From Olivia L. and Samuel L. Clemens
to Louise A. and Robert M. Howland
3? September 1877 • Elmira, N.Y.
(MS, damage emended: CU-MARK, UCCL 04656)

[slc] farmington avenue, hartford.

Quarry Farm. Elmira

Dear Mrs Howland.

We were delighted to get your letter with the beautiful picture of your little girl in it—1

I have been waiting, before writing to thank you, to get some new pictures of our little girls, we have made one effort which was not successful so I have decided not to wait any longer but to send you an old one— The one that I enclose was taken about a year and a half ago—it was very good of the children at the time we thought—2

I should indeed like exceedingly to resume our [acquaintance—] When you come East I [wish that you] would come up to [Hartford] and spend two or three days with us. Do you often come to New York? I feel as if San Francisco people thought very little of taking that trip which seems to us so great an undertaking—

We are here on the East Hill near Elmira spending our Summer, we leave now for Hartford in a day or two—

Please remember me to Mr Howland.

With very pleasant memories of the few hours that we spent together I remain yours very truly

Olivia L. Clemens

“Great country—hey Bob?”3 The picture of our eldest child is good, but that of the other is in some respects a libel.

Your little girl is a marevel of grace & beauty.

I warmly greet you both.

Yr friend

Sam.

Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Click to add citation to My Citations.

1Louise A. Howland’s letter has not been found. Clemens met Robert M. Howland (1838–90), a mine superintendent, in Nevada in 1861, and they soon became mining partners in Aurora (29 Oct 1861 to Phillips, L1, 142 n. 2). In 1867 Howland married Louise Meier (or Meyer, 1848–1960), and by 1871 they had moved to San Francisco. Their first daughter, Edith, was born in 1873 (d. 1960). Their second daughter, Louise, would be born in 1879. It is not known when Olivia met them, but it was no doubt during one of their visits to New York.

Click to add citation to My Citations.

2The photograph of Susy and Clara Clemens, taken by Isaac White in late April 1876, does not survive with the letter. The image is reproduced with the letter of 3 or 4 May 1876 to Alice E. Kingsbury.

Click to add citation to My Citations.

3Apparently a Nevada catch phrase; Clemens had used it in a previous letter to the Howlands (6 Mar 1870, L4, 87–88).

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS, damage emended, CU-MARK.

Previous publication:

MicroML, reel 11.

Provenance:

Donated to CU-MARK in 1977 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Gunn. Gunn (1906–90) was the son of the Howlands’ daughter Edith.

Emendations and textual notes:

slc • [monogram cut away]

acquaintance— • acquaint[◊◊◊◊—] [cut away]

wish that you • wis[h ◊◊◊◊ ◊ou] [cut away]

Hartford • H[art]ford [cut away]