October 12 Monday – For Sam’s speech at the Hartford Insurance banquet, see Oct. 15 entry. (Fatout gives this date [MT Speaking 89]; MTP’s Inventory Binder #1 states Fatout’s date in error).

Louise C. Moulton wrote from Pomfret, Conn.:

Dear Mr. Clemens—

I have asked my publishers to send you “Some Women’s Hearts,” in the hope that you may flatter me by sometime idling away a half hour over it. In this, I had an especial object. I wanted you to see the kind of stories I write, and then I wanted to beg a favor of you—this. Will you tell me whether you think it would be possible for me to get the publishers of “The Gilded Age” to undertake, on their usual terms, the publication of a collection of similar tales for me? I could make the collection as large as they pleased. I could include two or three stories as long as the first one in “Some Women’s Hearts,” and no end of shorter ones. It seems to me it might be a book agents could sell to advantage—but about that you could judge so much better than I.

The real truth is I want very much to make some money; and the returns of ordinary publishing are so slow.

If I could have the bliss of being published by Bliss, and making a fortune, don’t you see, how highly delighted I should be? After this last effort, never say I’m not a poet.

Will you forgive me for boring you with this letter of inquiry, for which my only excuse is an instinctive and unfaltering faith in your kindness?

How is that bonny baby whose picture I have—& how is her Mamma? I am, if you will allow me,

Very Cordially Yours—

   Louise Chandler Moulton [MTP].