November 14 Sunday – Annie E. Lucas wrote a fan letter from Queensland, Australia to ask Clemens for his autograph (Leod to George Oct. 25 enclosed) [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “From an Australian girl.”

Archibald Forbes (1838-1900), British war correspondent, wrote from Pembroke, Ontario, recalling their “voyage together from Ostend to Dover behind that great potentate the Shah of Persia.” He was on a lecture tour and wanted to see Sam again and gave his agent’s NY address [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “From the famous African War Correspondent. Archibald Forbes.” After his retirement Forbes published several books.

Martha G. Gray (Mrs. David Gray) wrote to ask Clemens if he would “look among” his papers and “find some short sketch which we can use in our journal,” one to be sold at their benefit for the Homeopathic Hospital. She related an enjoyable visit from Edward House and Koto [MTP].

November 14? Sunday – Sam wrote from Hartford to his sister, Pamela Moffett.

I have two stories, & by the verbal agreement they are both going into the same book; but Livy says they’re not, & by George she ought to know. She says they’re going into separate books, & that one of them is going to be elegantly gotten up, even if the elegance of it eats up the publisher’s profits, & mine too. I anticipate that publisher’s melancholy surprise when he calls here Tuesday [MTLE 5: 196].

Of the two stories, one was finished, the other half. The Prince and the Pauper was the finished tale; and of course Huck Finn was the other [MTB 696]. Although he was years away from completing his masterpiece, Sam wrote that there was “two or three months’ work on it yet.” The publisher who visited was James R. Osgood, the man who had helped Charles Dickens with his American tour of 1867 and briefly joined with Oscar Houghton to publish Howells’ The Lady of Aroostook. The two split, with Houghton forming Houghton, Mifflin & Co., while Osgood and his brother Edward Osgood established a new James R. Osgood & Co. [Powers, MT A Life 446].

Sam’s arrangement with Osgood was an unusual one between writer and publisher—Sam would pay costs of producing the book and receive all the profits less seven and one-half percent for Osgood. What’s more, Sam would retain copyright, something Bliss had never agreed to. Powers lists Sam’s 1881 expenses as including $10,000 for The Prince and the Pauper. Livy had some influence in making the final product “elegant” [MT A Life 448-9].