Mark Twain’s Short Story, ‘The Danger of Lying in Bed’

The celebrated 19th-century author weighs the risks of train travel and lying in bed.

“The Terminus, Penzance Station, Cornwall,” 1925, by Stanhope Alexander Forbes. National Railway Museum, York, UK. Train travel can be treacherous, but not as dangerous as lying in bed, in this humorous short story by Mark Twain. Public Domain

Traveling by train was a favorite mode of transportation for renowned author Mark Twain. He rode the rails throughout the country. Travel can be fun, exciting, and adventurous, but accidents can happen.

Despite the dangers of traveling, the author worries far more about the fatalities that happen while lying in bed. In his short story “The Danger of Lying in Bed,” Twain looks at his life and statistics through an amusing lens.

Travel Insurance

Twain enters the ticket office, ready to buy his train ticket. When the ticket agent asks if he also wants to buy accident insurance for his train travel, Twain responds: “No, I believe not; I am going to be traveling by rail all day today. However, tomorrow I don’t travel. Give me one for tomorrow.”