To Olivia L. Clemens
9 December 1873 • (2nd of 2) • London, England
(MS: CU-MARK, UCCL 31901)

[on back of letter as folded:]

Dec. 9. Meant to enclose this, honey, but sealed the envelop before I thought.

Samℓ.

8 Decbr

23 rutland streetedinburgh

My dear friend — Thanks for the M. Post—& the capital speech— You must have enjoyed it, as well as they you. 1 When are you coming here?—are you under a “former”?—surely you will give us a turn—I had a kind note from Mrs Clemens—she will enjoy your glory & prattle of it to [Mel Megalopis] Susie— What of the Novel? 2 We are all well & dull— I am dodging about from door to door—as usual— Don’t trouble to write, only tell me when you know your time for invading us—& harrying the city— 3 Take care of your self—get 8 hours sleep out of every 24—& keep the Midland Counties regular—

Yrs ever

J. Brown

Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

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1 Clemens had evidently sent Brown two clippings from the 2 December London Morning Post: the complimentary review of his 1 December lecture, and the text of his speech that evening on “The Ladies” (see 6 Dec 73 to OLC, n. 1, and 28 Nov 73 to Fitzgibbon, n. 2).

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2 The soon-to-be-published Gilded Age.

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3 Clemens was planning to lecture in the “provinces,” including Edinburgh, after the close of his London engagement (17 Dec 73 to Redpath).

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS, on the back of John Brown to SLC, 8 Dec 73 ( UCLC 31901), Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley (CU-MARK).

Previous publication: L5, 499–500.

Provenance:see Mark Twain Papers in Description of Provenance.

Emendations and textual notes:

Mel Megalopis • Melgalopis