27 June 1871 • (2nd of 2) • Elmira, N.Y. (MS: CU-MARK, UCCL 00622)
I wrote a third lecture to-day—& tomorrow I go back on the book again. This third lecture is the only one I shall deliver next Ⓐemendation during the coming season.—so it isn’t worth while to mention the others.1explanatory note I call it “Reminiscences of Some Pleasant Characters whom I have Met.” (If “whom” is bad grammar, scratch it out.) “ Ⓐemendation
It covers my whole acquaintance—kings, humorists, lunatics, idiots & all. You might add that, as coming from me.2explanatory note
in ink: Orion Clemens Esq | 149 Asylum st | Hartford | Conn return address: if not delivered within 10 days, to be returned to postmarked: elmira n.y. jun 28 and N.Y. | D.P.O.
Orion replied on 4 July:
I do not see how you could possibly have chosen a better subject for your lecture. . . .
“Whom” is right. I never knew you to make a grammatical error. . . .
I will preserve your letter concerning it (the lecture) and use it in calling attention to the lecture in next issue. (CU-MARK)
The new notice did not appear until the September issue of the American Publisher:
Mark Twain’s Lecture on his acquaintances—kings, humorists, lunatics, idiots, and all—under the title of “Reminiscences of some pleasant characters whom I have met,” will be delivered during the approaching season at the prices of $100 or $110 to $250 per night. (OC 1871)
MS, Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley (CU-MARK).
L4 , 414–415; MTMF , 154 n. 2, brief excerpt.
see Mark Twain Papers in Description of Provenance.
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.