To John B. Downing
18? August 1881 • Elmira, N.Y.
(Unidentified reprinting of the Waterways Journal of 24 June 1899, UCCL 02021)

[Elmira, N. Y.]

[Dear Major:

And] has it come to this that the dead rise up [&] speak? For I supposed that you were dead, it has been so long since I heard your name.

And how young you’ve grown! I was a mere boy when I knew you on the river, where you had been piloting for 35 years, [&] now you are only a year [&] a half older than I am! I mean to go to Hot Springs myself [&] get 30 or 40 years knocked off my age. It’s manifestly the place that Ponce de Leon was striking for, but the poor fellow lost the trail.

Possibly I may see you, for I shall be in St. Louis for a day or two in November. I propose to go down the river [&] “note the changes” once more before I make the long crossing, [&] perhaps you can come there. Will you? I want to see all the boys that are left alive.

And so Grant Marsh, too, is flourishing yet? A mighty good fellow, [&] smart, too. When we were taking that wood flat down to the Chambers, which was aground, I soon saw that I was a perfect lubber at piloting such a thing. I saw that I could never hit the Chambers with it, so I resigned in Marsh’s favor, [&] he accomplished the task to my admiration. We should all have gone to the mischief if I had remained in authority. I always had good judgment—more judgment than talent, in fact.

No; the nom de plume did not originate in that way. Capt. Sellers used the signature, “Mark Twain,” himself when he used to write up the antiquities in the way of river reminiscences for the New Orleans Picayune. He hated me for burlesquing them in an article in the True Delta; so four years later, when he died, I robbed the corpse—that is I confiscated the nom de plume. I have published this vital fact 3,600 times now. But no matter, it is good practice; it is about the only fact that I can tell the same way every time. Very glad, indeed, to hear from you, Major, [&] shall be gladder still to see you in November.

Truly yours,

S. L. [Clemens].

Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

“Some Interesting Communications to Maj. ‘Jack’ Downing, a St. Louis and New Orleans Pilot of Ante-Bellum Days,” unidentified reprinting of the Waterways Journal, 24 June 1899, p. 3. The text printed in MTL has no distinctively authorial variants. Like the source text, it is misdated 1888, and may therefore derive from it.

Previous publication:

MTL, 1:496–97.

Emendations and textual notes:

Elmira, N. Y. • [¶] The following letter, written in 1888 from Elmira, N. Y. [reported, not quoted]

Dear Major: [¶] And • [¶] Dear Major: And

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Clemens • Clemens