ALS signed “Jamesie,” two pages, 5.5 x 8.25, The Indianapolis Journal letterhead, February 5, 1891. Letter to Erasmus Wilson. In part: “Herewith I send sketch I told you of, also one of our friend Reed’s—on Emma Abbott. Just in morning’s mail, too, is Mark Twain’s answer to ‘Honest Old Sam Hungerford,’ as enclosed to him at Pittsburgh, together with my serious lines of tribute to yourself. Will quote here his letter entire, since it’s all characteristic—though of course personal:
Hartford, Feb 2, 91. Dear Riley: ‘It’s a darling poem, & I thank you ever so much for it. but—when it comes to reciting it, I can’t even remotely approach you. You are the only man alive that can read your poems exactly right—There are poets who can’t read their works worth shucks; and if they should offer to read their poems to me I should easily have the grit to say, ‘Oh, gimme the book and & lemme show you how!—You just make me tired.’ but I should never say that to you; no, I take my hat off to you, my boy, you do know how. In the fine ’Ras Wilson poem you’ve flung in some more of those things which make my mouth water for an Elder Time & a big toe with a rag around it. One time or another you’ve got them all in, I believe—except, perhaps p’simmons & p’cons, and maybe red haws. We hadn’t p’cons in Missouri—had to cross over to the Illinois bottoms. This is my tenth day in bed with rheumatism. There is less recreation about it than you would think. Yours Ever, Mark.’ So much for one of the loveliest men in the world.” In very good condition, with tape repairs to reverse of horizontal mailing folds and a few small tears, some scattered toning and tape remnants to both pages, and a few creases. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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