To Unidentified
25 October 1881 • Hartford, Conn.
(St. Louis Globe Democrat?, 27? October 1881, clipping in “River Scrapbook”: OOxM, UCCL 02065)

[Hartford, October 25.

My Dear Sir:

Your] letter is just received. I would have given just anything in the world, nearly, to trade a few pious lies with the river men who are to attend the Convention, but I am putting a book through the press, [&] this sort of work requires not merely daily but hourly attention; so that if I were even invited to attend my own funeral I simply couldn’t go; they would have to play a dummy on the mourners [&] hold on with the monument indefinitely.

With many thanks for the invitation, [&] very sincere regrets that I am not able to take advantage of it, I offer my best wishes [&] the right hand of fellowship to the assembled journalists [&] the Board of Trade (for I am of both crafts, through my manifold lines of usefulness), [&] remain truly yours,

[Mark Twain.]

Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

St. Louis Globe Democrat?, 27? October 1881, clipping in “River Scrapbook,” Covington Collection, OOxM.

Emendations and textual notes:

Hartford, October 25. | My Dear Sir: | Your • Hartford, October 25.—My Dear Sir: Your

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Mark Twain. • Mark Twain.