To Charles J. Langdon
per Fanny C. Hesse
1 November 1876 • Hartford, Conn.
(Paraphrase and transcript, correspondence card: California Book Auction catalog, 1 and 15 October 1960, lot 414, UCCL 01385)

. . . a 3x5 correspondence card from Samuel L. Clemens, dated Hartford Nov. 1st 1876 and addressed to “Dear Charley” in which Clemens explains why he has not granted the favor requested and extends family greetings. 14 lines of penmanship on two sides of lt. blue card, evidently not the writing of Clemens, but his signature is boldly added “Saml L. Clemens” with a flourish and a postscript “That man’s cheek is [super-human]”. Card is loose and bears an SLC monogram within a diamond, printed in red, in upper left corner.1

Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary

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1Clemens probably wrote this letter to his brother-in-law, Charles J. Langdon, the only Charles whom he consistently addressed as “Charley” at this time. Langdon presumably had transmitted the “favor requested,” but nothing is known about it or about the cheeky requester. Fanny C. Hesse (1821?–1907) served off and on as Clemens’s secretary from late 1876 until 4 May 1877, and again in November and December 1877. From 1882 to 1893 she was in charge of Hatfield House at Smith College in Northhampton, Massachusetts (FamSk, 60; AutoMT3, 464).

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

Paraphrase and transcript, correspondence card, California Book Auction catalog, sale of 1 and 15 October 1960, lot 414.

Previous publication:

MicroPUL, reel 1.

Emendations and textual notes:

super-human • super- | human