March 24 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, thanking him for his complementary letter of Mar. 22. Howells’ letter and Sam’s response:

I have been feebly trying to give the Atlantic readers some notion of the charm and the solid delightfulness of your book [See May, 1880 entry]; and now I must tell you privately what a joy it has been to Mrs. Howells and me. Since I have read it, I feel sorry for I shall not be able to read it again for a week, and in what else shall I lose myself so wholly? Mrs. Howells declares it the wittiest book she has ever read, and I say there is sense enough in it for ten books. That is the idea which my review will try to fracture the average numbskull with. Well, you are a blessing. You ought to believe in God’s goodness, since he has bestowed upon the world such a delightful genius as yours to lighten its troubles.

Love from both of us to Mrs. Clemens. We wish we could come to see you, but we are many promises deep to the Warners, and our first visit must be to them. We shall hope for you here by mid-April. Yours ever W.D. Howells [MTHL 1: 293].

[Sam’s response:] My Dear Howells—

“Your & Mrs. Howell’s praises have been the greatest uplifting I ever had…a check for untold cash could not have made our hearts sing as your letter has done.”

Sam suggested the “debt” to the Warners was too old to collect; that the Howellses should visit them when they’re sick, in order to travel on and see the Clemens family [MTLE 5: 52].

Sam also sent Howells’ letter of Mar. 22 to Joe Twichell, asking him to return it [53].

C.P. Sullivan wrote from Line Creek S.C. sending his MS and asking for Sam’s help in the form of editing, etc. [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Man with a book.”