第4章

LetterstoMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： FAYAL(Azores，)June20th，1867。 DEARFOLKS，——Wearehavingalivelytimehere，afterastormytrip。WemeanttogotoSanMiguel，butweredrivenherebystressofweather。 Beautifulclimate。 Yrs。 Affect。 SAM。 GIBRALTAR，June30th，1867。 DEARFOLKS，——Arrivedherethismorning，andamclearwornoutwithridingandclimbinginandoverandaroundthismonstrousrockanditsfortifications。Summerclimateandverypleasant。 Yrs。 SAM。 TANGIER，MOROCCO，(AFRICA)，July1，1867。 DEARFOLKS，HalfadozenofuscamehereyesterdayfromGibraltarandsomeofthecompanytooktheotherdirection；wentupthroughSpain，toParisbyrail。WedecidedthatGibraltarandSanRoquewereallofSpainthatwewantedtoseeatpresentandaregladwecamehereamongtheAfricans，Moors，ArabsandBedouinsofthedesert。Iwouldnotgivethisexperienceforallthebalanceofthetripcombined。ThisistheinfernalesthiveofinfernallycostumedbarbariansIhaveevercomeacrossyet。 Yrs。 SAM。 ATSEA，July2，1867。 DR。FOLKS，——WearefaruptheintenselyblueandravishinglybeautifulMediterranean。AndnowwearejustpassingtheislandofMinorca。Theclimateisperfectlylovelyanditishardtodriveanybodytobed，dayornight。Weremainupthewholenightthroughoccasionally，andbythismeansenjoytheraresensationofseeingthesunrise。Butthesunsetsaresoft，rich，warmandsuperb！ Wehadaballlastnightundertheawningsofthequarterdeck，andtheshareofitofthreeofuswasmasquerade。Wehadfull，flowing，picturesqueMoorishcostumeswhichwepurchasedinthebazaarsofTangier。 Yrs。 SAM。 MARSEILLES，FRANCE，July5，1867。 Wearehere。StartforParistomorrow。Allwell。Hadgorgeous4thofJulyjollificationyesterdayatsea。 Yrs。 SAM。 Thereadermayexpandthesesketchyoutlinestohisheart”scontentbyfollowingthechaptersinTheInnocentsAbroad，whichisverygoodhistory，lesselaboratedthanmightbesupposed。Butontheotherhand，thenextletteraddssomethingofinteresttothebook- circumstanceswhichamodestauthorwouldnecessarilyomit。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： YALTA，RUSSIA，Aug。25，1867。 DEARFOLKS，——WehavebeenrepresentingtheUnitedStatesallweknewhowtoday。WewenttoSebastopol，afterwegottiredofConstantinople(gotyourletterthere，andoneatNaples，)andtheretheCommandantandthewholetowncameaboardandwereasjollyandsociableasoldfriends。 TheysaidtheEmperorofRussiawasatYalta，30milesor40away，andurgedustogotherewiththeshipandvisithim——promisedusacordialwelcome。TheyinsistedonsendingatelegramtotheEmperor，andalsoacourieroverlandtoannounceourcoming。ButweknewthatagreatEnglishExcursionparty，andalsotheViceroyofEgypt，inhissplendidyacht，hadbeenrefusedanaudiencewithinthelastfortnight，sowethoughtitnotsafetotryit。Theysaid，nodifference——theEmperorwouldhardlyvisitourship，becausethatwouldbeamostextraordinaryfavor，andonewhichheuniformlyrefusestoaccordunderanycircumstances，buthewouldcertainlyreceiveusathispalace。Westilldeclined。ButwehadtogotoOdessa，250milesaway，andtheretheGovernorGeneralurgedus，andsentatelegramtotheEmperor，whichwehardlyexpectedtobeanswered，butitwas，andpromptly。SowesailedbacktoYalta。 Weallwenttothepalaceatnoon，today，(3miles)incarriagesandonhorsessentbytheEmperor，andwehadajollytime。Insteadoftheusualformalaudienceof15minutes，westaid4hoursandweremadeagooddealmoreathomethanwecouldhavebeeninaNewYorkdrawing- room。Thewholetribeturnedouttoreceiveourparty-Emperor，Empress，theoldestdaughter(Grand-DuchessMarie，aprettygirlof14，)alittleGrandDuke，herbrother，andaplatoonofAdmirals，Princes，PeersoftheEmpire，etc。，andinalittlewhileanaid-de-camparrivedwitharequestfromtheGrandDukeMichael，theEmperor”sbrother，thatwewouldvisithispalaceandbreakfastwithhim。TheEmperoralsoinvitedus，onbehalfofhisabsenteldestsonandheir(aged22，)tovisithispalaceandconsideritavisittohim。TheyalltalkEnglishandtheywereallveryneatlybutveryplainlydressed。Youalldressagooddealfinerthantheyweredressed。TheEmperorandhisfamilythrewoffallreserveandshowedusalloverthepalacethemselves。Itisveryrichandveryelegant，butinnowaygaudy。 IhadbeenappointedchairmanofacommitteetodraughtanaddresstotheEmperorinbehalfofthepassengers，andasIfullyexpected，andastheyfullyintended，Ihadtowritetheaddressmyself。Ididn”tmindit，becauseIhavenomodestyandwouldassoonwritetoanEmperorastoanybodyelse——butconsideringthattherewere5onthecommitteeI thoughttheymighthavecontributedoneparagraphamongthem，anyway。 Theywantedmetoreadittohim，too，butIdeclinedthathonor——notbecauseIhadn”tcheekenough(andsometospare，)butbecauseourConsulatOdessawasalong，andalsotheSecretaryofourLegationatSt。 Petersburgh，andofcourseoneofthoseoughttoreadit。TheEmperoracceptedtheaddress——itwashisbusinesstodoit——andsomanyothershavepraiseditwarmlythatIbegintoimagineitmustbeawonderfulsortofdocumentandherewithsendyoutheoriginaldraughtofittobeputintoalcoholandpreservedforeverlikeacuriousreptile。 TheyliverightwellattheGrandDukeMichael”stheirbreakfastsarenotgorgeousbutveryexcellent——andifMikeweretosaythewordIwouldgothereandbreakfastwithhimtomorrow。 YrsaffSAM。 P。S。[Writtenacrossthefaceofthelastpage。]TheyhadtoldusitwouldbepolitetoinvitetheEmperortovisittheship，thoughhewouldnotbelikelytodoit。Buthedidn”tgiveusachance——hehasrequestedpermissiontocomeonboardwithhisfamilyandallhisrelationstomorrowandtakeasail，incaseitiscalmweather。Ican，entertainthem。Myhandisin，now，andifyouwantanymoreEmperorsfetedinstyle，trotthemout。 Thenextletterisofinterestinthatitgivesustheprogramandvolumeofhiswork。Withallthesightseeinghewasaveragingafullfourlettersaweek——longletters，requiringcarefulobservationandinquiry。Howfreshandimpressionableandfullofvigorhewas，eveninthatfiercesouthernheat！NoonemakestheMediterraneantripinsummerto-day，andthethoughtofaddingconstantletter-writingtosteadytravelthroughsouthernFrance，Italy，Greece，andTurkeyinblazingmidsummerisstupefying。AndSyriaandEgyptinSeptember！ ToMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： CONSTANTINOPLE，Sept。1，”67。 DEARFOLKS，——Allwell。DotheAlta”scomeregularly？IwishIknewwhethermylettersreachthemornot。Lookoverthebackpapersandsee。 Iwrotethemasfollows： 1LetterfromFayal，intheAzoresIslands。 1fromGibraltar，inSpain。 1fromTangier，inAfrica。 2fromParisandMarseilles，inFrance。 1fromGenoa，inItaly。 1fromMilan。 1fromLakeComo。 1fromsomelittleplaceinSwitzerland——haveforgottenthename。 4concerningLecce，Bergamo，Padua，Verona，BattlefieldofMarengo，Pestachio，andsomeothercitiesinNorthernItaly。 2fromVenice。 1aboutBologna。 1fromFlorence。 1fromPisa。 1fromLeghorn。 1fromRomeandCivitaVecchia。 2fromNaples。 1aboutPazzuoli，whereSt。Paullanded，theBathsofNero，andtheruinsofBaia，Virgil”stomb，theElysianFields，theSunkenCitiesandthespotwhereUlysseslanded。 1fromHerculaneumandVesuvius。 1fromPompeii。 1fromtheIslandofIschia。 1concerningtheVolcanoofStromboli，thecityandStraitsofMessina，thelandofSicily，ScyllaandCharybdisetc。 1abouttheGrecianArchipelago。 1aboutamidnightvisittoAthens，thePiraeusandtheruinsoftheAcropolis。 1abouttheHellespont，thesiteofancientTroy，theSeaofMarmara，etc。 2aboutConstantinople，theGoldenHornandthebeautiesoftheBosphorus。 1fromOdessaandSebastopolinRussia，theBlackSea，etc。 2fromYalta，Russia，concerningavisittotheCzar。 AndyesterdayIwroteanotherletterfromConstantinopleand1todayaboutitsneighborinAsia，Scatter。IamnotdonewithTurkeyyet。Shallwrite2or3more。 IhavewrittentotheNewYorkHerald2lettersfromNaples，(nonamesigned，)and1fromConstantinople。 TotheNewYorkTribuneIhavewritten1fromFayal。 1fromCivitaVecchiaintheRomanStates。 2fromYalta，Russia。 And1fromConstantinople。 IhaveneverseenanyoftheselettersinprintexcepttheonetotheTribunefromFayalandthatwasnotworthprinting。 Wesailhencetomorrow，perhaps，andmynextletterswillbemailedatSmyrna，inSyria。IhopetowritefromtheSeaofTiberius，Damascus，Jerusalem，Joppa，andpossiblyotherpointsintheHolyLand。ThelettersfromEgypt，theNileandAlgiersIwilllookoutfor，myself。 Iwillbringtheminmypocket。 Theytakethefinestphotographsintheworldhere。Ihaveorderedsome。 TheywillbesenttoAlexandria，Egypt。 YoucannotconceiveofanythingsobeautifulasConstantinople，viewedfromtheGoldenHornortheBosphorus。Ithinkitmustbethehandsomestcityintheworld。Iwillgoondeckandlookatitforyou，directly。 Iamstayingintheship，tonight。Igenerallystayonshorewhenweareinport。ButyesterdayIjustranmyselfdown。DanSlote，myroom-mate，isonshore。HeremainedherewhilewewentuptheBlackSea，butitseemshehasnotgotenoughofityet。IthoughtDanhadgotthestate- roomprettyfullofrubbishatlast，butawhileagohisdragomanarrivedwithabrannew，ghastlytomb-stoneoftheOrientalpattern，withhisnamehandsomelycarvedandgildedonit，inTurkishcharacters。ThatfellowwillbuyaCircassianslave，next。 Iamtired。Wearegoingonatrip，tomorrow。Imusttobed。Lovetoall。 YrsSAM。 U。S。CONSUL”SOFFICE，BEIRUT，SYRIA，Sept。11。(1867) DEARFOLKS，——Wearehere，eightofus，makingacontractwithadragomantotakeustoBaalbek，thentoDamascus，Nazareth，&c。thentoLakeGenassareth(SeaofTiberias，)thenSouththroughallthecelebratedScripturallocalitiestoJerusalem——thentotheDeadSea，theCaveofMacpelahanduptoJoppawheretheshipwillbe。Weshallbeinthesaddlethreeweeks——wehavehorses，tents，provisions，arms，adragomanandtwootherservants，andwepayfivedollarsadayapiece，ingold。 Lovetoall，yrs。 SAM。 Weleavetonight，attwoo”clockinthemorning。 ThereappeartobenofurtherhomeletterswrittenfromSyria——andnonefromEgypt。Perhapswiththedesertandthedeltatheheatatlastbecametoofearfulforanythingbeyondtheactualrequirementsoftheday。WhenhebeganhisnextitwasOctober，andthefiercertravelwasbehindhim。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： CAGHARI，SARDINIA，Oct，12，1867。 DEARFOLKS，——Wehavejustdroppedanchorbeforethishandsomecityand—— ALGIERS，AFRICA，Oct。15。 TheywouldnotletuslandatCagharionaccountofcholera。Nothingtowrite。 MALAGA，SPAIN，Oct。17。 TheCaptainandIareashorehereunderguard，waitingtoknowwhethertheywilllettheshipanchorornot。QuarantineregulationsareverystricthereonallvesselscomingfromEgypt。IamalittleanxiousbecauseIwanttogoinlandtoGranadaandseetheAlhambra。IcangoondownbySevilleandCordova，andbepickedupatCadiz。 Later：Wecannotanchor——mustgoon。WeshallbeatGibraltarbeforemidnightandIthinkIwillgohorseback(alongdays)andthencebyrailanddiligencetoCadiz。IwillnotmailthistillIseetheGibraltarlights——Ibegintothinktheywon”tletusinanywhere。 11。30P。M——Gibraltar。 Atanchorandallright，buttheywon”tletuslandtillmorning——itisawasteofvaluabletime。WeshallreachNewYorkmiddleofNovember。 Yours，SAM。 CADIZ，Oct24，1867。 DEARFOLKS，——WeleftGibraltaratnoonandrodetoAlgeciras，(4hours) thusdodgingthequarantine，tookdinnerandthenrodehorsebackallnightinaswingingtrotandatdaylighttookacaleche(awheeledvehicle)androde5hours——thentookcarsandtraveledtilltwelveatnight。ThatlandedusatSevilleandwewereoverthehardpartofourtrip，andsomewhattired。Sincethenwehavetakenthingscomparativelyeasy，driftingaroundfromonetowntoanotherandattractingagooddealofattention，forIguessstrangersdonotwanderthroughAndalusiaandtheotherSouthernprovincesofSpainoften。ThecountryispreciselyasitwaswhenDonQuixoteandSanchoPanzawerepossiblecharacters。 ButIseenowwhatthegloryofSpainmusthavebeenwhenitwasunderMoorishdomination。No，Iwillnotsaythat，butthenwhenoneiscarriedaway，infatuated，entranced，withthewondersoftheAlhambraandthesupernaturalbeautyoftheAlcazar，heisapttooverflowwithadmirationforthesplendidintellectsthatcreatedthem。 Icannotwritenow。IamonlydroppingalinetoletyouknowIamwell。 Theshipwillcallforusheretomorrow。WemaystopatLisbon，andshallattheBermudas，andwillarriveinNewYorktendaysafterthislettergetsthere。 SAM。 Thisisthelastpersonalletterwrittenduringthatfamousfirstsea-gipsying，andreadingitourregretgrowsthathedidnotputsomethingofhisSpanishexcursionintohisbook。HeneverreturnedtoSpain，andheneverwroteofit。Onlythebarestmentionof“sevenbeautifuldays“isfoundinTheInnocentsAbroad。 VIII。 LETTERS1867-68。WASHINGTONANDSANFRANCISCO。THEPROPOSEDBOOKOF TRAVEL。ANEWLECTURE FromMarkTwain”shomeletterswegetseveralimportantside-lightsonthisfirstfamousbook。Welearn，forinstance，thatitwashewhodraftedtheshipaddresstotheEmperor——theopeninglinesofwhichbecamesowearisomewhenrepeatedbythesailors。 Furthermore，welearnsomethingofthescopeandextentofhisnewspapercorrespondence，whichmusthavekepthimfuriouslybusy，doneasitwasinthemidstofsuper-heatedandcontinuoussight- seeing。HewrotefiftythreeletterstotheAlta-California，sixtotheNewYorkTribune，andatleasttwototheNewYorkHeraldmorethansixty，alltold，ofanaverage，lengthofthreetofourthousandwordseach。MarkTwainalwaysclaimedtobealazyman，andcertainlyhewaslikelytoavoidanundertakingnotsuitedtohisgifts，buthehadenergyinabundanceforworkinhischosenfield。 Tohavepiledupacorrespondenceofthatsizeinthetime，andunderthecircumstancesalreadynoted，qualityconsidered，maybecountedarecordinthehistoryoftravelletters。 Theymadehimfamous。ArrivinginNewYork，November19，1867，MarkTwainfoundhimselfnolongerunknowntothemetropolis，ortoanyportionofAmerica。PapersEastandWesthadcopiedhisAltaandTribunelettersandcarriedhisnameintoeverycorneroftheStatesandTerritories。Hehadpreachedanewgospelintravelliterature，thegospeloffranknessandsinceritythatAmericanscouldunderstand。Alsohisliterarypowershadawakenedatlast。Hisworkwasnolongertrivial，crude，andshowy；itwasfullofdignity，beauty，andpower；hishumorwasfiner，worthier。ThedifferenceinqualitybetweentheQuakerCitylettersandthosewrittenfromtheSandwichIslandsonlyayearbeforecanscarcelybemeasured。 HedidnotremaininNewYork，butwentdowntoWashington，wherehehadarrangedforaprivatesecretaryshipwithSenatorWilliamM。 Stewart，——[The“Bill“Stewartmentionedintheprecedingchapter。] whomhehadknowninNevada。Suchapositionhebelievedwouldmakebutlittledemanduponhistime，andwouldaffordhimaninsightintoWashingtonlife，whichhecouldmakevaluableintheshapeofnewspapercorrespondence。 Butfatehadotherplansforhim。Hepresentlyreceivedthefollowingletter： FromElishaBliss，Jr。，inHartfordOFFICEOFTHEAMERICANPUBLISHINGCOMPANY。 HARTFORD，CONN，Nov21，1867。 SAMUELL。CLEMENSEsq。 TribuneOffice，NewYork。 DR。SIR，——Wetakethelibertytoaddressyouthis，inplaceofaletterwhichwehadrecentlywrittenandwasabouttoforwardtoyou，notknowingyourarrivalhomewasexpectedsosoon。Wearedesirousofobtainingfromyouaworkofsomekind，perhapscompiledfromyourlettersfromtheEast，&c。，withsuchinterestingadditionsasmaybeproper。WearethepublishersofA。D。Richardson”sworks，andflatterourselvesthatwecangiveanauthorasfavorabletermsanddoasfulljusticetohisproductionsasanyotherhouseinthecountry。Weareperhapstheoldestsubscriptionhouseinthecountry，andhaveneverfailedtogiveabookanimmensecirculation。Wesoldabout100，000 copiesofRichardson”sF。D。&E。(Field，DungeonandEscape)andarenowprinting41，000，of“BeyondtheMississippi，“andlargeordersahead。 Ifyouhaveanythoughtofwritingabook，orcouldbeinducedtodoso，weshouldbepleasedtoseeyou；andwilldoso。Willyoudousthefavortoreplyatonce，atyourearliestconvenience。 Verytruly，&c。，E。BLISS，Jr。 Secty。 Clemenshadalreadytheideaofabookinmindand。welcomedthisproposition。 ToElishaBliss，Jr。，inHartford： WASHINGTON，Dec。2，1867。 E。BLISS，Jr。Esq。 Sec”yAmericanPublishingCo—— DEARSIR，——IonlyreceivedyourfavorofNov。21stlastnight，attheroomsoftheTribuneBureauhere。ItwasforwardedfromtheTribuneoffice，NewYork，whereithadlaineightortendays。Thiswillbeasufficientapologyfortheseemingdiscourtesyofmysilence。 Iwrotefifty-two(three)lettersfortheSanFrancisco“AltaCalifornia“ duringtheQuakerCityexcursion，abouthalfofwhichnumberhavebeenprinted，thusfar。The“Alta“hasfewexchangesintheEast，andI supposescarcelyanyoftheselettershavebeencopiedonthissideoftheRockyMountains。IcouldweedthemoftheirchieffaultsofconstructionandineleganciesofexpressionandmakeavolumethatwouldbemoreacceptableinmanyrespectsthananyIcouldnowwrite。Whenthoseletterswerewrittenmyimpressionswerefresh，butnowtheyhavelostthatfreshness；theywerewarmthen——theyarecold，now。Icouldstrikeoutcertainletters，andwritenewoneswherewithtosupplytheirplaces。Ifyouthinksuchabookwouldsuityourpurpose，pleasedropmealine，specifyingthesizeandgeneralstyleofthevolume；whenthematteroughttobeready；whetheritshouldhavepicturesinitornot； andparticularlywhatyourtermswithmewouldbe，andwhatamountofmoneyImightpossiblymakeoutofit。Thelatterclausehasadegreeofimportanceformewhichisalmostbeyondmyowncomprehension。Butyouunderstandthat，ofcourse。 Ihaveotherpropositionsforabook，buthavedoubtedtheproprietyofinterferingwithgoodnewspaperengagements，exceptmywayasanauthorcouldbedemonstratedtobeplainbeforeme。ButIknowRichardson，andlearnedfromhimsomemonthsago，somethingofanideaofthesubscriptionplanofpublishing。Ifthatisyourplaninvariably，itlookssafe。 IamontheN。Y。Tribunestaffhereasan“occasional，“，amongotherthings，andanotefromyouaddressedtoVerytruly&c。 SAML。CLEMENS，NewYorkTribuneBureau，Washington，willfindme，withoutfail。 TheexchangeofthesetwolettersmarkedthebeginningofoneofthemostnotablepublishingconnectionsinAmericanliteraryhistory。 Thebook，however，wasnotbegunimmediately。Blisswasinpoorhealthandfinalarrangementsweredelayed；itwasnotuntillateinJanuarythatClemenswenttoHartfordandconcludedthearrangement。 Meantime，fatehaddisclosedanothermatterofevengreaterimportance；wegetthefirsthintofitinthefollowingletter，thoughtohimitsbeginninghadbeenearlier——onadayintheblueharborofSmyrna，whenyoungCharlesLangdon，afellow-passengerontheQuakerCity，hadshowntoMarkTwainaminiatureofyoungLangdon”ssisterathome： ToMrs。JaneClemensandMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis： 224F。STREET，WASH，Jan。8，1868。 MYDEARMOTHERANDSISTER，——AndsotheoldMajorhasbeenthere，hashe？ Iwouldlikemightywelltoseehim。Iwasasortofbenefactortohimonce。IhelpedtosnatchhimoutwhenhewasabouttorideintoaMohammedanMosqueinthatqueeroldMoorishtownofTangier，inAfrica。 Ifhehadgotin，theMoorswouldhaveknockedhisvenerableoldheadoff，forhistemerity。 IhavejustarrivedfromNewYork-beenthereeversinceChristmasstayingatthehouseofDanSlotemyQuakerCityroom-mate，andhavingasplendidtime。CharleyLangdon，JackVanNostrand，DanandI，(allQuakerCitynight-hawks，)hadablow-outatDan”s”houseandalivelytalkoveroldtimes。WewentthroughtheHolyLandtogether，andIjustlaughedtillmysidesached，atsomeofourreminiscences。ItwastheunholiestgangthatevercavortedthroughPalestine，butthosearethebestboysintheworld。WeneededMoultonbadly。Istartedtomakecalls，NewYear”sDay，butIanchoredforthedayatthefirsthouseIcameto——CharlieLangdon”ssisterwasthere(beautifulgirl，)andMissAliceHooker，anotherbeautifulgirl，anieceofHenryWardBeecher”s。Wesenttheoldfolkshomeearly，withinstructionsnottosendthecarriagetillmidnight，andthenIjuststaidthereandworriedthelifeoutofthosegirls。IamgoingtospendafewdayswiththeLangdon”sinElmira，NewYork，assoonasIgettime，andafewdaysatMrs。Hooker”sinHartford，Conn。，shortly。 HenryWardBeechersentformelastSundaytocomeoveranddine(helivesinBrooklyn，youknow，)andIwent。HarrietBeecherStowewasthere，andMrs。andMissBeecher，Mrs。HookerandmyoldQuakerCityfavorite，EmmaBeach。 Wehadaverygaytime，ifitwasSunday。IexpectItoldmoreliesthanIhavetoldbeforeinamonth。 Iwentbackbyinvitation，aftertheeveningservice，andfinishedtheblow-out，andthenstaidallnightatMr。Beach”s。HenryWardisabrick。 Ifoundoutat10o”clock，lastnight，thatIwastolecturetomorroweveningandsoyoumustbeawarethatIhavebeenworkinglikesinallnighttogetalecturewritten。Ihavefinishedit，Icallit“FrozenTruth。”Itisalittletop-heavy，though，becausethereismoretruthinthetitlethanthereisinthelecture。 Butthunder，Imustn”tsitherewritingallday，withsomuchbusinessbeforeme。 Goodby，andkindregardstoall。 YrsaffySAML。CLEMENS。 JackVanNostrandofthisletteris“Jack“oftheInnocents。EmmaBeachwasthedaughterofMosesS。Beach，ofthe”NewYorkSun。” Latershebecamethewifeofthewell-knownpainter，AbbotH。 Thayer。 WedonothearofMissLangdonagaininthelettersofthattime，butitwasnotbecauseshewasabsentfromhisthoughts。HehadfirstseenherwithherfatherandbrotherattheoldSt。NicholasHotel，onlowerBroadway，where，soonafterthearrivaloftheQuakerCityinNewYork，hehadbeeninvitedtodine。Longafterwardhesaid：“Itisfortyyearsago；fromthatdaytothisshehasneverbeenoutofmymind。” FromhisnextletterwelearnofthelecturewhichapparentlywasdeliveredinWashington。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis： WASH。Jan。9，1868。 MYDEARMOTHERANDSISTER，——Thatinfernallectureisover，thankHeaven！ Itcamenearbeingavillainousfailure。Itwasnotadvertisedatall。 Themanagerwastakensickyesterday，andthemanwhowassenttotellme，nevergottometillafternoontoday。Therewasthedickenstopay。 Itwastoolatetodoanything——toolatetostopthelecture。Iscaredupadoor-keeper，andwasreadyatthepropertime，andbypuregoodluckatolerablygoodhouseassembledandIwassaved！IhardlyknewwhatI wasgoingtotalkabout，butitwentoffinsplendidstyle。IwastohavepreachedagainSaturdaynight，butIwon”t——Ican”tgetalongwithoutamanager。 IhavebeeninNewYorkeversinceChristmas，youknow，andnowIshallhavetoworklikesintocatchupmycorrespondence。 AndIhavegottogetupthatbook，too。CutmylettersoutoftheAlta”sandsendthemtomeinanenvelop。Some，here，thatarenotmailedyet，Ishallhavetocopy，Isuppose。 Ihavegotathousandthingstodo，andamnotdoinganyofthem。Ifeelperfectlysavage。 GoodbyeYrsaffSAM。 Onthewhole，mattersweregoingwellwithhim。Hisnextletterisfullofhissuccess——overflowingwiththeboyishradiancewhichheneverquiteoutgrew。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis： HARTFORD，CONN。Jan。24-68。 DEARMOTHERANDSISTER，——Thisisagoodweekforme。IstoppedintheHeraldofficeasIcamethroughNewYork，toseetheboysonthestaff，andyoungJamesGordonBennettaskedmetowritetwiceaweek，impersonally，fortheHerald，andsaidifIwouldImighthavefullswing，and(write)aboutanybodyandeverybodyIwantedto。IsaidI musthavetheveryfullestpossibleswing，andhesaid“allright。” Isaid“It”sacontract”andthatsettledthatmatter。 I”llmakeitapointtowriteoneletteraweek，any-how。 Butthebestthingthathashappenedwashere。ThisgreatAmericanPublishingCompanykeptontryingtobargainwithmeforabooktillI thoughtIwouldcutthemattershortbycomingupforatalk。ImetRev。 HenryWardBeecherinBrooklyn，andwithhisusualwhole-souledwayofdroppinghisownworktogiveotherpeoplealiftwhenhegetsachance，hesaid，“Now，here，youareoneofthetalentedmenoftheage——nobodyisgoingtodenythat——butinmattersofbusiness，Idon”tsupposeyouknowmorethanenoughtocameinwhenitrains。I”lltellyouwhattodo，andhowtodoit。”Andhedid。 AndIlistenedwell，andthencameuphereandmadeasplendidcontractforaQuakerCitybookof5or600largepages，withillustrations，themanuscripttobeplacedinthepublishers”handsbythemiddleofJuly。 Mypercentageistobeafifthmorethantheyhaveeverpaidanyauthor，exceptHoraceGreeley。Beecherwillbesurprised，Iguess，whenhehearsthis。 ButIhadmymindmadeuptoonething——Iwasn”tgoingtotouchabookunlesstherewasmoneyinit，andagooddealofit。Itoldthemso。 Ihadthemisfortuneto“bustout“oneauthorofstanding。Theyhadhismanuscript，withtheunderstandingthattheywouldpublishhisbookiftheycouldnotgetabookfromme，(theyonlypublishtwobooksatatime，andsomybookandRichardson”sLifeofGrantwillfillthebillfornextfallandwinter)——sothatmanuscriptwassentbacktoitsauthortoday。 Thesepublishersgetoffthemosttremendouseditionsoftheirbooksyoucanimagine。IshallwritetotheEnterpriseandAltaeveryweek，asusual，Iguess，andtotheHeraldtwiceaweek——occasionallytotheTribuneandtheMagazines(IhaveastupidarticleintheGalaxy，justissued)butIamnotgoingtowritetothis，thatandtheotherpaperanymore。 TheChicagoTribunewantsletters，butIhopeandprayIhavechargedthemsomuchthattheywillnotclosethecontract。Iamgraduallygettingoutofdebt，butthesetripstoNewYorkdocostlikesin。 IhopeyouhavecutoutandforwardedmyprintedletterstoWashington——pleasecontinuetodosoastheyarrive。 Ihavehadatip-toptime，here，forafewdays(guestofMr。Jno。 Hooker”sfamily——Beecher”srelatives-inageneralwayofMr。Bliss，also，whoisheadofthepublishingfirm。)Puritansaremightystraight-lacedandtheywon”tletmesmokeintheparlor，buttheAlmightydon”tmakeanybetterpeople。 Lovetoall-good-bye。IshallbeinNewYork3days——thengoontotheCapital。 Yrsaffly，especiallyMa。，YrSAM。 IhavetomakeaspeechattheannualHeralddinneronthe6thofMay。 Noformalcontractforthebookhadbeenmadewhenthisletterwaswritten。AverbalagreementbetweenBlissandClemenshadbeenreached，toberatifiedbyanexchangeoflettersinthenearfuture。Blisshadmadetwopropositions，viz。，tenthousanddollars，cashinhand，ora5-per-cent。royaltyonthesellingpriceofthebook。ThecashsumofferedlookedverylargetoMarkTwain，andhewassorelytemptedtoacceptit。Hehadfaith，however，inthebook，andinBliss”sabilitytosellit。Heagreed，therefore，totheroyaltyproposition；“ThebestbusinessjudgmentIeverdisplayed“heoftendeclaredinafteryears。Fivepercent。 royaltysoundsrathersmallinthesedaysofmoreliberalcontracts。 ButtheAmericanPublishingCompanysolditsbooksonlybysubscription，andtheagents”commissionsanddeliveryexpensesateheavilyintotheprofits。ClemenswasprobablycorrectinsayingthathispercentagewaslargerthanhadbeenpaidtoanypreviousauthorexceptHoraceGreeley。TheJohnHookermentionedwasthehusbandofHenryWardBeecher”ssister，Isabel。ItwaseasytounderstandtheBeecherfamily”srobustappreciationofMarkTwain。 FromtheofficeofDanSlote，hisroom-mateoftheQuakerCity—— “Dan“oftheInnocents——ClemenswrotehisletterthatclosedtheagreementwithBliss。 ToElishaBliss，Jr。，inHartford： OfficeofSLOTE&WOODMAN，BlankBookManufacturers，Nos。119-121WilliamSt。 NEWYORK，January27，1868。 Mr。E。Bliss，Jr。 Sec”yAmericanPublishingCo。 HartfordConn。 DEARSIR，YourfavorofJan。25thisreceived，andinreply，IwillsaythatIaccedetoyourseveralpropositions，viz：ThatIfurnishtotheAmericanPublishingCompany，throughyou，withMSSsufficientforavolumeof500to600pages，thesubjecttobetheQuakerCity，thevoyage，descriptionofplaces，&c。，andalsoembodyingthesubstanceoftheletterswrittenbymeduringthattrip，saidMSStobereadyaboutthefirstofAugust，next，ItogivealltheusualandnecessaryattentioninpreparingsaidMSSforthepress，andinpreparationofillustrations，incorrectionofproofs——nousetobemadebymeofthematerialforthisworkinanywaywhichwillconflictwithitsinterest——thebooktobesoldbytheAmericanPublishingCo。，bysubscription—— andforsaidMSandlaboronmypartsaidCompanytopaymeacopyrightof5percent，uponthesubscriptionpriceofthebookforallcopiessold。 Asfurtherproposedbyyou，thisunderstanding，hereinsetforthshallbeconsideredabindingcontractuponallpartiesconcerned，allminordetailstobearrangedbetweenushereafter。 Verytrulyyours，SAM。L。CLEMENS。 (PrivateandGeneral。) IwastohavegonetoWashingtontonight，buthaveheldoveraday，toattendadinnergivenbyalotofnewspaperEditorsandliteraryscalliwags，attheWestminsterHotel。Shallgodownto-morrow，ifI survivethebanquet。 YrstrulySAM。CLEMENS。 MarkTwain，inWashington，wasinlineforpoliticalpreferment：HiswideacquaintanceonthePacificslope，hisnewfameandgrowingpopularity，hispowerfulanddreadedpen，allgavehimspecialdistinctionatthecapital。Fromtimetotimetheofferofoneofficeoranothertemptedhim，buthewisely，orluckily，resisted。 Inhislettershomearepresentedsomeofhisproblems。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis： 224F。STREETWASHINGTONFeb。6，1868。 MYDEARMOTHERANDSISTER，——FortwomonthstherehavebeensomefiftyapplicationsbeforethegovernmentforthepostmastershipofSanFrancisco，whichistheheaviestconcentrationofpoliticalpoweronthecoastandconsequentlyisapostwhichismuchcoveted。，WhenIfoundthatapersonalfriendofmine，theChiefEditoroftheAltawasanapplicantIsaidIdidn”twantit——Iwouldnottake$10，000ayearoutofafriend”spocket。 Thetwomonthshavepassed，Ihearddaybeforeyesterdaythatanewandalmostunknowncandidatehadsuddenlyturnedupontheinsidetrack，andwastobeappointedatonce。Ididn”tlikethat，andwentafterhiscaseinafinepassion。IhuntedupallourSenatorsandrepresentativesandfoundthathisnamewasactuallytocomefromthePresidentearlyinthemorning。 ThenJudgeFieldsaidifIwantedtheplacehecouldpledgemethePresident”sappointment——andSenatorConnesssaidhewouldguaranteemetheSenate”sconfirmation。Itwasagreattemptation，butitwouldrenderitimpossibletofillmybookcontract，andIhadtodroptheidea。 IhavetospendAugustandSeptemberinHartfordwhichisn”tSanFrancisco。Mr。ConnessoffersmeanychoiceoutoffiveinfluentialCaliforniaoffices。Now，somedayorotherIshallwantanofficeandthen，justmyluck，Ican”tgetit，Isuppose。 Theywanttosendmeabroad，asaConsuloraMinister。IsaidIdidn”twantanyofthepie。GodknowsIammeanenoughandlazyenough，now，withoutbeingaforeignconsul。 SometimeinthecourseofthepresentcenturyIthinktheywillcreateaCommissionerofPatents，andthenIhopetogetaberthforOrion。 Ipublished6or7lettersintheTribunewhileIwasgone，nowIcannotgetthem。IsupposeImusthavethemcopied。 LovetoallSAM。 OrionClemenswasoncemoreacandidateforoffice：NevadahadbecomeaState；withregularlyelectedofficials，andOrionhadsomehowmissedbeingchosen。Hisdayofauthorityhadpassed，andthelawhavingfailedtosupporthim，hewasagainbackathisoldoccupation，settingtypeinSt。Louis。Hewas，asever，fullofdreamsandinventionsthatwouldsomedayleadtofortune。WiththegiftoftheSellersimagination，inheritedbyallthefamily，helackedthedrivingpowerwhichmeansachievement。Moreandmoreastheyearswentbyhewouldleanuponhisbrotherformoralandphysicalsupport。ThechancesforhiminWashingtondonotappeartohavebeenbright。ThepoliticalsituationunderAndrewJohnsonwasnotahappyone。 ToOrionClemens，inSt。Louis： 224F。STREET，WASH。，Feb。21。(1868) MYDEARBRO。，——Iamgladyoudonotwanttheclerkship，forthatPatentOfficeisinsuchamuddlethattherewouldbenosecurityforthepermanencyofaplaceinit。Thesameremarkwillapplytoallofficeshere，now，andnodoubtwill，tillthecloseofthepresentadministration。 Anymanwhoholdsaplacehere，now，standspreparedatalltimestovacateit。Youaredoing，now，exactlywhatIwantedyoutodoayearago。 Wechasephantomshalfthedaysofourlives。 Itiswellifwelearnwisdomeventhen，andsavetheotherhalf。 Iaminforit。ImustgoonchasingthemuntilImarry——thenIamdonewithliteratureandallotherbosh，——thatis，literaturewherewithtopleasethegeneralpublic。 Ishallwritetopleasemyself，then。Ihopeyouwillsettypetillyoucompletethatinvention，forsurelygovernmentpapmustbenauseatingfoodforaman——amanwhomGodhasenabledtosawwoodandbeindependent。Itreallyseemedtomeafallingfromgrace，theideaofgoingbacktoSanFrancisconothingbetterthanamerepostmaster，albeitthepublicwouldhavethoughtIcamewithgildedhonors，andingreatglory。 Ionlyretaincorrespondenceenough，now，tomakealivingformyself，andhavediscardedallelse，sothatImayhavetimetospareforthebook。Dratthething，Iwishitweredone，orthatIhadnootherwritingtodo。 Thisistheplacetogetapooropinionofeverybodyin。Thereisn”tonemaninWashington，inciviloffice，whohasthebrainsofAnsonBurlingame——andIsupposeifChinahadnotseizedandsavedhisgreattalentstotheworld，thisgovernmentwouldhavediscardedhimwhenhistimewasup。 TherearemorepitifulintellectsinthisCongress！Oh，geeminy！TherearefewofthemthatIfindpleasantenoughcompanytovisit。 IammostinfernallytiredofWash。andits“attractions。”Tobebusyisaman”sonlyhappiness——andIam——otherwiseIshoulddieYrs。affSAM。 ThesecretarialpositionwithSenatorStewartwasshort-lived。OnecannotimagineMarkTwainasanybody”ssecretary，anddoubtlesstherewaslittletobegainedoneithersidebythearrangement。 Theypartedwithoutfriction，thoughinlateryears，whenStewarthadbecomeoldandirascible，heusedtorecountalistofgrievancesanddeclarethathehadbeenobligedtothreatenviolenceinordertobringMarktoterms；butthiswasbecausetheauthorofRoughingIthadinthatbooktakenlibertieswiththeSenator，totheextentofananecdoteandportraitwhich，thoughcertainlyharmlessenough，hadforsomereasongivendeepoffense。 MarkTwainreallyhadnotimeforsecretarywork。ForonethinghewasassociatedwithJohnSwintoninsupplyingaWashingtonlettertoalistofnewspapers，andthenhewasbusycollectinghisQuakerCityletters，andpreparingthecopyforhisbook。Mattersweregoingwellenough，whentroubledevelopedfromanunexpectedquarter。TheAlta-Californiahadcopyrightedthelettersandproposedtoissuetheminbookform。Therehadbeennocontractwhichwouldpreventthis，andthecorrespondencewhichClemensundertookwiththeAltamanagementledtonothing。Heknewthathehadpowerfulfriendsamongtheowners，ifhecouldreachthempersonally，andhepresentlyconcludedtoreturntoSanFrancisco，makewhatarrangementhecould，andfinishhisbookthere。Itwashisfashiontobeprompt；inhisnextletterwefindhimalreadyontheway。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： ATSEA，Sunday，March15，Lat。25。(1868) DEARFOLKS，——Ihavenothingtowrite，exceptthatIamwell——thattheweatherisfearfullyhot-thattheHenryChaunceyisamagnificentship—— thatwehavetwelvehundred，passengersonboard-thatIhavetwostaterooms，andsoamnotcrowded——thatIhavemanypleasantfriendshere，andthepeoplearenotsostupidasontheQuakerCity——thatwehadDivineServiceinthemainsaloonat10。30thismorning——thatweexpecttomeettheupwardboundvesselinLatitude23，andthisiswhyIamwritingnow。 WeshallreachAspinwallThursdaymorningat6o”clock，andSanFranciscolessthantwoweekslater。Iworryagreatdealaboutbeingobligedtogowithoutseeingyouall，butitcouldnotbehelped。 DanSlote，mysplendidroom-mateintheQuakerCityandthenoblestmanonearth，willcalltoseeyouwithinamonth。Makehimdinewithyouandspendtheevening。Hishouseismyhomealwaysin。NewYork。 Yrsaffy，SAM。 TheSanFranciscotripprovedsuccessful。OnceonthegroundClemenshadlittledifficultyinconvincingtheAltapublishersthattheyhadreceivedfullvalueinthenewspaperuseoftheletters，andthatthebookrightsremainedwiththeauthor。AlettertoBlissconveysthesituation。 ToElishaBliss，Jr。，inHartford： SANFRANCISCO，May5，”68。 E。BLISS，Jr。Esq。 Dr。SIR，——TheAltapeople，aftersomehesitation，havegivenmepermissiontousemyprintedletters，andhaveceasedtothinkofpublishingthemthemselvesinbookform。Iamsteadilyatwork，andshallstartEastwiththecompletedManuscript，aboutthemiddleofJune。 Ilecturedhere，onthetrip，theothernight-oversixteenhundreddollarsingoldinthehouse——everyseattakenandpaidforbeforenight。 Yrstruly，MARKTWAIN。 ButhedidnotsailinJune。Hisfriendspersuadedhimtocoverhislecturecircuitoftwoyearsbefore，tellingthestoryofhistravels。Thishedidwithconsiderableprofit，beingeverywherereceivedwithgreathonors。HeendedthistourwithasecondlectureinSanFrancisco，announcedinadrollandcharacteristicfashionwhichdelightedhisPacificadmirers，andinsuredhimacrowdedhouse——[SeeMarkTwain：ABiography，chapxlvi，andAppendixH。] HisagreementhadbeentodeliverhisMS。aboutAugust1st。 ReturningbytheChauncey，July28th，hewastwodayslaterinHartford，andhadplacidthecopyforthenewbookinBliss”shands。 Itwasbynomeansacompilationofhisnewspaperletters。Hisliteraryvisionwassteadilybroadening。Allofthelettershadbeenradicallyedited，somehadbeenrewritten，someentirelyeliminated。Heprobablythoughtverywellofthebook，anopinionsharedbyBliss，butitisunlikelythateitherofthemrealizedthatitwastobecomeapermanentclassic，andthebestsellingbookoftravelforatleastfiftyyears。 IX。 LETTERS1868-70。COURTSHIP，AND“THEINNOCENTSABROAD“ ThestoryofMarkTwain”scourtshiphasbeenfullytoldinthecompleterstoryofhislife；itneedonlybebrieflysketchedhereasasettingforthelettersofthisperiod。InhisletterofJanuary8thwenotethatheexpectstogotoElmiraforafewdaysassoonashehastime。 Buthedidnothavetime，orperhapsdidnotreceiveapressinginvitationuntilhehadreturnedwithhisMS。fromCalifornia。 Then，throughyoungCharlesLangdon，hisQuakerCityshipmate，hewasinvitedtoElmira。Theinvitationwasgivenforaweek，butthroughasubterfuge——unpremeditated，andcertainlyfairenoughinamatteroflove-hewasenabledtoconsiderablyprolonghisvisit。 Bytheendofhisstayhehadbecomereally“likeoneofthefamily，“thoughcertainlynotyetacceptedassuch。Thefragmentaryletterthatfollowsreflectssomethingofhispleasantsituation。 TheMrs。Fairbanksmentionedinthisletterhadbeensomethingmorethana“shipmother“toMarkTwain。Shewasawomanoffineliterarytaste，andQuakerCitycorrespondentforherhusband”spaper，theClevelandHerald。ShehadgivenMarkTwainsoundadviceastohisletters，whichhehadusuallyreadtoher，andhadinnosmalldegreemodifiedhisearlynaturaltendencytoexaggerationandoutlandishhumor。Heowedhermuch，andneverfailedtopayhertribute。 PartofalettertoMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： ELMIRA，N。Y。Aug。26，1868。 DEARFOLKS，——YouseeIamprogressing——thoughslowly。Ishallbehereaweekyetmaybetwo——forCharlieLangdoncannotgetawayuntilhisfather”schiefbusinessmanreturnsfromajourney——andavisittoMrs。 Fairbanks，atCleveland，wouldlosehalfitspleasureifCharliewerenotalong。MoultonofSt。Louisoughttobetheretoo。WethreewereMrs。 F”s“cubs，“intheQuakerCity。ShetookgoodcarethatwewereatchurchregularlyonSundays；atthe8-bellsprayermeetingeverynight； andshekeptourbuttonssewedonandourclothinginorder——andinawordwasasbusyandconsiderate，andaswatchfuloverherfamilyofuncouthandunrulycubs，andaspatientandaslong-suffering，withal，asanaturalmother。Soweexpect…… Aug。25th。 Didn”tfinishyesterday。Somethingcalledmeaway。Iammostcomfortablysituatedhere。ThisisthepleasantestfamilyIeverknew。 Ionlyhaveonetrouble，andthatistheygivemetoomuchthoughtandtoomuchtimeandinventiontotheobjectofmakingmyvisitpassdelightfully。Itneeds—— JusthowandwhenhelefttheLangdonhomethelettersdonotrecord。EarlythatfallhebeganalectureengagementwithJamesRedpath，proprietoroftheBostonLyceumBureau，andhisengagementswereoftenwithinreachofElmira。HehadastandinginvitationnowtotheLangdonhome，andtheendoftheweekoftenfoundhimthere。 YetwhenatlastheproposedforthehandofLivyLangdontheacceptancewasbynomeansprompt。HewasafavoriteintheLangdonhousehold，buthissuitabilityasahusbandforthefrailandgentledaughterwasquestioned。 However，hewascarryingeverything，justthen，bystorm。Thelargesthouseseverywherewerecrowdedtohearhim。Papersspokeofhimasthecomingmanoftheage，peoplecametotheirdoorstoseehimpass。Thereisbutoneletterofthisperiod，butitgivesusthepicture。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： CLEVELAND，Nov。20，1868。 DEARFOLKS，——IplayedagainsttheEasternfavorite，FannyKemble，inPittsburgh，lastnight。Shehad200inherhouse，andIhadupwardsof1，500。Alltheseatsweresold(inadrivingrainstorm，3daysago，) asreservedseatsat25centsextra，eventhoseinthesecondandthirdtiers——andwhenthelastseatwasgonetheboxofficehadnotbeenopenmorethan2hours。WhenIreachedthetheatretheywereturningpeopleawayandthehousewascrammed，150or200stoodup，alltheevening。 IgotoElmiratonight。Iamsimplylecturingforsocieties，at$100apop。 YrsSAM。 Itwouldbedifficultforanyfamilytorefuserelationshipwithonewhosestarwassoclearlyascending，especiallywheneveryinclinationwasinhisfavor，andtheyoungladyherselfencouragedhissuit。Aprovisionalengagementwaspresentlymade，butitwasnotfinallyratifieduntilFebruaryofthefollowingyear。Theninaletterfromoneofhislecturepointshetellshispeoplesomethingofhishappiness。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。Louis： LOCKPORT，N。Y。Feb。27，1868。 DEARFOLKS，——Ienclose$20forMa。IthoughtIwasgettingaheadofherlittleassessmentsof$35amonth，butfindIamfallingbehindwithherinstead，andhavelethergowithoutmoney。Well，Ididnotmeantodoit。Butyouseewhenpeoplehavebeengettingreadyformonthsinaquietwaytogetmarried，theyareboundtogrowstingy，andgotosavingupmoneyagainstthatawfuldaywhenitissuretobeneeded。IamparticularlyanxioustoplacemyselfinapositionwhereIcancarryonmymarriedlifeingoodshapeonmyownhook，becauseIhavepaddledmyowncanoesolongthatIcouldnotbesatisfiednowtoletanybodyhelpme——andmyproposedfather-in-lawisnaturallysoliberalthatitwouldbejustlikehimtowanttogiveusastartinlife。ButIdon”twantitthatway。Icanstartmyself。Idon”twantanyhelp。Icanrunthisinstitutionwithoutanyoutsideassistance，andIshallhaveawifewhowillstandbymelikeasoldierthroughthickandthin，andnevercomplain。Sheisonlyalittlebody，butshehasn”therpeerinChristendom。Igaveheronlyaplaingoldengagementring，whenfashionimperativelydemandsatwo-hundreddollardiamondone，andtoldheritwastypicalofherfuturelot——namely，thatshewouldhavetoflourishonsubstantialsratherthanluxuries。(ButyouseeIknowthegirl——shedon”tcareanythingaboutluxuries。)Sheisasplendidgirl。Shespendsnomoneybutherusualyear”sallowance，andshespendsnearlyeverycentofthatonotherpeople。Shewillbeagoodsensiblelittlewife，withoutanyairsabouther。Idon”tmakeintercessionforherbeforehandandaskyoutoloveher，forthereisn”tanyuseinthat——youcouldn”thelpitifyouweretotry。 Iwarnyouthatwhoevercomeswithinthefatalinfluenceofherbeautifulnatureisherwillingslaveforevermore。Itakemyaffidavitonthatstatement。Herfatherandmotherandbrotherembraceandpetherconstantly，preciselyasifshewereasweetheart，insteadofabloodrelation。Shehasunlimitedpoweroverherfather，andyetsheneverusesitexcepttomakehimhelppeoplewhostandinneedofhelp…… ButifIgetfairlystartedonthesubjectofmybride，Inevershallgetthrough——andsoIwillquitrighthere。IwenttoElmiraalittleoveraweekago，andstaidfourdaysandthenhadtogotoNewYorkonbusiness…… NofurtherlettershavebeenpreserveduntilJune，whenheisinElmiraandwithhisfianceereadingfinalproofsonthenewbook。 Theywerehavinganidyllicgoodtime，ofcourse，butitwasausefultime，too，forOliviaLangdonhadakeenandrefinedliteraryinstinct，andtheInnocentsAbroad，aswellasMarkTwain”sotherbooks，arebetterto-dayforherinfluence。 IthasbeenstatedthatMarkTwainlovedthelectureplatform，butfromhislettersweseethatevenatthisearlydate，whenhewasattheheightofhisfirstgreatvogueasapublicentertainer，hehadnoloveforplatformlife。Undoubtedlyherejoicedinthebriefperiodswhenhewasactuallybeforehisaudienceandcouldplayuponitwithhismastertouch，butthedrearyintermissionsoftravelandbrokensleepweretooheavyapricetopay。 ToMrs。JaneClemensandfamily，inSt。LouisELMIRA，June4。(1868) DEARFOLKS，——Livysendsyouherloveandlovinggoodwishes，andIsendyoumine。Thelast3chaptersofthebookcametonight——weshallreaditinthemorningandthenthankgoodness，wearedone。 Intwelvemonths(orratherIbelieveitisfourteen，)Ihaveearnedjusteightydollarsbymypen——twolittlemagazinesquibsandonenewspaperletter——altogethertheidlest，laziest14monthsIeverspentinmylife。 Andinthattimemyabsoluteandnecessaryexpenseshavebeenscorchinglyheavy——forIhavenowlessthanthreethousandsixhundreddollarsinbankoutoftheeightorninethousandIhavemadeduringthosemonths，lecturing。Myexpensesweresomethingfrightfulduringthewinter。 Ifeelashamedofmyidleness，andyetIhavehadreallynoinclinationtodoanythingbutcourtLivy。Ihaven”tanyotherinclinationyet。 Ihavedeterminednottoworkashardtraveling，anymore，asIdidlastwinter，andsoIhaveresolvednottolectureoutsideofthe6NewEnglandStatesnextwinter。MyWesterncoursewouldeasilyamountto$10，000，butIwouldrathermake2or3thousandinNewEnglandthansubmitagaintosomuchwearingtravel。(IhavepromisedtotalktennightsforathousanddollarsintheStateofNewYork，providedtheplacesareclosetogether。)ButafterallifIgetlocatedinanewspaperinawaytosuitme，inthemeantime，Idon”twanttolectureatallnextwinter，andprobablyshan”t。Imostcordiallyhatethelecturefield。 Andafterall，IshuddertothinkthatImaynevergetoutofit。 InallconversationswithGough，andAnnaDickinson，Nasby，OliverWendellHolmes，WendellPhillipsandtheotheroldstagers，Icouldnotobservethattheyeverexpectedorhopedtogetoutofthebusiness。 Idon”twanttogetweddedtoitastheyare。Livythinkswecanliveonaverymoderatesumandthatwe”llnotneedtolecture。Iknowverywellthatshecanliveonasmallallowance，butIamnotsosureaboutmyself。Ican”tscareherbyremindingherthatherfather”sfamilyexpensesarefortythousanddollarsayear，becausesheproducesthedocumentsatoncetoshowthatpreciouslittleofthisoutlayisonheraccount。ButImustnotcommencewritingaboutLivy，elseIshallneverstop。Thereisn”tsuchanotherlittlepieceofperfectionintheworldassheis。 Mytimeisbecomesoshort，now，thatIdoubtifIgettoCaliforniathissummer。IfImanagetobuyintoapaper，IthinkIwillvisityouawhileandnotgotoCal。atall。IshallknowsomethingaboutitaftermynexttriptoHartford。Weallgothereonthel0th——thewholefamily——toattendawedding，onthe17th。IamofferedaninterestinaClevelandpaperwhichwouldpayme$2，300to$2，500ayear，andasalaryaddedof$3，000。Thesalaryisfairenough，buttheinterestisnotlargeenough，andsoImustlookalittlefurther。TheClevelandfolkssaytheycanbeinducedtodoalittlebetterbyme，andurgemetocomeoutandtalkbusiness。Butitdon”tstrikeme——Ifeellittleornoinclinationtogo。 IbelieveIhaven”tanythingelsetowrite，anditisbed-time。IwanttowritetoOrion，butIkeepputtingitoff——Ikeepputtingeverythingoff。DayafterdayLivyandIaretogetheralldaylonganduntil10atnight，andthenIfeeldreadfullysleepy。IfOrionwillbearwithmeandforgivemeIwillsquareupwithhimyet。IwillevenlethimkissLivy。 MylovetoMollieandAnnieandSammieandall。Good-bye。 Affectionately，SAM。 Itiscurious，withhistendencytooptimismandgeneralexpansionoffutures，thathesaysnothingofthepossiblesalesofthenewbook，orofhisexpectationsinthatline。ItwasissuedinJuly，andbyJunethepublishersmusthavehadpromisingadvanceordersfromtheircanvassers；butapparentlyheincludesnoneofthesechickensinhisfinancialforecast。Evenwhenthebookhadbeenoutafullmonth，andwasbeingshippedattherateofseveralhundredsaday，hemakesnoreferencetoitinalettertohissister，otherthantoaskifshehasnotreceivedacopy。This，however，wasaMarkTwainpeculiarity。Writingwashistrade；thereturnsfromitseldomexcitedhim。Itwasonlywhenhedriftedintostrangeanduntriedfieldsthathebegantochaserainbows，toblowiridescentbubbles，andcountunminedgold。 ToMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis： BUFFALO，Aug。20，1869。 MYDEARSISTER，——Ihaveonlytimetowritealine。IgotyourletterthismorningandmailedittoLivy。ShewillbeexpectingmetonightandIamsorrytodisappointherso，butthenIcouldn”twellgetaway。I willgonextSaturday。 IhavebundledupLivy”spictureandwilltryandrecollecttomailittomorrow。ItisaporcelaintypeandIthinkyouwilllikeit。 IamsorryInevergottoSt。Louis，becauseImaybetoobusytogo，foralongtime。ButIhavebeenbusyallthetimeandSt。Louisisclearoutoftheway，andremotefromtheworldandallordinaryroutesoftravel。YoumustnotplacetoomuchweightuponthisideaofmovingthecapitalfromWashington。St。LouisisinsomerespectsabetterplaceforitthanWashington，thoughthereisn”tmorethanatoss-upbetweenthetwoafterall。Oneisdeadandtheotherinatrance。Washingtonisinthecentreofpopulationandbusiness，whileSt。Louisisfarremovedfromboth。Andyouknowthereisnogeographicalcentreanymore。Therailroadsandtelegraphhavedoneawaywithallthat。Itisnolongeramatterofsufficientimportancetobegravelyconsideredbythinkingmen。Theonlycentres，now，arenarroweddowntothoseofintelligence，capitalandpopulation。AsIsaidbeforeWashingtonisthenearesttothoseandyoudon”thavetopaddleacrossariveronferryboatsofapatternpopularinthedarkagestogettoit，norhavetoclamberupvilelypavedhillsinrascallyomnibusesalongwithaherdofallsortsofpeopleafteryouarethere。Secondly，theremovalofthecapitalisoneofthoseold，regular，reliabledodgesthatarethebread-andmeatofbackcountrycongressmen。Itisagitatedeveryyear。Italwayshasbeen，italwayswillbe；Itisnotnewinanyrespect。Thirdly。TheCapitolhascost$40，000，000alreadyandlacksagooddealofbeingfinished，yet。TherearesinglestonesintheTreasurybuilding(andagoodmanyofthem)thatcosttwenty-seventhousanddollarsapiece——andmillionswerespentintheconstructionofthatandthePatentOfficeandtheothergreatgovernmentbuildings。TomovetoSt。Louis，thecountrymustthrowawayahundredmillionsofcapitalinvestedinthosebuildings，andgorighttoworktospendahundredmillionsonnewbuildingsinSt。Louis。ShallweeverhaveaCongress，amajorityofwhosemembersarehopelesslyinsane？Probablynot。Butitispossible- unquestionablysuchathingispossible。OnlyIdon”tbelieveitwillhappeninourtime；andIamsatisfiedthecapitalwillnotbemoveduntilitdoeshappen。ButifSt。Louiswoulddonatethegroundandthebuildings，itwouldbeadifferentmatter。No，Pamela，Idon”tseeanygoodreasontobelieveyouorIwilleverseethecapitalmoved。 Ihavetwiceinstructedthepublisherstosendyouabook——itwasthefirstthingIdid——longbeforetheproofswerefinished。Writemeifitisnotyetdone。 Livysayswemusthaveyouallatourmarriage，andIsaywecan”t。 ItwillbeatChristmasorNewYears，whensuchatripacrossthecountrywouldbeequivalenttomurder&arson&everythingelse——Anditwouldcostfivehundreddollars——anamountofmoneyshedon”tknowthevalueofnow，butwillbeforeayearisgone。Shegrievesoverit，poorlittlerascal，butitcan”tbehelped。Shemustwaitawhile，tillIamfirmlyonmylegs，&thensheshallseeyou。Shesaysherfatherandmotherwillinviteyoujustassoonastheweddingdateisdefinitelyfixed，anyway——&shethinksthat”sboundtosettleit。Buttheice&snow，& thelonghardjourney，&theinjudiciousnessoflayingoutanymoneyexceptwhatweareobligedtopartwithwhilewearesomuchindebt，settlesthecasedifferently。Foritisadebt……Mr。Langdonisjustasgoodasboundfor$25，000forme，andhasalreadyadvancedhalfofitincash。IwroteandaskedwhetherIhadbettersendhimmynote，oradue-bill，orhowhewouldprefertohavetheindebtednessmadeofrecordandheansweredeveryothertopicintheletterpleasantlybutneverrepliedtothatatall。Still，Ishallgivemynoteintothehandsofhisbusinessagenthere，andpayhimtheinterestasitfallsdue。Wemust“goslow。”WearenotintheClevelandHerald。Weareahundredthousandtimesbetteroff，butthereisn”tsomuchmoneyinit。 (Remaindermissing。) Inspiteoftheimmediatesuccessofhisbook——asuccessthelikeofwhichhadscarcelybeenknowninAmerica-MarkTwainheldhimselftobe，notaliteraryman，butajournalist：Hehadnoplansforanotherbook；asanewspaperownerandeditorheexpected，withhismarriage，tosettledownanddevotetherestofhislifetojournalism。ThepaperwastheBuffaloExpress；hisinterestinitwasone-third——thepurchaseprice，twenty-fivethousanddollars，ofwhichhehadpaidapart，JervisLangdon，hisfuturefather-in-law，havingfurnishedcashandsecurityfortheremainder。HewasalreadyinpossessioninAugust，buthewasnotregularlyinBuffalothatautumn，forhehadagreedwithRedpathtodeliverhisQuakerCitylecture，andthetourwouldnotenduntilashorttimebeforehiswedding-day，February2，1870。 Ournextletterhardlybelongsinthiscollection；asitwasdoubtlesswrittenwithatleastthepossibilityofpublicationinview。Butitistooamusing，toocharacteristicofMarkTwain，tobeomitted。ItwassentinresponsetoaninvitationfromtheNewYorkSocietyofCaliforniaPioneerstoattendabanquetgiveninNewYorkCity，October13，1869，andwas，ofcourse，readtotheassembleddiners。 TotheNewYorkSocietyofCaliforniaPioneers，inNewYorkCity： ELMIRA，October11，1869。 GENTLEMEN，——CircumstancesrenderitoutofmypowertotakeadvantageoftheinvitationextendedtomethroughMr。Simonton，andbepresentatyourdinneratNewYork。Iregretthisverymuch，forthereareseveralamongyouwhomIwouldhavearighttojoinhandswithonthescoreofoldfriendship，andIsupposeIwouldhaveasublimegeneralrighttoshakehandswiththerestofyouonthescoreofkinshipinCaliforniaupsanddownsinsearchoffortune。 IfIweretotellsomeofmyexperience，youwouldrecognizeCaliforniabloodinme；Ifancytheold，oldstorywouldsoundfamiliar，nodoubt。 Ihavetheusualstockofreminiscences。Forinstance：IwenttoEsmeraldaearly。Ipurchasedlargelyinthe“WideWest，““Winnemucca，“ andotherfineclaims，andwasverywealthy。Ifaredsumptuouslyonbreadwhenflourwas$200abarrelandhadbeansfordinnereverySunday，whennonebutbloatedaristocratscouldaffordsuchgrandeur。ButI finishedbyfeedingbatteriesinaquartzmillat$15aweek，andwishingIwasabatterymyselfandhadsomebodytofeedme。MyclaimsinEsmeraldaarethereyet。IsupposeIcouldbepersuadedtosell。 IwenttoHumboldtDistrictwhenitwasnew；Ibecamelargelyinterestedinthe“AlbaNueva“andotherclaimswithgorgeousnames，andwasrichagain——inprospect。Iownedavastminingpropertythere。Iwouldnothavesoldoutforlessthan$400，000atthattime。ButIwillnow。 FinallyIwalkedhome——200milespartlyforexercise，andpartlybecausestagefarewasexpensive。NextIentereduponanaffluentcareerinVirginiaCity，andbyajudiciousinvestmentoflaborandthecapitaloffriends，becametheownerofaboutalltheworthlesswildcatminestherewereinthatpartofthecountry。Assessmentsdidthebusinessformethere。Therewereahundredandseventeenassessmentstoonedividend，andtheproportionofincometooutlaywasalittleagainstme。Myfinancialbarometerwentdownto32Fahrenheit，andthesubscriberwasfrozenout。 Itookupextensionsonthemainlead-extensionsthatreachedtoBritishAmerica，inonedirection，andtotheIsthmusofPanamaintheother——andIverilybelieveIwouldhavebeenarichmanifIhadeverfoundthoseinfernalextensions。ButIdidn”t。IrantunnelstillItappedtheArcticOcean，andIsunkshaftstillIbrokethroughtheroofofperdition；butthoseextensionsturnedupmissingeverytime。Iamwillingtosellallthatpropertyandthrowintheimprovements。 Perhapsyourememberthatcelebrated“NorthOphir？“Iboughtthatmine。 Itwasveryrichinpuresilver。Youcouldtakeitoutinlumpsaslargeasafilbert。Butwhenitwasdiscoveredthatthoselumpsweremeltedhalfdollars，andhardlymeltedatthat，apainfulcaseof“salting“wasapparent，andtheundersignedadjournedtothepoorhouseagain。 Ipaidassessmentson“HaleandNorcross“untiltheysoldmeout，andI hadtotakeinwashingforaliving——andthenextmonththatinfamousstockwentupto$7，000afoot。 IownmillionsandmillionsoffeetofaffluentsilverleadsinNevada—— infacttheentireundercrustofthatcountrynearly，andifCongresswouldmovethatStateoffmypropertysothatIcouldgetatit，Iwouldbewealthyyet。Butno，thereshesquats——andhereamI。Failinghealthpersuadesmetosell。Ifyouknowofanyonedesiringapermanentinvestment，Icanfurnishonethatwillhavethevirtueofbeingeternal。 IhavebeenthroughtheCaliforniamill，withallits“dips，spursandangles，variationsandsinuosities。”Ihaveworkedthereatallthedifferenttradesandprofessionsknowntothecatalogues。Ihavebeeneverything，fromanewspapereditordowntoacow-catcheronalocomotive，andIamencouragedtobelievethatiftherehadbeenafewmoreoccupationstoexperimenton，Imighthavemadeadazzlingsuccessatlast，andfoundoutwhatmysteriousdesignsProvidencehadincreatingme。 ButyouperceivethatalthoughIamnotaPioneer，IhavehadasufficientlyvariegatedtimeofittoenablemetotalkPioneerlikeanative，andfeellikeaForty-Niner。Therefore，Icordiallywelcomeyoutoyourold-rememberedhomesandyourlongdesertedfiresides，andclosethisscreedwiththesincerehopethatyourvisitherewillbeahappyone，andnotembitteredbythesorrowfulsurprisesthatabsenceandlapseofyearsarewonttoprepareforwanderers；surpriseswhichcomeintheformofoldfriendsmissedfromtheirplaces；silencewherefamiliarvoicesshouldbe；theyounggrownold；changeanddecayeverywhere；homeadelusionandadisappointment；strangersathearthstone；sorrowwheregladnesswas；tearsforlaughter；themelancholy-pompofdeathwherethegraceoflifehasbeen！ WithallgoodwishesfortheReturnedProdigals，andregretsthatI cannotpartakeofasmallpieceofthefattedcalf(rareandnogravy，) Iamyours，cordially，MARKTWAIN。 Inthenextletterwefindhiminthemidstofasortofconfusionofaffairs，which，inoneformoranother，wouldfollowhimthroughouttherestofhislife。Itwasthepriceofhissuccessandpopularity，combinedwithhisgeneralgiftforbeingconcernedwithanumberofthings，andanaturaltendencyforgettingintohotwater，whichbecomesmoreevidentastheyearsandletterspassinreview。OrionClemens，inhisattempttosavemoneyforthegovernment，hademployedmethodsandagentswhichtheofficialsatWashingtondidnotunderstand，andrefusedtorecognize。Insteadofwinningthecreditandcommendationhehadexpected，henowfoundhimselfpursuedbyclaimsofconsiderableproportions。The“land“ referredtoistheTennesseetract，theheritagewhichJohnClemenshadprovidedforhischildren。MarkTwainhadlongsincelostfaithinit，andwasnotonlywilling，buteagertorenouncehisrights。 “Nasby“is，ofcourse，DavidR。Locke，oftheToledoBlade，whosepopularityatthistimebothasalecturerandwriterwasverygreat。Clemenshadmethimhereandthereontheirplatformtour，andtheyhadbecomegoodfriends。Clemens，infact，hadonceproposedtoNasbyajointtriptothePacificcoast。 TheCaliforniaideahadbeengivenup，butbothMarkTwainandNasbyfoundengagementsenough，andsufficientprofiteastoftheMississippi。Bostonwasoftentheirheadquartersthatwinter(”69 and”70)，andtheyweremuchtogether。“JoshBillings，“anotherofRedpath”slecturers，waslikewiseoftentobefoundintheLyceumoffices。ThereisaphotographofMarkTwain，Nasby，andJoshBillingstogether。 Clemensalso，thatwinter，metWilliamDeanHowells，thenintheearlydaysofhisassociationwiththeAtlanticMonthly。Thetwomen，sowidelydifferent，becamefirmfriendsatsight，anditwastoHowellsintheyearstocomethatMarkTwainwouldwritemoreletters，andmorecharacteristicletters，thantoanyotherlivingman。Howellshadfavorablyreviewed”TheInnocentsAbroad”andafterthefirstmomentoftheirintroductionhadpassedClemenssaid：“WhenIreadthatreviewofyoursIfeltlikethewomanwhosaidthatshewassogladthatherbabyhadcomewhite。”ItwasnotthesortofthingthatHowellswouldhavesaid，butitwasthesortofthingthathecouldunderstandandappreciatefromMarkTwain。 IncompanywithNasbyClemens，thatseason，alsometOliverWendellHolmes。LaterhehadsentHolmesacopyofhisbookandreceivedapleasantlyappreciativereply。“Ialwayslike，“wroteHolmes，“tohearwhatoneofmyfellowcountrymen，whoisnotaHebrewscholar，orareaderofhiero-glyphics，butagood-humoredtravelerwithapairofsharp，twinklingYankee(inthebroadersense)eyesinhishead，hastosayaboutthethingsthatlearnedtravelersoftenmakeunintelligible，andsentimentalonesridiculousorabsurd……I hopeyourbooksellerswillsellahundredthousandcopiesofyourtravels。”Awishthatwasrealizedinduetime，thoughitisdoubtfulifDoctorHolmesoranyoneelseatthemomentbelievedthatabookofthatnatureandprice(itwas$3。50acopy)wouldeverreachsuchasale。 ToMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis： BOSTON，Nov。9，1869。 MYDEARSISTER，——Threeorfourlettersjustreceivedfromhome。MyfirstimpulsewastosendOrionacheckonmypublisherforthemoneyhewants，butasobersecondthoughtsuggestedthatifhehasnotdefraudedthegovernmentoutofmoney，whypay，simplybecausethegovernmentchoosestoconsiderhiminitsdebt？No：Rightisright。Theideadon”tsuitme。LethimwritetheTreasurythestateofthecase，andtellthemhehasnomoney。Iftheymakehissuretiespay，thenIwillmakethesuretieswhole，butIwon”tpayacentofanunjustclaim。Youtalkofdisgrace。Tomyminditwouldbejustasdisgracefultoallowone”sselftobebulliedintopayingthatwhichisunjust。 MathinksitishardthatOrion”sshareofthelandshouldbesweptawayjustasitisrightonthepoint(asitalwayshasbeen)ofbecomingvaluable。Letherresteasyonthatpoint。Thisletterishisampleauthoritytosellmyshareofthelandimmediatelyandappropriatetheproceeds——givingnoaccounttome，butrepayingtheamounttoMafirst，orincaseofherdeath，toyouoryourheirs，wheneverinthefutureheshallbeabletodoit。Now，Iwantnohesitationinthismatter。I renouncemyownershipfromthisdate，forthispurpose，provideditissoldjustassuddenlyashecansellit。 Inthenextplace——Mr。Langdonisold，andistryinghardtowithdrawfrombusinessandseekrepose。Iwillnotburdenhimwithapurchase—— butIwillaskhimtotakefullpossessionofacoaltractofthelandwithoutpayingacent，simplyconditioningthatheshallmineandthrowthecoalintomarketathisowncost，andpaytoyouandallofyouwhathethinksisafairportionoftheprofitsaccruing——youcandoasyoupleasewiththerestoftheland。Therefore，sendme(toElmira，) informationaboutthecoaldepositssoframedthathecancomprehendthematterandcanintelligentlyinstructanagenthowtofinditandgotowork。 TomorrownightIappearforthefirsttimebeforeaBostonaudience—— 4，000critics——andonthesuccessofthismatterdependsmyfuturesuccessinNewEngland。ButIamnotdistressed。Nasbyisinthesameboat。Tonightdecidesthefateofhisbrand-newlecture。Hehasjustleftmyroom——beenreadinghislecturetome——wasgreatlydepressed。I haveconvincedhimthathehaslittletofear。 IgetjustaboutfivehundredmoreapplicationstolecturethanIcanpossiblyfill——andintheWesttheysay“Chargeallyouplease，butcome。”Ishan”tgoWestatall。Istoplecturingthe22dofJanuary，sure。ButIshalltalkeverynightuptothattime。Theyfloodmewithhigh-pricedinvitationstowriteformagazinesandpapers，andpublishersbesiegemetowritebooks。Can”tdoanyofthesethings。 Iamtwenty-twothousanddollarsindebt，andshallearnthemoneyandpayitwithintwoyears——andthereforeIamnotspendinganymoneyexceptwhenitisnecessary。 Ihadmylifeinsuredfor$10，000yesterday(whateverbecameofMr。 Moffett”slifeinsurance？)“forthebenefitofmynaturalheirs“——thesamebeingmymother，forLivywouldn”tclaimit，youmaybesureofthat。Thishastaken$200outofmypocketwhichIwasgoingtosendtoMa。ButIwillsendhersome，soon。TellOriontokeepastiffupperlip——whentheworstcomestotheworstIwillcomeforward。MusttalkinProvidence，R。I。，tonight。Mustleavenow。IthankMollieandOrionandtherestforyourletters，butyouseehowIampushed——oughttohave6clerks。 Affectionately，SAM。 BytheendofJanuary，1870morethanthirtythousandcopiesoftheInnocentshadbeensold，andinalettertohispublishertheauthorexpressedhissatisfaction。 ToElishaBliss，inHartford： ELMIRA，Jan。28”70。 FRIENDBLISS，……Yes，Iamsatisfiedwiththewayyouarerunningthebook。Youarerunningitinstaving，tip-top，first-classstyle。I neverwanderintoanycornerofthecountrybutIfindthatanagenthasbeentherebeforeme，andmanyofthatcommunityhavereadthebook。AndonanaverageabouttenpeopleadaycomeandhuntmeuptothankmeandtellmeI”mabenefactor！Iguessthisisapartoftheprogrammewedidn”texpectinthefirstplace。 Ithinkyouarerushingthisbookinamannertobeproudof；andyouwillmakethefinestsuccessofitthathaseverbeenmadewithasubscriptionbook，Ibelieve。Whatwithadvertising，establishingagencies，&c。，youhavegotanenormouslotofmachineryunderwayandhardatworkinawonderfullyshortspaceoftime。Itiseasytosee，whenonetravelsaround，thatonemustbeendowedwithadealofgenuinegeneralshipinordertomaneuvreapublicationwhoselineofbattlestretchesfromendtoendofagreatcontinent，andwhoseforagersandskirmishersinvesteveryhamletandbesiegeeveryvillagehiddenawayinallthevastspacebetween。 I”llbackyouagainstanypublisherinAmerica，Bliss——orelsewhere。 YrsaseverCLEMENS。