To
Orion Clemens
on Elisha Bliss, Jr. to Samuel L. Clemens
?19 November 1870 • Buffalo, N.Y.
(Typed transcription by or for Albert Bigelow Paine:
CU-MARK, UCCL 12486 and UCLC 50387)
[unknown number of words missing]
‸Am. Pub. Co. But all right—I am willing. Only I know this—that if you take the place, with an air of perfect confidence in yourself, never once letting any thing show in your bearing but a quiet, modest, entire & perfect confidence in your ability to do pretty much anything in the world, Bliss will think you are the very man he needs—but don’t show any shadow of timidity or unsoldierly diffidence, for that sort of thing is fatal to advancement.
I warn you thus because you are naturally given to knocking your pot over in this way when a little judicious conduct would make it boil.‸
[unknown number of words missing]
Htf. Nov. 17. 70
149 Asylum st.
Dr Clemens.
Believe me I am exceedingly glad to know your wife is getting on so well & your boy has gained an ounce as I learned from his letter to Twitchell
I trust no untowerd accident will alter this state of affairs for the worse– I have not heard from you since the one relating to your [brother.] Has he decided to come? Please let me know if it is [settled] yet and when he will be here, if he is to come– Also please give me an idea when you would like the book to come [out,] & how you get on with it.
By the way did you get the books I sent you?
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:Newly published on MTPO, 2010.
Revised, 2019.
Newly published on MTPO, 2010.
Revised, March 2019.
Provenance:See Paine Transcripts in Description of Provenance.
Emendations and textual notes:
brother. • brother,
settled • settiled
out, • out.
Bliss • Blifs
