15 May 1872 • Elmira, N.Y. (MS: CtY-BR, UCCL 00749)
Please send another½ morocco copy right away, to James Redpath, 36 Bromfield st., Boston. He knows what I want him to do with it among the newspaper people.
I enclose Riley’s letter. The simple fact is, that the cancer has him Ⓐemendation fast hold of his vitals & he can live but a little while.1explanatory note Nine physicians have tried their hands on him, but the cancer has beaten the lot. I shall go down & see him day after tomorrow.2explanatory note
The enclosed letter from Riley is not known to survive, but on 16 May Riley wrote again, and Clemens apparently passed that letter on to Frank Bliss as well. (The provenance of Riley’s letter suggests that it was once in the files of the American Publishing Company.) In his 16 May letter, Riley acknowledged receipt of a letter from Clemens written in Cleveland on 13 May, and mentioned that he was undergoing “electro-galvanic” treatments:
But I am satisfied that it all has simmered down to a simple contest between Cancer and Constitution and I have to take the chances on my cast iron Constitution coming out ahead. This is my only hope. In the meantime I am fit for nothing, and have to fight off care and anxiety as they are not good for my well being I am told.
Try your level best to get on and see me as soon as you can for so far my intuition has not failed me, and I would not insure my bearing up against this, many—let’s say years for luck—much longer.
Wishing myself as I was this time one year ago, and hoping you are quite well with all your cares and troubles.
Come as soon as you can. (CtY-BR)
Clemens was unable to make this visit to Philadelphia (11 June 72 to Sutroclick to open letter).
MS, Willard S. Morse Collection, Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University (CtY-BR).
L5 , 91–92.
The Morse Collection was donated to CtY in 1942 by Walter F. Frear.