5 May 1871 • Elmira, N.Y. (MS: NN-B, UCCL 02456)
Editor “Comet.”
I have hardly time to write a communication for the “Comet,” but am cheerfully willing to comply with your request that I should state my opinion of the paper.—which is, briefly, that although it is the fruit of a boy’s brain & a boy’s enterprise, it is superior to some papers issued by men. The crisp brevity with which you dispose of that fellow Bismarck has a charm for me which the long leaders of the ponderous dailies lacksⒶemendation—but at the same time you should have a care how you risk embroiling your country in a foreign war. However, I will not say a word—give it to Bismarck & lu letⒶemendation us take the chances.
The “Comet” is a neat paper & a readable one; & it seems to me that it is a marked & excellent sign of the times to see boys forsaking rowdy amusements for the worthier pleasures of literary endeavor.
I wish to subscribe for nearly 3 copies of the “Comet,” & therefore enclose $1. Please send one of them to “Master Sammy Moffett, Fredonia, N. Y.” And the other one to
Elmira, N. Y.
Possibly Henri Gerard of New York, who in 1915 ran a bookstore called Gerard’s Literary Shop at 83 Nassau Street (New York Directory, 762, 2307).
MS, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations (NN-B).
L4 , 389–390; Bibliophile Society, 125–26.
A handwritten transcription made by Dana Ayer between 1910 and 1919 and a Brownell typescript are at WU (see Brownell Collection in Description of Provenance). At some time the MS was acquired by W. T. H. Howe, who died in 1939; in 1940, the Howe Collection was purchased by Dr. Albert A. Berg and donated to NN (Cannon, 185–86).
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.