9 November 1884 • Providence, R.I. (Typed transcript prepared by or for Albert Bigelow Paine: CU-MARK, UCCL 12812)
In that article we have overlooked one of my main specialties—invention—the inventionⒶemendation of useful trifles. I have invented no end of such things—I append such as I am able to call to mind at the moment.
If you ever use a note-book, Mrs. Clemens will give you one of mine;—& it’s a good thing to have.
(Scrap book 100,000 soldⒶemendation 7 or 8 yrs.)Ⓐemendation
A Memorandum-book which always opens itself at the page last written upon. (Not patented.)
A vest which enables the wearer to do without suspenders.Ⓐemendation (Not patented.) A shirt (with collar & cuffs attached,Ⓐemendation) whichⒶemendation requires neither buttons nor studs. (Not patented.)
A perpetual-calender watch-charm which gives the day of the week & theⒶemendation day of the month.
A simple contrivance to keep children from kicking the bed-clothes off; not really more effective thanⒶemendation the Pittsfield invention now in use, but less cumbersome & much more handy & simple.
A game whereby persons may play historical dates & events upon a board, somewhat after the manner of cribbage; being a game whose office is twofold: to furnish the dates & events, & to impress them permanently upon the memory. (Patented.Ⓐemendation)
I have invented other things, but these are all that occur to me now.
All variants between the source texts are reported here. The readings identified by the siglum ‘MTP’ are editorial emendations of the source readings made because none is deemed correct by itself.
The text is based on two complete typed transcripts prepared by or for Albert Bigelow Paine (CU-MARK). The first (Tr1) apparently derives from the manuscript. The second (Tr2) seems to derive from Tr1, but Tr2 incorporates several corrections that evidently reflect manuscript readings. Many, but not all, of those corrections have been adopted here.
donated in 2004 by Anne T. Cushman, widow of Albert Bigelow Paine’s grandson, Bigelow Paine Cushman.