From the description of the remastered movie: According to Mark Twain researcher Robert Slotta, who has studied the origins of this film for several years, it

From the description of the remastered movie: According to Mark Twain researcher Robert Slotta, who has studied the origins of this film for several years, it all began as a simple intro to a feature film Thomas Edison wanted to make based on Twain's 1881 novel, "The Prince and the Pauper" (published in America 1882). Twain reluctantly agreed as long as the material was never used for any other purpose. The intro consisted an edited version of the first three scenes of this film. Scenes included: Twain standing in the doorway, the walk around the house, and the second walk around was another "take" to cover a late camera start on the part of the cinematographer. Since there was still unexposed film left over, it was at the film crew’s urging that the scenes with Twain and his daughters, Clara and Jean, be photographed as a gift with the promise that footage was strictly for their own private enjoyment.