In this letter, published in the Hannibal Journal, “W. Epaminondas Adrastus Blab” announced his final appearance in that newspaper.
Glasscock's Island, in the Mississippi River across from the mouth of Bear Creek,
became “Jackson's Island” in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Textual Commentary
The first printing appeared in the Hannibal Journal for 23 September 1852 (p. 2). The only known copy of this printing, in MoHist, is
copy-text. Clemens may have typeset and proofread the sketch.
X
[begin page 84]
Blab's Jour
Mr. Editor:
I believe it is customary, nowadays, for a man, as soon as he gets his name up, to
take a “furrin” tour, for the benefit of his health; or, if his health is good, he
goes without any excuse at all. Now, I think my health was sufficiently injured by
last week's efforts, to justify me in starting on my tour; and, ere your hebdomadal
is published, I shall be on my way to another country—yes, Mr. Editor, I have retired
from public life to the shades of
Glasscock'sⒶemendationⒶtextual note Island!—and I shall gratify such of your readers as have never been so far from home,
with an account of this great island, and my voyage thither.
Ⓐ Glasscock's] Copy-text “Glascock's” is an error, probably caused by the division of
the word at the end of a line. The island was named for its owner, Stephen Glasscock
(see Return Ira Holcombe, History of Marion County, Missouri [St. Louis: E. F. Perkins, 1884], p. 940).
The first printing appeared in the Hannibal Journal for 23 September 1852 (p. 2). The only known copy of this printing, in MoHist, is copy-text. Clemens may have typeset and proofread the sketch.