To P. T. Barnum
24 May 1875 • Hartford, Conn.
(MS: CtB, UCCL 01236)

May 24.

My Dear Barnum:

I was delighted, yesterday morning, at breakfast, to learn that Mr. Barnum was in the library. When I got there it was a Mr. Barnard 1—a stranger who had come to put in his time & put out mine. I ought to have killed him, but as it was Sunday I let him go.

Many, many thanks for the last instalment of ltt letters. I am learning to play on the pig-tail whistle.2

Yrs Truly

Samℓ. L. Clemens

[letter docketed by Barnum:] Mark Twain | May 24.

Explanatory Notes

Editorial Signs

Click to add citation to My Citations.

1 Unidentified.

Click to add citation to My Citations.

2 Nothing is known of this batch of peculiar letters. Previously, on 23 March, Barnum had forwarded a little girl’s request for a musical instrument and an offer of a petrified fox. And on 24 March, he wrote that “your package of ‘queer letters’ is again increasing” (CU-MARK).

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS facsimile. The editors have not seen the MS, which is in the Bridgeport Public Library, Bridgeport, Conn. (CtB).

Previous publication: L6, 486.