To James R. Osgood
23 August 1881 • Elmira, N.Y.
(Sales catalog: Sotheby Parke Bernet, 19 and 20 November 1974, no. 3694, lot 89, UCCL 02013)

[Elmira, Aug. 23/81.]

My Dear Osgood, Welcome home again! Shall see you before you get this letter. I am sending Chapter VI back unread. I don’t want to see any more until this godamded idiotic punctuating & capitalizing has been swept away & my own restored.

I didn’t see this chapter until I had already read Chap. VII—which latter mess of God-forever-God-damned lunacy has turned my hair white with rage.

Sweetly, sweetly

Yours

Mark.

Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

Sotheby Parke Bernet catalog, 19 and 20 November 1974, no. 3694, lot 89.

Previous publication:

P&P, 392, partial publication; MicroPUL, reel 2.

Provenance:

Offered for sale in 1974 from the collection of William E. Stockhausen.

Emendations and textual notes:

Elmira, Aug. 23/81. • Elmira 23 August [18]81 [reported, not quoted; form of dateline adopted from other 1881 letters]