Elmira, June 27
My Dear Howells:
If you should not like the first 2 chapters, send them to me & begin with Chap. 3—or Part 3, I believe you call these things in the magazine. I have finished No. 4, which closes the series, & will mail it tomorrow if I think of it. I like this one, I liked the preceding one (already mailed to you some time ago) but I had my doubts about 1 & 2. Do not hesitate to squelch them, even with derision & insult.
To-day I am deep in a comedy which I began this morning—principal character, that old detective—I dr skeletoned the first act & wrote the second, to-day; & am dog-tired, now. Fifty-four [closed ] pages of MS in 7 hours. Once I wrote 55 pages at a sitting—that was on the opening third ‸chapters‸ of the gi Gilded Age [novel. When] I cool down, an hour from now, I shall go to zero, I judge.
When does Barrett open in your piece in N. Y (or Boston). I calculate to be there.
Ys Ever
Mark.
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