February 26 Friday – Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence: Sam finished his Feb. 25 to H.H. Rogers.
Feb. 26, 8 a.m. News comes that Mrs. Clemens slept a little while lying down.The first time for many weeks. / P.S.[enclosure:]
Mister Rodjers dear sir I will now tell you what it was which was this & probly in the Sunday-School— Teacher. Wen the first Walking Delegate (or maybe Second) step out on the Sea his foot slip from under, he cry out “Help me or I sink,” for he is being too cocky & need a lesson. Also wen that Schwab scheme is examine by the stockholders they detect a fault.
Now then, I will explain you the moral hid in the two histories—it is this, to-wit, thus: The Walking Delegate put too much trust in the water, the other put too much water in the Trust.
mister roggers dear sir i left a cain in that crockery jug in yore offis it has a sollid gold hed on it but looks like puter on accounts of wether and hard usidge and is wuth ninety fore dolers send me the mony if she is lost or took by yore son hairey or eny of those others which hangs around thair they probly took her before this time send it to jon t louis he will see i git it and goddlemighthty will bless you dear mister roggers so no more at preasant from yore true freind in jesus / archible askins / care jon t louis [MTHHR 557-9]. Note: the source: “The postscript is a further testimony to Clemens’s enduring admiration for William H. Baker’s prose” [n3]; see Nov. 21, 1901 for more on this semi-literate citizen of Fairhaven, Mass, who wrote several letters to H.H. Rogers.
Sam also replied to the Feb. 24 from Raffaele Simboli, editor for Il Nuova Antologia:
“I shall be glad to receive that copy of the Antologia and I thank you. I shall try to read—and fail, as I can’t read anything higher up than newsaper Italian. I have neglected the living languages and shall not learn the dead ones until I am dead and need them” [The Critic Vol. 44 (June 1904) p. 484].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam, sorry to hear of Livy’s relapse.
“We are getting out ‘A Dog’s Tale’ in attractive shape as a dollar book and look for good results.” Sam wrote on the env. “From Mr. Duneka/ Ans. Mar 11, 1904 / Reduction of Royalty on new cheap edition / P.S. changes title of You’re a damfool Mary” [MTP].