November 21 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam replied to Asa Don Dickinson, who wrote Nov. 19.
Dear Sir / I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn for adults exclusively, & it always distresses me when I find that boys & girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean; I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeasable bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that & ever draw a clean sweet breath again this side of the grave. Ask that young lady—she will tell you so.
Most honestly do I wish I could say a softening word or two in defence of Huck’s character, since you wish it, but really in my opinion it is no better than God’s (in the Ahab chapter & 97 others,) & those of Solomon, David, Satan, & the rest of the sacred brotherhood.
If there is an Unexpurgated in the Children’s Department, won’t you please help that young woman remove Huck & Tom from that questionable companionship? [MTP: Wilson Bulletin for Librarians, Nov. 1935]. Note: after his signature : “I shall not show your letter to any one— it is safe with me.”
Sam also replied per Lyon to Herbert Putnam (1861-1955), eighth Librarian of Congress (1899-1939) (incoming not extant). I shall be very glad indeed to partake of that luncheon and its spiritual seasoning.
I go to Washington Friday and shall reach the New Willard in the evening. I have asked Colonel Harvey of the N. A. Review to go with me and be my guest on this outing, and he has accepted. I did this because he is good company and is not expensive because he always pays all the bills himself. Harvey is arranging various engagements, and I will ask him to see that this one shall get a date [MTP].
Sam also replied to the Nov. 19 from James Ford Rhodes:
I have no recollection of that letter. It must have been a private letter, since, if it had been a public one it would not have been sent otherwhither (fresh word—you can use it if you want to but only week days) than in the two papers which you have mentioned, the Tribune & the Courant; if it was a private letter, there was only one person for it to go to—Howells. Howells is till at Kittery Point, but is expected here about this time. I am leaving for Washington for a week but when I get back I will ask him about this.
I was most glad to meet you, and I hope it will happen again & often. You seem to live next to my friends the Pearmains’ therefore you are very fortunately situated in this world. / Sincerely …[MTP: Cushman file].
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “3.30 Mr. Thomas of the Times” [MTP TS 35].
Lucia Cabaniss, Mary F. Long, and Edith A. MacDougal wrote from Chihuahua, Mexico to send birthday wishes Sam, including a long discussion of his many books [MTP].
Ella McMahon and Miss McMahon wrote on their calling card (“The Misses McMahon”) “Many happy returns” to Sam [MTP].
Charles E. Potts wrote from Troy, N.Y. on a long, narrow paper birthday wishes and a poem to Sam [MTP].
Dear Sir / I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn for adults exclusively, & it always distresses me when I find that boys & girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean; I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeasable bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that & ever draw a clean sweet breath again this side of the grave. Ask that young lady—she will tell you so.
Most honestly do I wish I could say a softening word or two in defence of Huck’s character, since you wish it, but really in my opinion it is no better than God’s (in the Ahab chapter & 97 others,) & those of Solomon, David, Satan, & the rest of the sacred brotherhood.
If there is an Unexpurgated in the Children’s Department, won’t you please help that young woman remove Huck & Tom from that questionable companionship? [MTP: Wilson Bulletin for Librarians, Nov. 1935]. Note: after his signature : “I shall not show your letter to any one— it is safe with me.”
Sam also replied per Lyon to Herbert Putnam (1861-1955), eighth Librarian of Congress (1899-1939) (incoming not extant). I shall be very glad indeed to partake of that luncheon and its spiritual seasoning.
I go to Washington Friday and shall reach the New Willard in the evening. I have asked Colonel Harvey of the N. A. Review to go with me and be my guest on this outing, and he has accepted. I did this because he is good company and is not expensive because he always pays all the bills himself. Harvey is arranging various engagements, and I will ask him to see that this one shall get a date [MTP].
Sam also replied to the Nov. 19 from James Ford Rhodes:
I have no recollection of that letter. It must have been a private letter, since, if it had been a public one it would not have been sent otherwhither (fresh word—you can use it if you want to but only week days) than in the two papers which you have mentioned, the Tribune & the Courant; if it was a private letter, there was only one person for it to go to—Howells. Howells is till at Kittery Point, but is expected here about this time. I am leaving for Washington for a week but when I get back I will ask him about this.
I was most glad to meet you, and I hope it will happen again & often. You seem to live next to my friends the Pearmains’ therefore you are very fortunately situated in this world. / Sincerely …[MTP: Cushman file].
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “3.30 Mr. Thomas of the Times” [MTP TS 35].
Lucia Cabaniss, Mary F. Long, and Edith A. MacDougal wrote from Chihuahua, Mexico to send birthday wishes Sam, including a long discussion of his many books [MTP].
Ella McMahon and Miss McMahon wrote on their calling card (“The Misses McMahon”) “Many happy returns” to Sam [MTP].
Charles E. Potts wrote from Troy, N.Y. on a long, narrow paper birthday wishes and a poem to Sam [MTP].
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