November 22 Friday – In Hartford, Sam again wrote Sylvester Baxter of the Boston Herald, who he wanted to come out with an early review of CY. He wrote he was telegraphing his publisher to verify they’d sent Baxter an unbound copy. He also confided he’d asked Howells to write and tell Baxter he had no objections to a notice coming out before his, in Harper’s. His last revelation is interesting — knowing that aspects of the book might be objectionable, he wrote:
Please don’t let on that there are any slurs at the Church or Protection in the book — I want to catch the reader unwarned, & modify his views if I can [MTP].
With the same joy and concerns he’d expressed to Baxter, Sam wrote to William Dean Howells of his telegram to Webster & Co., and asked if there were any objections to Baxter’s review preceding Howells’ “Study” column on CY. If Howells objected Sam promised to “keep perfectly still,” but if no objections would Howells please write Baxter a note and give him the green light. The news about Brazil excited him; his remarks reflect the political animal Sam Clemens was:
I want to print some extras from the Yankee that have in them this new breath of republics. It is not that I wish to advertise my book but that I want the book to speak now when there’s a listening audience, alert & curious to hear — & try to make that audience hear with profit [MTHL 2: 621].
Sam also telegraphed Webster & Co. to verify two unbound copies of CY had been sent to Baxter [Nov. 22 to Howells].
Sam also telegraphed Henry M. Stanley:
Hope you will give my firm Webster New York chance to publish your book before closing with any other American Firm. Mark Twain [MTP]
Note: In Darkest Africa was published in 1890 in England by Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington; and in the U.S. by Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Sam also sent a short note to Franklin G. Whitmore directing him to tell an unidentified man that a favorite of Sam’s “for public use” was “An Encounter with an Interviewer” in Stolen White Elephant [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Susan L. Crane, thanking her for apples, once he learned she’d sent them.
I have been eating them with immense relish, & thoughtlessly thanking God for them all the time, & it makes me feel ashamed of myself. You must forgive me Susie dear, & I won’t do so anymore. … Livy is losing diamonds every day, now — one in New York, another here last night. We are going to be short of diamonds pretty soon…Livy is feeling mighty bad [MTP].
John M. Wilson for West Point wrote again to firm up Sam’s arrival:
Your kind note is fast at hand and it will give us great pleasure to have you with us at the time you indicate and unless something occurs to prevent you from coming, we will look for and welcome you on Dec. 14th [Leon 76 & 239].
Andrew Chatto wrote that he’d received all proofs of CY. He also enclosed a clipping [MTLTP 255n].
Sylvester Baxter wrote to Sam: “I enjoyed your letter immensely and agree with it wholly. I believe that less than 50 years will see the end of the King business and that, indeed, 12 years more will see the whole gang cleaned out of Europe except Russia!” He supposed the advance sheets for CY were on the way — then his PS announced they’d just come. Sam wrote on the envelope, “Cant go the 19th,” though no mention of the date was made in Baxter’s letter [MTP].
Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam: “We have ‘reported’ sales up to date for 8,072 volumes [CY]. We have not heard from the Pacific Coast, nor from our St. Louis agent….We have about 3,000 subscriptions on the Conkling book reported….The ‘Century’ article is doing an immense amount of good….” And, “P.S. Your telegram received. Mr. Baxter’s sheets went day before yesterday…” [MTP].