May 1 Friday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
Though it isn’t quite down to your level, I don’t wonder you like my literature—it’s nearly all about you. But you’d better take a brace, and try to get up as high as “Putnam Place.” Now you’re sick, I ‘ve a great mind to have it out with [you] about Jane Austen. If you say much more I’ll come out and read “Pride and Prejudice” to you.
Say, that was a mighty good thing of yours on the age of consent. Why is civilization such a carrion of falsehood?—That poor girl and her murdered baby; it made [me] sick to read about her; but one is so limp and helpless in the presence of the injustice which underlies society, and I am getting so old. I’m glad you’re still young.
—Mrs. Howells was born on the 1st of May, well, some years ago, and I called out to her today, when I happened to remember it, “Happy Birthday!” and she called back, “All right; and don’t you say another word about it” [MTHL 2: 769-70].
Note: Howells referred to Sam’s article in the May 2 Harper’s Weekly, “Why Not Abolish It?” Note 3 of the source: “In his article Mark Twain expressed indignation that no action had been taken against the seducer of a girl who had drowned her illegitimate baby and was to receive a life sentence, because she had reached ‘the age of consent.’ He maintained that the law should recognize no such age when self-respect and a family’s reputation were at stake, and by implication urged his readers to sign the petition then being circulated for the girl’s pardon.”