4.50 from Paddington: source of the Mark Twain reference

e_m · January 2016

From the book: ‘My own process of reasoning was not really original,’ said Miss Marple. ‘It’s all in Mark Twain. The boy who found the horse. He just imagined where he would go if he were a horse and he went there and there was the horse.’

Does anyone know the Mark Twain story that inspired Miss M?

GKCfan · February 2016

I'm not completely sure, but it might be "The Horse's Tale." I'd have to read it carefully to be sure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Horse's_Tale.

e_m · February 2016

I read that first and, sadly, couldn't see how it applied.

taliavishay-arbel · February 2016

I found that quote in a book called "

Real Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How It Works" by Frank M. Bryan.

in the essay "Big town small town".

The exact quote was: "Question: where'd you find that horse everybody's been looking for, sonny? Answer: I thought if I were a horse where would I go and I did and he had".
Either Mark Twain also mentioned it, or else MM remembered it vaguely and mis-attributed it.

GKCfan · February 2016

Well done, taliavishay-arbel!

taliavishay-arbel · February 2016

Thank you, GKCfan

4.50 from Paddington: source of the Mark Twain reference

Comments

Real Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How It Works" by Frank M. Bryan.