To
Olivia L. Clemens
9 November 1879 • en route from
Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Pa.
(MS, in pencil: Christie’s, New York,
December 1991, UCCL 11718)
In a hotel-car, 300 miles
west of Philadelphia,
11.30 Sunday morning.
This is a mean place to write in, Livy darling, so I will only attempt a line. Shall telegraph you from [Pittsburg], which we are approaching. Dan says the Scrap Book is booming—can’t fill the orders. I’ve got that engraving invention fixed so I can take it & pay for it when I get back.
This is a very nice car. Slept pretty well last night, & had a pretty good breakfast this morning. I do hope you slept well, but am afraid you didn’t. You must have Emily Perkins or some other quiet body with you.
Well, I love you, love you, darling. Give my love to our Bays. And kiss Motley for me
Saml
Mrs. S. L. Clemens | Hartford | Conn. [note by George H. Warner:] He is a jolly travelling companion. A goodbye to you. | G. H. W. [return address:] if not delivered within 10 days, to be returned to [postmarked:] m. & pitt [remainder illegible] [and] hartford conn. rec’d. nov 10 7 pm.
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:
Davis 1980, 1, partial
publication; Christie’s catalog, 5 December 1991, lot 198, partial publication; MicroPUL (bib00031), reel 1.
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., who sold it through Christie's in December 1991. It was bought by Bromer Booksellers, who offered
it for sale in January 1992, laid in a copy of SLC 1876.
Emendations and textual notes:
Pittsburg • [sic]
