August 30 Tuesday – How do rumors get started? Here’s one from the Brooklyn Eagle p.4 of this date:

“Dr. Clemens, a brother of ‘Mark Twain,’ is a practicing physician in Louisville.”

Thomas Swift, M.D.  wrote from Hartford to Clemens.

“HOGWASH”

     In a late number of the Galaxy you give an interesting specimen of this class of literature with an expressed desire for Some more.

     First let me give you my experience with that same article—After carefully reading it over twice, in silence, I tried it upon a somewhat romantic and sensitive young lady friend (of course, omitting your introductory remarks)—before I had reached the end of the twaddle her eyes were “bathed in tears”

     Woman like, she had got a long way ahead of the story—had identified herself with the poor sorrowing creature—so miserable with all her luxurious surroundings—had doubtless conjured up no end of Bluebeard or other troubles—(heaven knows what—I didn’t cross examine)—Here was a good, earnest, modest girl, with a fair share of common sense, as well as educational advantages—

     Now I wish to call your critical attention to Lippincott for August “The hungry heart”

     The animus of the whole thing you will find on the first page of the story—

     “Every woman in these days needs two husbands—one to fill her purse and one to fill her heart” (whatever that may be)

     As to J.W. De Forest—he may be a woman or she may be a man—things get terribly mixed up now-a-days—

     Any how, the principles instilled are those of that old hermaphrodite—The Atlantic Menstrual—Boston—

     J.W. De F. wants taking down a peg or two—bad—and you are the man “as can do it” / Yours very truly / Thomas Swift, M.D. [MTP].

Note: Sam’s June 1870 article in Galaxy quoted a reader’s letter he labeled a “miracle of pointless imbecility and bathos,” giving it “for competition as the sickliest specimen of sham sentimentality that exists.” Swift’s letter here answered the challenge by describing a magazine story by John William DeForest (1826-1906). DeForest wrote Clemens on July 31, 1874 proposing collaboration on a collection of sketches. Sam ignored the offer.