14 January 1881 • Hartford, Conn. (MS: MH-H and CU-MARK, UCCL 01892 and UCLC 40671)
Here is Gebbie’s letter, received last night. Now if you are still in the mind to tackle this Cyclopedia with me, drop me a line right away—for I have put Gebbie off two or three days on purpose to give myself time to hear from you. I still like the idea of going into this thing, as much as ever; & I hope you do, also.
On 3 different days, last week, Bay, & the baby, & the house, came within the half of a hair’s breadth of being burned up! Stirring adventures enough for one small week, ain’t it?
enclosure:
I had hoped to have made you a personal visit before this time but I am “tied to the oar” on two new Books, proof reading and superintending generally.
I hope however very shortly to do myself the pleasure of visiting Hartford and will then, with your permission, call on you on the business which we have already mooted.
I enclose you Prospectus of a publication in which Mr Spofford of Washington desires to have you represented by “The facts in the Great American Beef Contract”
and
an extract from the Innocents abroad as Spofford puts it “the inimitable fun about Michael Angelo and the Great Masters”
May I ask your kind permission to be so represented and of course with due acknowledgment
I am Yours Very Respectfully
Geo Gebbie
P.S. You are already in the 1st part represented by two speeches “The Babies” and “The weather” which being non copyright I did not trouble you about. I will of course send you the book as issued in vols.
G. G
MS, MH-H (shelf mark bMS Am 1784 [98], 84), is source for the letter; MS, George Gebbie to SLC, 12 January 1881, CU-MARK (UCLC 40671) is source for the enclosure.
MTHL , 1:343.
See Howells Letters for the letter, and Mark Twain Papers for the enclosure, in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.