Explanatory Notes        Apparatus Notes (Ⓐ)

Source: Collection of R. B. Bowen ([TxH2])

Cue: "Been too busy & too frightfully lazy to write,"

Source format: "MS"

Letter type: "[standard letter]"

Notes:

Last modified: 2005-10-08T00:00:00

Revision History: RHH 2005-10-08 was 1870.06.01 circa

MTPDocEd
To William Bowen
21? May 1870 • Buffalo, N.Y. (MS: Bowen, UCCL 02136)
on the back:

e. h. paige,

no. 446 main street,

buffalo, n. y.

Been too busy & too frightfully lazy to write, Bill—do you pity me?

Mark. 1explanatory note
Textual Commentary
21? May 1870 • To William Bowen • Buffalo, N.Y. • UCCL 02136
Source text(s):

MS facsimile, front and back of a carte de visite photograph of Clemens. The editors have not seen the MS, which is owned by William Bowen’s grandson, Royden Burwell Bowen, Jr., who provided a photographic copy in 1993.

Previous Publication:

L4 , 136–37; Hornberger, frontispiece.

Explanatory Notes
1 

Clemens probably sent this carte de visite at about the same time he enclosed one in the previous letter. Possibly he was replying belatedly to Bowen’s most recent known letter to him (CU-MARK):

UCLC31686

a. f. shapleigh. president. d. p. rowland. vice president. a. kempland. secretary.

phœnix insurance company of st. louis chartered 1849.

capital stock $250,000. office 304 n. main st.

st. louis March 31st 18 70

Sam’l Langdon Clemens

Buffalo New York

Dr Sam

On arrival of Keokuk Packet I went on board (this morning) to meet Sallie Bowen and who do you suppose I met?

No less distinguished visitors, than “Kitty Hawkins” (Lauras Sister) and “Old Lucy Davis” for a more particular description of them, reference is hereby made to latter portion of Shakespears Seven Ages. Old Luce’ asked for you instanter! Said you were the worst Boy, “and I declare in my heart he’s the funniest man in my acquaintance” Wants to know if you still climb out on the roof of the house and jump from 3d story windows

Yours Ever
Bill

Sallie was Sarah Robards Bowen. Catherine (Kitty) Hawkins was the older sister of Annie Laura Hawkins Frazer. Lucy Davis was a Hannibal schoolteacher (23 Apr 70 to Bliss, n. 6click to open letter; 6? Feb 70 to Frazerclick to open letter; Inds , 95, 322). Bowen’s allusion was to As You Like It, act 2, scene 7, perhaps especially to these lines: “. . . The sixth age shifts / Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, / With spectacles on nose and pouch on side.”

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