Samuel Clemens “became an enthusiastic amateur guitarist. He officially obtained his own guitar in 1861, taking it with him during his travels in the Nevada Territories, the Gold Rush camps of California, and his voyages to Hawaii.” (Notes 1, 4 : Chris Foster, “This Famous Author Used to Play Guitar, And Now it’s Worth Quite the Fortune”.)
First Job at 11 years of age: Samuel was 11 in 1847, when his father, John passed away of Pneumonia. He left school to become a printer’s apprentice after 5th grade. He began arranging the metal type by hand for the newspaper stories at a local newspaper to help support his family. “This allowed Sam to read the news of the world.”
Later, Sam worked at the “Hannibal Journal, a newspaper his brother, Orion Clemens owned,” as a type setter and contributing his own articles and humorous sketches. He was 15. (The Mark Twain House & Museum) (Mark Twain, Wikipedia, Notes 25,26)
At 18, in 1853, Samuel “left Hannibal and worked as a printer in New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, joining the newly formed International Typographical Union, the printers’ trade union.” In the evenings he “educated himself in the public libraries.” (Wikipedia, Mark Twain, Note 27)
In 1856, when he was 21 he “took passage aboard the Paul Jones from Cincinnati to New Orleans, enacting his boyhood dream.” (National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Mark Twain)
Samuel Clemens, “When I was a boy, there was but one permanent ambition among my comrades on the west bank of the Mississippi River. That was, to be a steamboat man.”
Sam began his 17-month apprenticeship in piloting with Horace Bixby.
Clemens’ comments: “I had found a place on the Steamboat Pennsylvania for my brother Henry, who was two years my junior. It was not a place of profit, it was only a place of promise. He was “mud” clerk. Mud clerks received no salary, but they were in the line of promotion. They could become, presently, third clerk and second clerk, then chief clerk – that is to say, purser.” – Mark Twain’s Autobiography (Life on the Mississippi (1883)
Henry Clemens: The Pilot of the Pennsylvania steamboat was William Brown. The explosion of the Pennsylvania was on June 13, 1858. Sam wrote, “He lingered in fearful agony seven days and a half, during which time he had full possession of his senses, only at long intervals, and then but for a few moments at a time. His brain was injured by the concussion, and from that moment his great intellect was a ruin. We were not sorry his wounds proved fatal, for if he had lived he would have been but the wreck of his former self.” “My brother Henry Clemens.”
Sam “was guilt-stricken and held himself responsible for the rest of his life.” (Wikipedia Mark Twain)
Samuel Langhorne Clemens earned his steam boat pilot’s license on April 9, 1859. He was 23 years old. He worked as a “respected pilot” for two years “until the Civil War halted traffic in 1861.” (National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Mark Twain)
He “served a two-week stint as a confederate soldier.” (National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Mark Twain)
In 1861, his older brother, Orion, “became secretary to Nevada Territory governor James W. Nye. Samuel joined Orion and they traveled by stage coach through “the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, visiting the Mormon community in Salt Lake City.” (Wikipedia, Mark Twain, Note 28)
Sam ended his journey by working as a silver miner in Virginia City, Nevada in 1862. In 1863, when he was 28, he gave up mining and became a reporter for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise where “he first used his famous pen name”, Mark Twain. (Wikipedia Mark Twain, Note1)
Mark Twain “meaning two fathoms (12 feet) of water, indicating a safe depth for steamboats”. (Measure of the river.)
He later worked as a gold miner in 1865, in California. He worked “long, grueling hours” without success. That year he wrote about the miner’s story in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, California in his “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” (Also called “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” in newspapers.” (Mark Twain Museum Biography)
He later wrote about his mining experiences in his book “Roughing It” published in 1872. (Wikipedia Mark Twain Notes 1,) (Mark Twain Museum note 2)
Marriage and Children: Samuel Clemens met Charles Langdon aboard the Quaker City steamship traveling to the Holy Land in December 1867. Charles showed Samuel a picture of his sister Olivia Langdon. “Clemens later claimed to have fallen in love at first sight with Olivia based on her photograph.” (“The Innocent Abroad” by Mark Twain, 1869)
Olivia Langdon was well educated at Elmira College, originally called Elmira Female College, which her father helped start.
“On their first date they attended a reading by Charles Dickens, in New York City.” Their court ship began in 1868 mostly through letters. He was “ten years older than Olivia.” When Sam first proposed marriage she rejected him. Two months later they became engaged in 1868. They were married in Elmira, New York in February 2, 1870. (Wikipedia Olivia Langdon Clemens)
They moved to Buffalo, New York where Sam was “became a partner, editor, and writer for the Buffalo Express daily newspaper.” (The Mark Twain House & Museum Biograph)
Olivia’s father, Jervis Langdon died of cancer shortly after their marriage and then her friend Emma Nye. In November, their first child, Langdon Clemens was born prematurely. Olivia became ill with typhoid fever. They moved from Buffalo, New York to Elmira so her family could help them.
The Clemens in 1871, moved to Hartford, Connecticut and lived there until 1891. “Langdon, their son, died in 1872 of diphtheria, at 18 months old. Three daughters were born: Olivia Susan(“Susy”) in 1872; Clara in 1874; and Jean (“Jane”) in 1880.” (Wikipedia Olivia Langdon Clemens)
In 1883, Mark Twain published his “Life on the Mississippi” memoir of being a steam boat pilot on the Mississippi River before the Civil War.
His daughter Susy, at 13 wrote her own biography of her father, Mark Twain which he later included in his autobiography, (Chapters of my Autobiography) “In 1988 in its entirety as Papa: An Intimate Biography of Mark Twain, a volume which also included a biography of Susy Clemens and her correspondence with her father. The biography described her impressions of her father and her happy family life. Her father wrote: “I had had compliments before, but none that touched me like this; none that could approach it for value in my eyes.” Like her father, she was interested in writing, and wrote her own plays and acted in them during her childhood and adolescence. Twain later described his favorite daughter as intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive and vivacious and said he had regarded her as a prodigy.” (Wikipedia Susy Clemens, Note 1, 2)
They moved to Europe in 1891 for financial need. Samuel had invested “in a publishing company and in Paige Compositor” (typesetter machine) which lost money. “In 1894, Samuel was forced to declare bankruptcy. Olivia was given “preferred creditor” status, and all Samuel’s copyrights were assigned to her.” (Wikipedia Olivia Langdon Clemens)
Mark Twain’s friendship with Nikola Tesla: Their friendship began in the 1890’s. Twain was “fascinated by technology and electricity.” Nikola Tesla had already read many of Twain’s early books “when he was recovering from a life-threatening illness in the 1870s. Tesla said, “the stories by Twain were “so captivating as to make me utterly forget my hopeless state.” (The Secret to Mark Twain’s Friendship with Nikola Tesla” by Paul Ratner, July 12, 2019)
“They spent much time together in Tesla’s laboratory. Twain patented three inventions, including an “Improvement in Adjustable and Detachable Straps for Garments” (to replace suspenders) and a history trivia game. Most commercially successful was a self-pasting scrapbook; a dried adhesive on the pages needed only to be moistened before use. More than 25,000 were sold. Twain was san early proponent for fingerprinting as a forensic technique” which he wrote about in his books “Life On the Mississippi” and “Pudd’nhead Wilson.” His novel on time travel is “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”. (Mark Twain Wikipedia, Notes 64,65,66,67,68, 70, 71)
“Olivia helped her husband with the editing of his books, articles, and lectures. She was a “faithful, judicious, and painstaking editor”, Clemens wrote. This was one of the things that Livy had on her list of things to do, and she prided herself in helping her husband to edit these works. However, she could be critical of him at times. She continued to help her husband to edit works up until a few months before her death.” (Wikipedia Olivia Langdon Clemens, Reference 2, Smith, Harriet Elinor, ed. (2010) Autobiography of Mark Twain: Volume 1, University of California Pres.)
She surrounded herself with proponents of women’s rights which included Isabella Beecher Hooker and Julia Beecher. (Wikipedia Olivia Langdon Clemens, reference 4)
Olivia Langdon Clemens “was one of the founders of the Hartford Art School which later became part of the University of Hartford.” (Wikipedia Olivia Langdon Clemens)
“In 1895 and 1896, Olivia, his wife and daughter, Clara, accompanied Samuel on his around-the-world lecture tour, which he undertook to pay off his debts. ($100,000) In 1896, their daughter Susy, who had remained at home in the United States, died of spinal meningitis at age 24.” “Her family was devastated.” (Wikipedia Olivia Langdon Clemens) (Wikipedia Susy Clemens)
By late 1902, Olivia’s health had worsened and her Doctors advised a milder climate. They moved to Florence, Italy in 1903. The Clemens family, Samuel, Olivia, Clara, Jean, a trained nurse Margaret Sherry, their long-time helper Katy Leary. (“Taking Liv to Florence” Twains Geography)
On June 5, 1904, six months later, Olivia Langdon Clemens died from heart failure in Florence. “Samuel and their children, Clara and Jean were devastated by her death.
Jane Lampton Clemens (Jean), (named after Samuel Clemens mother) was “the youngest child of Olivia and Samuel Clemens.” She was a natural athlete. She skied, ice skated, hiked, played tennis, squash and rode horses. She had an aptitude for languages, French, German and Italian. “She was kind hearted” and like her mother, Olivia, she was fond of animals and would later work with and found societies for the protection of animals. At 15, she was diagnosed with epilepsy.
She was 24 when her mother died. She died at 29 years of age from Epilepsy. (Wikipedia Jane Lampton Clemens)
Clara Langhorne Clemens “was a Concert singer and pianist. She managed her father’s estate guarding his legacy. She was married to concert pianist Ossip Gabrilowitsch and they had a daughter, Nina.” She wrote a biography of her husband Ossip Gabrilowitsch and her father, Mark Twain. (Wikipedia Clara Clemens)
Some of Mark Twain’s books: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, “The Prince and the Pauper”, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court”, “Pudd’nhead Wilson”, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog Calaveras County”, “Life on the Mississippi”.
Mark Twain, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was an American author, journalist, humorist, steam boat pilot, musician, husband, father and grandfather. Samuel Langhorne Clemens died on April 21, 1910 at the age of 74 in Redding, Connecticut.
“Instead of Giving Orders Ask Questions” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
If you’ve ever raised a child, or remember being a child, you understand the power of asking questions. While there are times when barking an order like, “Don’t run in front of that bus” or “Don’t walk on the carpet with muddy shoes” are appropriate; asking questions will often allow whomever you are talking with to take ownership of their answer.
A carefully worded question can accomplish the following:
- Breaks the emotional pattern (that they may be in), compelling their brain to “shift gears”, stopping their negative emotional patterns.
- This helps them to calm down allowing them to think calmly and rationally.
- It creates a strong pivot point leading them to focus on a better solution to the question.
- By having to respond to the question, they are forced to confront the issue.
- It also helps build good decision-making muscles.
When a person is frustrated, full of anger, and in a highly emotional state, they are unable to think clearly and make good decisions. A carefully worded question can break this pattern and change this cycle.
A number of years ago, a friend of mine asked if I would give complementary music lessons to a young man who lost his mother and was going through a very difficult time. Of course, I accepted.
“What do you want?” I asked the young man
“I want my mom back” he replied.
“I bet you do…I would feel the same way. How do you think your mom would feel if you learned to play the violin and could play beautiful music?”
He paused, wiped his eyes, and after a pregnant pause replied, “She would love it!”
His physical stature changed immediately.
We worked together until he went off to college. He became quite an accomplished musician. While my musical lessons and questions didn’t “fix” all of his problems…they helped inject a positive direction into his world.
Dale Carnegie said, “Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.”
Adults are no different. Dale Carnegie, wrote “No one likes to take orders”. (“How to Win Friends & Influence People”, Pt. 4, p.208.)
Dale Carnegie said, “I recently had the pleasure of dining with Miss Ida Tarbell, the dean of American biographers. When I told her, I was writing this book we began discussing this all-important subject of getting along with people, and she told me that while she was writing her biography of Owen D. Young she interviewed a man who had sat for three years in the same office with Mr. Young. This man declared that during all that time he had never heard Owen D. Young give a direct order to anyone. He always gave suggestions, not orders.”
Owen D. Young never said, for example: “Do this or do that”, or “Don’t do this or don’t do that.” He would say, “You might consider this”, or “Do you think that would work?” Frequently he would say, after he had dictated a letter: “What do you think of this?” In looking over a letter of one of his assistants, he would say: “Maybe if we were to phrase it this way it would be better.”
“He always gave a person an opportunity to do things himself; he never told his assistants to do things; he let them do them, let them learn from their mistakes. A technique like that makes it easy for a person to correct his error. A technique like that saves a man’s pride and gives him a feeling of importance. It makes him want to co-operate instead of rebel.”
Dale Carnegie said, “An effective leader will … Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.” (P. 208)
Asking questions is a powerful way to find out the other person’s opinion and their thoughts! Remember people dislike being told what to do, but they love to give their opinion!
Dale Carnegie: “Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment”– Principle 4 (p.209-p. 210) “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.
Dale Carnegie says, “Asking questions not only makes an order more palatable; it often stimulates the creativity of the persons whom you ask. People are more likely to accept an order if they have had a part in the decision that caused the order to be issued.”
Carnegie continued, “When Ian Macdonald of Johannesburg, South Africa, the general manager of a small manufacturing plant specializing in precision machine parts, had the opportunity to accept a very large order, he was convinced that he would not meet the promised delivery date. The work already scheduled in the shop and the short completion time needed for this order made it seem impossible for him to accept the order.”
“Instead of pushing his people to accelerate their work and rush the order through, he called everybody together, explained the situation to them, and told them how much it would mean to the company and to them if they could make it possible to produce the order on time. Then he started asking questions”:
- “Is there anything we can do to handle this order?”
- “Can anyone think of different ways to process it through the shop that will make it possible to take the order?”
- “Is there any way to adjust our hours or personnel assignments that would help?”
“The employees came up with many ideas and insisted that he take the order. They approached it with a “We can do it” attitude, and the order was accepted, produced and delivered on time.”
Dale Carnegie said, “Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.” (From Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends & Influence People”.)
Mr. Macdonald, the General Manager of the company called his people together “explaining the situation, told them about the large job of precision machine parts opportunity with their delivery date. He shared how much the job would mean to the company and “asked 3 direct questions to them: “Can we handle this order?” “Can anyone think of different ways to process it through the shop that will make it possible to take the order?” “Is there any way to adjust our hours or personnel assignments that would help?”
Mr. Macdonald asked for their help, their thoughts, and their opinions. Asking questions is a powerful way to find out the other person’s opinion and their thoughts! Remember people dislike being told what to do, but they love to give their opinion! © 2026 Madeline Frank. If you need a speaker or zoom speaker contact Madeline at: [email protected]
“New Jersey Symphony Highlights 2026 Gratitude Performances for Health Workers” (July 29, 2026) Tap into Montclair. “The healing power of music. Johnson & Johnson has supported the New Jersey Symphony since the 1960s, helping the organization expand its music education program.”
“The Secret of Teaching Science & Math Through Music” shares scientific evidence, medical evidence, test results, and true stories of the world’s scientists, medical doctors, and mathematicians who have studied and played musical instruments since they were children by Madeline Frank, Ph.D. Click below:
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“Musical Notes On Math” by Dr. Madeline Frank teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun easy way, through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award is available in book form, newly updated as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, or iBook.:
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“Madeline’s Midnight Melodies- Music From around the World”. This CD complements her books with a blend of dance music, gigues, tangos, ballet and favorites including “Danny Boy”, Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro”, Debussy’s “Claire De Lune” and others. “Madeline’s Midnight Melodies” CD is now available for purchase by downloading a song, downloading the album click below:
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Wishing you and your family a safe September, Labor Day Holiday, from Your Non-Invasive Medicine Music Expert, Madeline
For over 30 years, Dr. Madeline Frank has helped children and adults overcome problems through Classical music. Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an award-winning teacher, author, researcher, speaker, conductor, and concert artist. She has discovered a scientific link between studying a musical instrument and academic and societal success. Madeline Frank earned her Bachelor and Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music. Her education has included scholarships at the Juilliard School, Indiana University, and the University of Cincinnati and she has a violin performance diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts. (C) 2026 Madeline Frank