Accompanied by an old friend, my father went down the road to meet the new friend, whose entertaining humor and irresistible magnetism he hoped would balance up with the family for all the uncouth manners and looks, and make a short visit endurable. They found him in the smoker, in a yellow duster and a very dirty, old straw hat. His wardrobe was compressed into such small compass that it didn’t really appear he had brought any. (Jervis Langdon, 5)

Langdon greeted him warmly but with doubt. Finally he summoned courage to say, hesitatingly:

“You’ve got some other clothes, haven’t you?”

The arriving guest was not in the least disturbed.

“Oh yes,” he said with enthusiasm, “I’ve got a fine brand-new outfit in this bag, all but a hat. It will be late when we get in, and I won’t see any one to-night. You won’t know me in the morning. We’ll go out early and get a hat.”

This was a large relief to the younger man, and the rest of the journey was happy enough. True to promise, the guest appeared at daylight correctly, even elegantly clad, and an early trip to the shops secured the hat. (MTB, 1:367)

Mark Twain arrived in the City last evening, to be the guest of Charles Langdon, for a few days. It is hoped—indeed, it is the on dit, that he will be induced to give a lecture at the Opera House during his stay. He has already attained a great notoriety in California, as a writer and editor, and his Quaker City experiences gave him a wide reputation throughout the country. It will be remembered, that he was one of the excursionists on the Quaker City to the Holy Land, last year, and at the time, established a close fellowship with Charles Langdon, of this City. (“Personal,” Elmira Advertiser, 22 Aug 68, 4)