That disease has disappeared. Ⓐemendation

P. S. (On cars, Jan 7)

Yes, Cable has his littlenesses, like Napoleon, but I tell you he is a brave soul & a great man.

At 11 last night we went to the Pendennis Club with Watterson, & a dozen of the choicest men & young ladies that can be found anywhere, & had a 2-hour supper which was full of delightful conversation, & also full of tropic enthusiasm over the readings. In truth, Baltimore, Washington & Louisville prove that none but a Southern audience can bring out the very best that is in a man on the platform. There is an atmosphere of affection for you, pervading the house, that you seldom feel, at least in a strong inspiring way, in a northern audience. If you make a miss-fireⒶemendation, they are troubled about it, not glad of it, & jump eagerly at the very first excuse they get to wipe it away & shout the memory of it out of your mind. One feels as if he were in front of his own family, & every individual personally anxious for his success. Of course we are infatuated & a little insane about Louisville; it could not well be otherwise. A thousand times I have wished you could have been there—& at that supper last night; & wished you could be present to shame that charicature of you in that group with the children. ◊I am tired explaining & repudiating that wretched portrait; please go straight to Bundy’s & send me a good one. Tell Susie I place upon her the personal responsibility of seeing that yo[u] do this. Don’t forget it. I want a good picture of you for my own sake; & I must have it for the public’s sake.

Got up at 5.30 this morning, after 4 hours’ sleep, but loss of sleep is a thing one has to expect, in this business. I love you, sweetheart—& auch die kinder.