November 23 Saturday – William Dean Howells replied to Sam’s Nov. 21.

That Baker letter is indeed precious: he could use an old people’s home all by himself. The spelling, spirit and expression all go together. I wish Keats could have lived to hear of “a town of beauty and a joy forever.” But we must not expect everything.

The young wild-ass whose hoof prints I enclose left two of his books with me: one contains his love-letters, the other his poems, with his portait and his biography so that the public need not be kept waiting if it wants to know how he looks and who he is. Don’t return the letter.

Instead, read the “E. Chair” in the Dec. Harper. It will just suit you [MTHL 2: 734-5]. Note: see notes 1-3 for backstory on Howells’ references. William H. Baker [MTHHR 497n2]

Samuel H. Church wrote from Pittsburgh, Penn. to Sam complimenting him on his story, “The Death Disk” in Harper’s—“a sweet, tender, touching little story” [MTP].