Tom Sawyer
proof notes betweenSamuel L. Clemens and Elisha Bliss, Jr.
31 July–7 August 1876 • Hartford, Conn.
and Elmira, N.Y.
(MS, damage emended: CU-MARK, UCCL 12720 and UCLC 31928)
agents wanted for standard works.
office american publishing company,
no. 284 asylum street, hartford, conn.
e. bliss, jr., pres’t.
branch offices,118 randolph st., chicago, ill.,
f. e. bliss, sec’y and treas’r.{38 west fourth st., cincinnati, ohio.,
[Bliss, on a fragment cut from the top of page 75 of Tom Sawyer, with a line pointing to the text, now missing:]1
‸Chp 8
____ ‸
here & hereafter.2
No, not uniform; follow copy; sometimes it is a quiet negative, & sometimes an exclamatorily vigorous one. The copy isn’t always the way I want it, though. The thing takes a different look in print from what I thought it would.3
[Bliss, on a second fragment, torn from the top of page 85:]
‸Chap 9‸
Of course! alter wherever it dont
look right. We will follow copy &
make your alterations afterwards.
Very well, what better way is there than that? Do I give you one-fiftieth the trouble that Richardson did?4
[Bliss, on the back of the second fragment:] [MS page 2]No. 2
I meant to say. Of course some things look differently set up, & need altering. Alter as you see fit & proper. We will follow copy first & make all alterations you wish afterwards. It is all right for you to do so.5
[Bliss, on the stationery to which the above fragments were pasted:]
There aint any better way & that’s a good way enough. Confound my blunders why did I not say my note was in reply to yours on 8th chap. & not let it [MS page 3] go to you as an original ironical remark, just what it was not intended to be! I meant to concur in what you said about somethings looking differently in print from what they do in Ms., & of the necessity of changing them & to say go ahead, & make every thing neccessary;—it was all right & expected— Connected with yours on Chp 8.th, as a reply, it seems to me I say it, disconnected & as an independent remark, it might mean something else which it should not. Enclosed is letter to you.6
Yours
Bliss
Richardson made more trouble over every page than you do in a whole book. Your model Ms is my standard to gauge others by, & must not be much better & cant be really.
S. L. Clemens Esq | Elmira | N. Y. [return address:] if not delivered in ten days, please return to american publishing company, 284 asylum street, hartford, conn. [postmarked:] hartford conn. aug 7 9pm
