24? April 1876 • Hartford, Conn. (Sales catalog: Kenneth W. Rendell, unknown date,
no. 262, item 24, UCCL 12477)
(SUPERSEDED)
“. . . I AM NOTHING BUT AN ACTOR—A MERE UNDERSTRAPPER
. . .
I MUST SIMPLY OBEY ORDERS & BE CIVIL OR I LOSE MY SITUATION.”
24. CLEMENS, Samuel L. Mark Twain. American author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn . Autograph Letter Signed, S. L. Clemens, two pages, octavo, Hartford, Connecticut, undated. On stationery imprinted with his monogram, to Mrs. Cowan, discussing the possibility of presenting an amateur theatrical to benefit a charity. Fine condition. $8750
“I am sure I would not object, but for the fact that we do repeat the play on Thursday night. It would not bear a third venture, I fear. But here I am talking as one having authority, whereas I am nothing but an actor—a mere understrapper, & under command. Miss Hamersley hired me at no salary, I find myself, & so I must simply obey orders & be civil or I lose my situation. I trust you know I would not willingly throw away a chance to assist a charity so worthy as the Holly Tree Coffee House, but you see how the case stands.”1explanatory note
Clemens probably wrote this letter a day or two before his first performance, on Wednesday, 26 April, in The Loan of a Lover (see 22 Apr 76 to Howellsclick to open letter, n. 1, and 28 Apr 76 to Franklinclick to open letter). Mrs. Sidney J. Cowen was president of the Union for Home Work,
organized by women of Hartford, irrespective of religious denomination, for the purpose of improving the condition and, in particular, the home life of the poorer women and children of the city. A coffee-house, similar to those which at that time were springing up in all our cities, and which have done so much to revolutionize the dining-saloon business in the interest of neatness, health, and cheapness, had just been opened in Market Street. This became the centre of the Union’s work, and many other features were rapidly added,—as reading-rooms for boys and girls, a day-nursery, sewing and cooking schools, a clothing-club, lending-library, etc. . . . Mrs. Sidney J. Cowen was president of the Union from the beginning until 1883. ( Trumbull 1886, 1:538–39)
Cowen’s letter asking Clemens to schedule a third performance of the play as a benefit for the Holly Tree Inn coffee house does not survive. Miss E. J. Hamersley, who was managing the amateur theatricals, was also vice-president of the Union for Home Work. No third performance was given (Geer 1875, 54, 85, 301).
MicroPUL, reel 8, undated.