Submitted by scott on

November 21 Sunday – William Wright wrote from Virginia City, Nev. “Dear Mark, —We have had a terrible scorching here but will come out all right in a few months. The Ophir company will resume handling on in three or four days and a few days thereafter the Consolidated Virginia will begin blasting. The works of both companies are larger and better than before the fire.” He added, “Every day men say to me: ‘you wrote your book too soon. You should have had the fire in it’ ” [MTP].

In Cambridge, Mass., Howells wrote to Sam, sending proof sheets of the “Literary Nightmare” article, which Howells wanted to run in the January Atlantic.

“I finished reading Tom Sawyer a week ago, sitting up till one A.M., to get to the end, simply because it was impossible to leave off. It’s altogether the best boy’s story I ever read. It will be an immense success” [MTHL 1: 110].

Louise Rutherford wrote to from Union Springs, Ala. Sam

Sir: / I have written a book and can’t get it published. What, do you suppose, is the cause of my failure? It is a novel—the book I mean—and is sensationally perfect. … How did you manage to get your first work before the public? It is a “dark and bloody mystery” to me; and I would like you to explain. …

      Where are Dan and Jack? Are they married? If not, I will send them a valentine if you will tell me where and how to direct, and keep the secret. I don’t want to get up a flirtation. I am not sweet sixteen. I am practical twenty-six; but I like a little innocent fun; and a valentine from this far-a-way place would puzzle them. Moreover, I am sorry for Dan; he’s so awful ugly; and there is a bond of sympathy between Jack and I, on account of that turtle. I found him a fraud, too. Why didn’t you favor (?) the public with a likeness of yourself? My cousin’s baby cries sometimes, and I always make the nurse get Dan’s picture, and show her. It scares her into silence. I often wish I had yours.—

      Are you going to the Centennial? Then, come to see us. We are only forty miles from Montgomery. An amusing incident occurred while you were in the latter city; and as it relates to yourself, you might like to hear it; but my letter is already too long.

      I shall be glad to have you reply, if not too much trouble. I am quite considerate. I do not want to give any one trouble. / Respectfully / Louise Rutherford. / P.S. Direct in care W.C. Bower, or in care “Bower and Pitts.” [MTP]. Note: Rutherford (b. 1850?) refers to Dan and Jack often mentioned in IADan Slote, and Jack Van Nostrand. See ch 47 where Jack throws clods at a mud turtle for not singing. No doubt Clemens felt the use of Slote’s picture (engraved in IA) to quiet a baby, to be humorous. Clemens was never in Montgomery, so the lady must have confused him with someone else.

November 21December 6 Monday – Sam wrote a paragraph from Hartford to the Public for inclusion in a charity book for the Hebrew Charity Fair and Mt. Sinai Hospital held in New York’s Hippodrome, Dec. 6 to 22. The book was compiled and valued at two thousand dollars and given as a prize [MTL 6: 593-4].

Day By Day Acknowledgment

Mark Twain Day By Day was originally a print reference, meticulously created by David Fears, who has generously made this work available, via the Center for Mark Twain Studies, as a digital edition.   

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