Mark Twain Project :: Letters :: : an electronic text

To Robert M. and Louise M. Howland
6 April 1871 • Elmira, N.Y.
(MS: CU-MARK, UCCL 00600)

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Elmira, Apl. 6.

Dear Bob & Lou:

We were very glad to get the pictures, indeed. They are excellent. My wife is never tired of talking about Lou, & admiring her. I never knew her to take such a strong liking to any stranger before.1

The baby is perfectly strong & hearty, but his mother cannot yet stand on her feet. She progresses only very slowly. Love to you both.

Yrs Ever

Sam.

P. S. Never been able to get my little family into a photograph gallery yet—but hope to some day, & then we’ll remember you.2

Explanatory Notes

Editorial Signs

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1 Olivia had met both Robert and Louise Howland during their brief visit to Buffalo, evidently sometime between 1 and 6 or 12 and 21 June 1870. More than a year later she recalled that visit in a letter to Robert Howland that she wrote for Clemens (1–6 or 12–21 June 70, 20 Nov 71, both to Howland). The photographs the Howlands sent have not been located. Robert Howland figures as “Bob H——” in chapter 21 of Roughing It, which Clemens probably wrote in early April (RI 1993, 145, 842).

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2 Olivia repeated this promise in November but apparently was never photographed with Langdon (20 Nov 71 to Howland).

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS, Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley (CU-MARK).

glyph Previous publication: L4, 374–375.

glyph Provenance:donated to CU-MARK in 1977 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Gunn.