‸Nothing but Angostura bitters will do.‸
London, Jan 2.
Livy my darling, I want you to be sure & remember to have, in the [bath-room ], when I arrive, a bottle of Scotch whisky, a lemon, & some crushed sugar, & a bottle of Angostura bitters. Ever since I have been in London I have taken in a wine-glass what is called a cock-tail (made with those ingredients,) before breakfast, before dinner, & just before going to bed.1 It was recomme‸nd‸ mled by the surgeon of the “City of Chester” & was a most happy thought.2 To it I attribute the fact that up to this day my digestion has been wonderful—simply perfect. It remains day after day & week after week as regular as a clock. Now my dear, if you will give the order now, to have those things put in the bath-room & left there till I come, they will be there when I arrive. Will you? I love to write about arriving—it seems as if it were to be tomorrow. And I love to picture myself ringing the bell, at midnight—then a pause of a second or two—then the turning of the bolt, & “Who is it?”—then ever so many kisses—then you & I in the bath-room, I drinking my cock-tail & undressing, & you standing by—then to bed, and — —everything happy & jolly as it should be. I do love & honor you, my darling.
Saml.
Mrs. Samℓ. L. Clemens | Hartford
| Conn.
[in upper left corner:]
America. |
[rule]
[on flap:]
slc/mt
[postmarked:] london-w zb ja 2 74
[and] li
[and] new york[ jan 15 paid]all.
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:
L6, 3; Wecter 1948, 87; LLMT, 190.
Provenance:see Samossoud Collection in Description of Provenance.
Emendations and textual notes:
bath-room • bath-|room
jan 15 paid
•
[
an]
15
[paid]
[badly
inked]
