Mark Twain: 10 reasons we love him

For Twain's 176th's birthday, ten reasons the world is still fascinated by the Missouri native.

10. He made a dramatic entrance and exit.

Kuiper Airborne Observatory
Halley's Comet

Twain came and went with Halley's Comet. He was born in 1835, two weeks after the comet made its closest approach to Earth. He later predicted that he would "go out" with Halley's Comet as well and in fact he died in 1910, one day after the comet again made a close approach to Earth.

10 of 10
You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us