140 [CLEMENS, S. L.] “MARK TWAIN.” Autograph letter signed as both “mark twain” and “s. l. clemens”

ToⒶemendation John Bellows, responding to his “note” sent to Twain’s publisher, expressing how glad he would be to receive a copy of Bellows’s “book” [his French-English Dictionary] (“. . . for Mrs. Clemens will not allow me to keep hers in my study, & somebody long ago stole my own copy—our pastor, I think; who was probably beguiled by its pious aspect . . .”); he asks why he and other authorities ignore the terms “nom de plume” and “nom de guerre” (“. . . I think you do—can’t go to the bedroom to look, because then I should have to explain why I am sitting up enjoying myself so late to-night; & I would rather tell seven lies than make one explanation.

née S. L. Clemens. Ⓐemendation

3 pages, 8vo, autograph envelope, Hartford, Connecticut, 11 April 1883.