1–6 or 12–21 June 1870 • Buffalo, N.Y. (MS: CU-MARK, UCCL 00476)
In memory of old times in El Esmeralda & Carson—times (in the former case, at least,) when it was above ordinary to have dried apple pies on Sunday, & absolutely aristocratic to have canned peaches.1explanatory note
Buffalo June, 1870.2explanatory note
Clemens’s most difficult period in Nevada was the summer and early fall of 1862, which he spent prospecting near Aurora, in Esmeralda County, while desperately short of funds. Howland was among his partners then ( L1 , 214–41). In 1876 the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise recalled that “Bob and Mark were not flush” as cabin mates:
They lived principally on hardtack and beans. On Sundays, however, they managed to get hold of some few extras in the grub line. When Sunday came they feasted on canned oysters, canned turkey, chicken and the like, with something in the fruit and jelly line. When the cans had been emptied of these luxuries the “boys” ostentatiously threw them out in front of the door of their cabin.
In the course of a few weeks the accumulation of cans that had contained oysters, turkey, jellies and other good things began to attract attention. Miners passing their cabin used to gaze upon the many cans and say: “By Jove, those fellows live like fighting cocks!”
It was finally noised about the camp that Clemens and Howland lived like two princes—fared sumptuously every day. It was thought they never ate anything but oysters and turkey and they were looked upon as “Big Injuns” by the whole camp.
Anxious to preserve their reputation under the scrutiny of some suspicious miners, Clemens and Howland reportedly resorted to nocturnal foraging in garbage dumps to maintain their facade of empty cans (“How They Played It,” 28 Apr 76, 3).
Clemens wrote this note in Robert and Louise Howland’s autograph album. Since the Clemenses spent 7–11 and 22–30 June in Elmira, the Howlands must have visited them in Buffalo sometime between 1 and 6 or 12 and 21 June.
MS, Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley (CU-MARK).
L4 , 147–148.
donated to CU-MARK in 1977 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Gunn.
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.