I read this edition, though not this copy, in high school. I think we bought the original at the Mark Twain House biokstore in Hannibal on a family camping trip.

The introduction is a tedious waste of space. Twain inserted short fiction into his travelogues. This book presumably pulls them out, but it doesn't tell which books they came from or whether the selection is complete. Normally, I'd assume it's complete, but the book's title is patently inaccurate: 4 out of 6 of the definite stories in "Editorial Wild Oats" are missing. In their place is the ponderous novella, "The Mysterious Stranger."

Without a complete Twain bibliography, it's impossible to tell what else the editor whimsically omitted. This is called "making time-consuming work for the reader," especially since the book was published in 1958, about 40 years before the internet. But if you don't care about completeness, it's a good reading edition.

When newspapers serials sell by "continues ..", authors yank up guffaws, groans, titters, tears, tack on more, and more. Start silly #54 "My father was a St Bernard, my mother was a colllie, but I am a Presbyterian" p 489. End sad "the humble little friend is gone where go the beasts that perish 1903" p 497. Begin #51 with an abused wife, add bloodhound specially-abled son who writes her letters of vengeance, push chase over the edge of cliff onto wrong target, slap on Sherlock Holmes, string him up by a lynch mob, in rides a sheriff. Likable despite growing like topsy. Better are unpredictable, positive -rare- #43 #46 #50, memorable.

Twain questions morality of times, has realistic view of honesty, usually not rewarding goodness. Little girls are angelic #48 #56. Bad boys grow worse #2 #14 #25. Animals can be as narrow-minded as men #22 #28 #59, or smarter #17 #54 #56 #57. Some tales poke fun at foolishness #6 #9 #11, human nature #2 #7 #13 #14, victims of pushy wife #21 #27 #31, con men #1 #4 #5 #12 #32, standard routines #3 #8 #10.

Brevity encourages simpleness #1 #11. Is 22-page #40 an excerpt of https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... or smaller font? Most are mixtures; emotions are complicated. #3 sparks when macabre added to boring political hohum. Ghosts are more funny than scary #7 #36. Insanity is more cold than warm #3 #39. Even a basic romance #24 is complicated by telephone wooing and jealousy.

Often first person is observer rather than participant - theater scenes, letters, dialect conversation from odd viewpoint. The last century is like another planet, science fiction. Who now would strip to rescue their hat, lose their clothes to a runaway horse #46? Some is full-blown exaggeration #6 #9, credit validity to his experience. Scrape off modern political incorrectness from slave nigger south, and inside we are still the same #2 #4 #5 #8.

60 stories, including 13 from "non-fiction" books.
1 The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County - wins owner's bets till filled with gunshot.
2 The Story of Bad Little Boy - Unlike in books, he triumphs.
3 Cannibalism in the Cars - Madman left in snowstorm imagines democratic senatorial arguments and elections choose meals.
4 A Day at Niagara - brings danger from wet and sightseeing purchases. The "awful savage tribe of Indians that do beadwork and moccasins" are from Limerick, Ireland.
5 The Legend of the Capitoline Venus - In theater scenes, poor sculptor can marry when smart pal mutilates statue to appear ancient.
6 Journalism in Tennessee - Newcomer gets shot, scalped, thrown from window.
7 A Curious Dream - Skeletons leave neglected graveyard.
8 The Facts in the Great Beef Contract - Red tape runaround for decades.
9 How I Edited an Agricultural Paper - Turnips grow on trees and like.
10 A Medieval Romance - 1222 Princess falls in love with girl pretending to be male ruler in Brandenburgh.
11 My Watch - runs worse after every repair.
12 Political Economy - Salesman cons lecture writer into lightning rods until storm creates fireworks.
13 Science vs Luck - Six jurors for Chance win over others in Kentucky sevenup card game.
14 The Story of the Good Little Boy (opposite #2) - all goes wrong.
15 Buck Fanshaw's Funeral - His friend Scotty's slang "help plant him" confuses officiating parson.
16 The Story of the Old Ram - Drunk narrator rambles over relatives, neighbors, never gets to ram.
17 Tom Quartz large grey tomcat 8 "shin out of that hole" to avoid blasts mining quartz.
18 A Trial - insists Capt Ned Blakely, can be held after hanging bully Bill Noakes, because everyone saw him kill Ned's nigger first mate unjustly.
19 The Trials of Simon Erickson - He goes crazy trying to decipher handwriting of Mr Greeley regarding young William's desire to work only with turnips.
20 A True Story - Aunt Rachel 60 recounts how son sold young, when grown up remembered and recognized her from family favorite expletive "I'se one o' de old Blue Hen's Chickens".
21 Experience of the McWilliamses with Membranous Croup - Wife insists child fine to chew on pine stick, forces narrator Mortimer to stay up moving furniture, blames croup.  Doctor gives cough syrup that expels splinter.  
22 Some Learned Fables for Good Old Boys and Girls - Learned animals send exploration party that determines from ruins that man is extinct.
23 The Canvasser's Tale - Door-to-door salesman tells sob story about bankrupt uncle's echo collection.
24 The Loves of Alonzo Fitz Clarence and Rosannah Ethelton - Maine bachelor in winter falls for off-key song of California cousin by phone. Jealous suitor Burley breaks engagement by impersonation.  In despair, travelled to NY, he hears her on phone by chance from Honolulu in nick of time day before wedding to Burley.  
25 Edward Mills and George Benton: A Tale - Honorable Ed always hurt by bad George, from babes till killed when bank burgled.
26 The Man Who Put Up at Gadsby's - Newspaperman Riley scares off teacher Lykins from rushing job application by tale of "old patriarch" now, who was young when stopping off at same hotel to get quick claim refund.
27 Mrs McWilliams and the Lightning - Wife afraid of storm nags hubby to absurd methods.
28 What Stumped the Bluejays - Flock puzzled by one who drops nuts to fill house.
29 A Curious Experience - Commander of Fort Trumbull tells how Confed boy skilled imagination disrupts town, has him arrest innocents as traitors.
30 The Invalid's Story - Old Limburger cheese smell on box of guns mistaken for friend's corpse sent narrator (41 two years ago, looks old 60) and train expressman outside to cold, broke their health.
31 The McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
32 The Stolen White Elephant - Narrator loses position and all money to dishonest detective for ransom.  Inspector knew Hassan already dead from injuries, telegrams and reports false.
33 A Burning Brand - Narrator convinced by fake sad letter from educated burglar, intended to hoax public into releasing prisoner early.
34 A Dying Man's Confession - Karl Ritter expires after giving narrator location of fortune, explaining how he mistakenly killed the defender of his murdered wife and babe, instead of their killer. His fellow boat passengers convince him to keep the money, not pass on as per Ritter's last request.  Town of Napoleon flooded 25 years ago, impossible to retrieve stash.
35 The Professor's Yarn - When younger on steamboat, befriended by cattle dealer Backus, he avoids crooked gamblers, tries to extract cattleman Backus, who befriended him.  Backus is pro who cons all the others.  
36 A Ghost Story - Narrator woken by ghost of Cardiff giant accidentally breaking furniture, haunts across the road from inn, wanting proper burial for body.  Petrified Man corpse moved across state, only plaster cast remains in museum.  
37 Luck - raises fool to be decorated hero, so pastor who helped him succeed reveals to narrator at banquet.
38 Playing Courier - Scatter-brained narrator volunteers to fill in as group's travel guide; taxis and walks hither thither; wastes time, money; fails at job.
39 The Californian's Tale - Prospecting 35 years ago, he meets old man who expects beloved wife home soon, worries she is late.  Only three pals left of many to pretend she still will return when really killed by Injuns day of return years ago, husband gone crazy, especially on anniversary of her death.
40 The Diary of Adam and Eve - Opposite points of view from first man and strange newcomer cannot understand the other, but end up faithful, loving.
41 The Esquimau Maiden's Romance - Amid blubber banquet, "plump .. most bewitching girl in her tribe" falls for stranger Kalula, drowned after accused of stealing one from father's enviable fortune of 22 iron fish hooks.  Nine months later, Lasca finds hook when maidens comb hair at Great Annual Sacrifice.
42 Is He Living or Is He Dead? Riviera guest points out another, relates tale of youth when fellow artists in rural France draw lots to fake death of one so raise worth of paintings.  "Another" is under new name after chosen to fake death.
43 The £1,000,000 Bank-Note - American 27 reduced to penury in London, narrator invited by two nobles who loan him a large bill, promptly leave the country for a month.  Unable to give change, vendors spread rumors of riches. He rises in society, makes a fortune, marries daughter of one benefactor.
44 Cecil Rhodes and the Shark - Swallowed London newspaper reporting war and raised wool prices makes Cecil's fortune in Australia.
45 The Joke That Made Ed's Fortune - Jokers give Ed fake letter of introduction to rich Mr Vanderbilt, who entrusts and employs honest simpleton.
46 A Story Without an End - Shy John Brown dresses up, strips to swim after best hat, wraps blanket on lower limbs when horse runs off with clothes. When his beloved's mother reaches for his cover -- what happens next?
47 The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg - Mistreated stranger takes revenge on haughty town by promising fortune to whoever knows words, but targets worst citizens with secret letter so they cheat. Confusing ending when old Mary and Edward Richards rewarded anyway, and dying get innocent Mr Burgess in trouble again.
48 The Death Disk of different color was given by a daughter, angelic in blonde curls, specially to her father, one of three Colonels to exceed superior's orders and win the battle. Supposedly from Carlyle's Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell.  Cromwell promises to obey the lisping little girl, so must save her papa.
49 Two Little Tales - Narrator tells his inventor friend who wants the ear of a senior official how Tommy, the night-soil man's son, passes an important message via each most entrusted friend finally to the Emporer.
50 The Belated Russian Passport - The Major who knows "everyone", convinces homesick tourist Alfred to make last stop at St Petersburg, fatal without passport and consul's assistant is stranger.  Secretary was artist whose painting in lieu of rent was cursed by Alf's minister father, so the son does not admit the connection until too late - almost, Major set clock back unnoticed.
51 A Double-Barreled Detective Story - A wife stripped and beaten runs away, changes her name, and instills vengeance in her son, who has a supernatural sniffer. Archy, unwilling but loyal, pursues the wrong man, then cannot catch up to the bully's cousin to compensate for harassment. Surprisingly, in secluded mining village, Holmes is accused of killing evil Flint Buckner, who abused Sherlock's nephew Fetlock Jones.  Fetlock killed Flint, Archy's father.  
52 The Five Boons of Life are Fame, Love, Riches, Pleasure, Death, offered by good fairy to youth, who keeps making the wrong choice.  She gives last to innocent child who asks her to choose for him, leaving man "the wanton insult of Old Age".
53 Was It Heaven? Or Hell - Where do maiden aunts go after life ended caring for widow Margaret 36 and her daughter Helen 16, who both die of consumption, change their minds about lies
54 A Dog's Tale - Mr Gray lames her after she saves baby from fire, then kills her pup and her. Starts funny gets sad.
55 The $30,000 Bequest - For two years, not knowing their relation died, Sally dreams of investing, husband Aleck of spending. Tilbury was a pauper, left nothing.
56 A Horse's Tale - Like #54 from Dog, Buffalo Bill's Soldier Boy, and letters, tell of Cathy, adopted orphan grandaughter of General Alison, who wins over Fort like #48 Cromwell's angel. The ending is a tear-jerker shock.  Seeing broken-down Soldier Boy, Cathy runs out, gored by bull.
57 Hunting the Deceitful Turkey https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
58 Extract from Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven - Races with a comet enroute, lands at wrong gate, realizes palm frond, harp, and halo are useless, finally follows advice of McWilliams to stay same age, Sandy to save wings for special occasions like on Earth, where archangels avoid autograph hunters.
59 A Fable - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
60 The Mysterious Stranger p 599 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A formidable collection, Mark Twain's stories cover a bit of everything. His humor is present even in stories that are not necessarily comedy, as is his wit and wisdom, and it makes each story refreshing in its own way. Some stories were slower and less engaging than others, perhaps due in part to the differences in life between then and now, But there is something of value in all of them. The philosophy, insight and humor that adorns these stories are very much relatable today. Some are even quite dark. 'The Mysterious Stranger', the final story in this collection, stands out as a brilliant example of such, offering a dismal view of the human race, told cheerfully through the eyes of none other than Satan. (Or his nephew, I guess.. there doesn't really seem to be a difference, lol)

But mostly, Mark Twain found the humanity in society's many, many foibles, and this collection (which took me a year to read through, honestly.. there's quite a few yarns in here!) proudly displays his joy of bringing both the humanity and the foibles together with his brilliant way with words, which made each story a pleasure to read.

Unless you are a Twain completist, sampling a few of these stories over the course of their publication should be sufficient. These stories are mostly humorous sketches and are not particularly ambitious. Several of the stories were excerpted from the travel books as representing self-sufficient episodes.
Of course Twain's exuberance, skill for capturing dialect, and his disdain for hypocrites is well represented.
Some of the later stories towards the end of his life are quite cynical. As an older man he had suffered financial problems and the death of close family members. Some of these stories are grim and uncompromising in their view of humanity.

Sometimes witty and humorous, sometimes touching or philosophical, and sometimes all at once. Written masterfully, with beautiful language and good sense of tempo. Some authors you might feel are given too much credit just for being ancient and getting included in the school curriculum. Mark Twain is not one of those. He could compete with anyone today. It feels like some of my favorite modern writers, e.g. Kurt Vonnegut, were influenced by his style.

Mark Twain was a master at telling stories. There are some real gems here.
Satire and humor were Twain's calling card 'styles' and he does not disappoint in this excellent selection.

Mark Twain, oltre ad esser stato un grande giornalista e un superbo narratore delle vicende americane dal punto di vista del popolo, è anche un grande scrittore comico e nella sua carriera ha prodotto numerosi racconti umoristici. "Il caso del contratto del manzo in scatola" è un pamphlet che raccoglie quattro storie assolutamente illogiche e indubbiamente divertenti. Nella prima, il protagonista si trova a rincorrere lo Stato per vedersi pagato un credito ereditato; nella seconda, il segretario di un Senatore travisa le sue direttive inviando a suo nome lettere equivoche; nel terzo racconto, l'autore si trova ad essere redattore temporaneo di un giornale agrario senza capirne di agricoltura; nel quarto, Twain ottiene un piccolo ruolo nel governo atteggiandosi al "Non sa chi sono io!". Un testo piacevole, ricco di spunti (non solo comici), che doneranno al lettore qualche sorriso. Breve ma intenso!

Twain is a writing God
But not all of his stories were perfect.

I didn't read all the stort stories but what I did read was good.

Even “mediocre” Mark Twain is great.

These were an interesting read, but I'm not sure how to rate them. They felt surprisingly modern in comparison to early 1900s work I've read. Many of the stories are highly topical, in the sense that they're heavily about issues of Twain's day, which means they feel dated now. I probably would have enjoyed reading his column if we were contemporaneous.

I have read this book several times. It is undoubtedly the funniest book I have ever read (parts of it)
I would lay in bed crying it was so funny. The same thing when I read it the second time.