16 January 1875 • Hartford, Conn. (MS: MH-H, UCCL 01181)
I was going to the theatre tonight, but was disappointed & must remain at home; so I send this by my coachman, hoping he may be able to get it to you.
Can you dine with us to-morrow (5 P.M)—& will you? I do hope you can. We are right out Farmington avenue. Most Ⓐemendation of the hackmen know the place if you mention the nom de plume.
Dress to suit yourself. You have discovered by this time that we are a loose nation in that matter.
Send “Yes” to my man. Do not take the trouble to write.1explanatory note
Clemens had met comedian John L. Toole in London in September 1872. In December 1873 he wrote a letter of introduction for Toole’s business manager, who was arranging an 1874–75 American tour. Through Clemens, Toole met the members of the Lotos Club, who gave him a welcoming dinner on 6 August 1874. The letter from Clemens that was read on that occasion has not been recovered. Since then Toole had gotten “a cordial reception in all parts of this country,” but he had only a “moderate sized audience” and received only “moderate applause” at Roberts Opera House in Hartford on 16 January (Hartford Courant: “Amusements,” 13 Jan 75, 2, and 16 Jan 75, 1; “Toole,” 17 Jan 75, 2; L5 , 159–60, 505–6; New York Tribune: “Dinner to Mr. Toole,” 7 Aug 74, 5). In his memoirs Toole recalled that Clemens was among those who “specially extended courtesies” to him, an indication that he probably did say “Yes” to coachman Patrick McAleer (Toole, 257–58, 262–63).
MS, Houghton Library, Harvard University (MH-H).
L6 , 352.
The letter was sold through Sotheby’s, with Toole’s other possessions, in November 1906 to Joseph Stoddart. In November 1966 MH-H purchased it from Emily Driscoll.
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.