12 November 1871 • Boston, Mass. (MS: CU-MARK, UCCL 00673)
Livy darling, I missed church by waking up too late, tho’ I intended to go.
Went to the Press dinner last night. The responses to the regular toasts were tip-top; but as it was a cold-water dinner (the absurdity of it!) the flow of impromptu wit & wisdom on the irregular call was the flattest I ever heard. The thing got so melancholy that it broke up at 10.30—& with a sigh instead of a hurrah.1explanatory note I dearly love a public dinner—but next time I’ll inquire whether the inspiration is to be cold water or champagne.2explanatory note
I “kind of” look for a letter from you to-day—it’s about time. Kiss the cubbie & mother for me. With unfailing love—
Mrs. Samℓ. L. Clemens | Cor Forest & F Ⓐemendation Hawthorne Ⓐemendation | Hartford | Conn. postmarked: boston mass. Ⓐemendationnov . 12 8 pm Ⓐemendation
This word concluded the letter’s first page. The following unexplained calculations, which Clemens evidently made before beginning the letter, appear in the upper left corner on the back of the page:
Clemens completed the letter without canceling the figures.
The Boston Evening Transcript reported that the event was “the largest and the most successful of any yet held” and clearly thought Clemens’s remarks were the highlight of the evening:
Mark Twain, who came in at a late hour, was called up to respond to the toast “Woman,” and said that in answer to that toast he had determined to favor the audience with his able and instructive lecture on “Artemus Ward,” which would only occupy an hour and three-quarters, but which might be condensed by leaving out all the jokes, into an hour and a half; but on second thought he said he would not give it, as he already saw a look of terrible exasperation on the faces of his audience. He then gave some reminiscences of his reportorial career, and, strange to say, the more unfortunate his experiences were, the more uproarious was the laughter which greeted their recital; and naturally becoming discouraged at the want of sympathy exhibited, he sat down amid shouts of laughter, which made the room ring again and again. (“The Boston Press Club,” 13 Nov 71, 4)
MS, Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley (CU-MARK).
L4 , 490–491; Wecter 1948, 84.
see Samossoud Collection in Description of Provenance.