August 10 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Elmira to Joel Chandler Harris in Atlanta, who wrote Sam on Aug. 4 [MTLP 401].

MY DEAR MR. HARRIS,—You can argue yourself into the delusion that the principle of life is in the stories themselves & not in their setting; but you will save labor by stopping with that solitary convert, for he is the only intelligent one you will bag. In reality the stories are only alligator pears—one merely eats them for the sake of the salad-dressing. Uncle Remus is most deftly drawn, & is a lovable & delightful creation; he, & the little boy, & their relations with each other, are high & fine literature, & worthy to live, for their own sakes; & certainly the stories are not to be credited with them. But enough of this; I seem to be proving to the man that made the multiplication table that twice one are two.

Sam related his boyhood experience at Quarles Farm:

Old Uncle Dan’l, a slave of my uncle’s’ aged 60, used to tell us children yarns every night by the kitchen fire (no other light;) & the last yarn demanded, every night, was this one. By this time there was but a ghastly blaze or two flickering about the back-log. We would huddle close about the old man, & begin to shudder with the first familiar words; & under the spell of his impressive delivery we always fell a prey to that climax at the end when the rigid black shape in the twilight sprang at us with a shout.

When you come to glance at the tale you will recollect it—it is as common & familiar as the Tar Baby. Work up the atmosphere with your customary skill & it will “go” in print.

Lumbago seems to make a body garrulous—but you’ll forgive it. Truly yours S. L. CLEMENS [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Robert Green Ingersoll. A friend of Ingersoll’s named Stewart had sent Sam a volume of poetry earlier in the year for his evaluation. Sam responded to Ingersoll that he had no comment on the work, but that he was “well entertained” by Ingersoll’s theological article and exchange with Judge Black:

Further than to thank him for his courtesy in sending his book. I am not bold enough to express an opinion about it, for I never read poetry, & a criticism from me would be a thing which I should laugh at, myself …But I do read prose & am not perplexed for opinions concerning it; & you may imagine I have been well entertained by your theological article…& Judge Black’s ludicrous “reply” to it…Judge Black is not a fool; therefore it must amuse him to the marrow to see his fatuous nonsense & coarse bluster received with bland respect by the whole respectable world [MTP].