To Kate V. Austin
12 January 1878 • Elmira, N.Y.
(MS, correspondence card: CtHMTH, UCCL 01523)

Elmira, Jan. 12.

My Dear Miss Austin—

Your letter has overtaken me at this point on my travels, & I hoped the paper might come, also, but doubtless it will be held in Hartford till I return.

I, too, have heard, in roundabout ways, that I was going to connect myself with a newspaper & help edit it., but I do not believe a word of it. Experience has taught me to put no confidence in a report when I know it to be untrue. Very well—knowing this one to be not only untrue but absolutely & permanently impossible, I have not hesitated to disbelieve it.

With many thanks for the pleasant & cordial things you have said, I am

Truly Yours

S. L. Clemens.

Miss Kate V. Austin | Richmond | Indiana [postmarked:] n.y. &. horn. r.p.o. [jan 12 ] [and] richmond [ jan ] [docketed:] Mark Twain

Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

MS, correspondence card, Cyril Clemens Collection, CtHMTH.

Previous publication:MicroPUL, reel 1.

Provenance:Donated in 1984 by Cyril Clemens.

Emendations and textual notes:

jan 12 • jan [12] [badly inked]

jan • [badly inked; number of characters uncertain]