Mark Twain Project Online
Explanatory Notes        Apparatus Notes (Ⓐ)

Source: Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford, Conn ([CtHMTH])

Cue: "I am obliged"

Source format: "MS"

Letter type: "[standard letter]"

Notes:

Last modified:

Revision History: Larson, Brian

Published on MTPO: 2025

Print Publication:

MTPDocEd
To Thomas W. Russell
14 and 15 October 1884 • Hartford, Conn. (MS, in pencil: CtHMTH, UCCL 03007)
Tuesday Eve
T. W. Russell, Esq
Dear Sir:

I am obliged to decline, for the reasons I mentioned to you. I am sorry to have to give it up, for my sympathies are all with the independent movement, & are strongly engaged.

Truly Yours
S L Clemens

P. S. Over.

I could not send my answer during to-day, 2 or 3 words, within parentheses, inserted and then canceled because we still had our guests with us.

S L C.

Thursday, P.M.1explanatory note I have kept this back, with a hope; but it isn’t any use; I see I can’t get a moment to myself.

Don’t forget to have Mr. Twichell’s name on your list.

S L C

T. W. Russell, Esq | City return address: return to s. l. clemens, hartford, conn., if not delivered within 10 days. postmarked: hartford conn. oct 15 84 8 30 pm

Textual Commentary
Source text(s):

MS, in pencil, CtHMTH.

Previous Publication:

MicroPUL, reel 2.

Explanatory Notes
1 The only dates Clemens gave for this letter are the two weekdays, “Tuesday” and “Thursday.” The 14th of October 1884 was a Tuesday, and the postmark on the envelope is dated the 15th. The editors therefore assume that Clemens was wrong about the day of the week when he wrote “Thursday,” which would have been the 16th
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