April – In the Galaxy for this month—MARK TWAIN’S MEMORANDA, the last, included: “Valedictory and My First Literary Venture,” and “About a Remarkable Stranger” [Schmidt].

Sam’s article, “A Question Answered,” ran in the American Publisher for April, an in-house promotional pamphlet of the American Publishing Co. [Camfield, bibliog.].

The Aldine for April ran “An Autobiography.” As one of many authors solicited to contribute, Sam said he was born November 30, 1835, but could not provide further details “without compromising myself” [Tenney, MTJ, Spring 2004 p3].

The Aldine article, “An Autobiography” (p. 52) recently uncovered, is short enough to be included in its entirety here, along with an engraving by John C. Bruen of Sam’s 1870 photograph by Mathew Brady:

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

——————

MARK TWAIN

————

      I was born November 30th, 1835. I continue to live, just the same.

      *  *  *  *  * *  * *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  *  *

      Thus narrow, confined and trivial, is the history of a common human life!—that part of it, at least, which it is proper to thrust in the face of the public.  And thus little and insignificant, in print becomes this life of mine, which to me has always seemed so filled with vast personal events and tremendous consequences.

      I could have easily made it longer, but not without compromising myself

      Perhaps no apology for the brevity of this account of myself is necessary.

      And besides, why should I damage the rising prosperity of THE ALDINE ?

      Surely THE ALDINE has never done me any harm.