To Olivia L. Clemens
7 December 1881 • Montreal, Canada
(MS: Christie’s, New York, December 1991, and Davis, UCCL 02111)
Montreal, Dec. 7. Midnight.
Livy darling, I have just finished my long day’s work this minute—& hang it, after all, my speech stands exactly as it did at this hour last night. What I wrote to-day was good, but I can’t get it in; the speech would be too long. So I have put all aside, left the speech as it was before, copied it, & memorized it. So I judge I’m all right, [now. It’s] good easy-flowing nonsense, [w] and will go, if there are enough English people present to understand it. But anyway I’m safe because I wind up in French—if one may call it that.
A lady introduced herself to me last night, named Smart—old friend of Miss Hesse, & of Susie Warner when the latter was a young girl. She left for Belleville this morning,—gave her some messages for Miss Hesse. Dined with the leader of the party in power in parliament to-night & got acquainted with him—good scheme, as he is to preside at my banquet tomorrow night.
Well, I reckon I better get to bed, sweetheart, but I wish I was at home, & could see you & Susie & Bay, & hear Jean converse before the dogs in the “synagogue.” I love you just the same.
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:
Davis 1980, 4.
Provenance:
Chester L. Davis, Sr., probably acquired the MS from Clara Clemens Samossoud sometime between 1949 and 1962 (see Samossoud Collection in Description of Provenance.). After his death in 1987, the MS was owned by Chester L. Davis, Jr. The two leaves of the MS were sold separately through Christie’s on 5 December 1991, lot 200, and on 9 June 1992, lot 38.
Emendations and textual notes:
now. It’s • ~.— | ~
w • [partly formed]
Samℓ. • Samℓ. [form of signature doubtful; most of it was cut off the bottom of the photocopy, then rewritten and underlined in ink by someone who saw the original MS]
