Details
CLEMENS, SAMUEL LANGHORNE. Three autograph letters signed and one typed letter signed (all "SL. Clemens") to Barbara Mullen in Hannibal, Missouri; New York and Dublin, N.H., 20 May 1901 -- 14 June [1906]. The TLS 1 1/2 pages, 8vo, double-spaced, together 5 pages, 12mo & 8vo, two on black-bordered mourning stationery, with two original stamped envelopes of which one is addressed by Clemens. The recipient was a teacher in the high school in Hannibal, the Mississippi River town where Clemens grew up (and which was the setting for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn).
"THE HANNIBAL SCHOOLS ALWAYS SHOWED ME SPECIAL ATTENTIONS"
20 May 1901 (responding to an invitiation by Miss Mullen to speak at the high school): "I wish I could say yes, but I have already as many engagements for the coming months as I must venture to indulge myself with...although I do highly appreciate the compliment of your invitation, and regard it as an honor, I am obliged to deny myself the pleasure of accepting it. Your High School is paying me an illustrious compliment, indeed, and if I were not too old to travel so far I should be glad to come. I must apologize for the United States' mail. Your letter, which bears date May 7, has but this moment reached my hand."
30 May n.y.: "I wish to thank you for sending me the program. The High School did me great honor, & naturally I am proud of it. The Hannibal schools always showed me special attentions, even from the beginning (at Mrs. Horr's, nearly 61 years ago), but this is the first time I have taken pride in them. In those early times I won compliments every day; but I wore a sheepskin under my jacket & did not much mind it..."
[17 November 1905]: "I have not had, in all my life before, so many generous letters & so many generous poems as this past fortnight has brought me [for the celebration of Clemens' 70th birthday on 5 December]; my thanks go out to all these friends, but I wish to thank you particularly." 14 June [1906] (to Miss Mullen in Moberly, Missouri): "Don't you mind that. There is good in it, & no harm. It cheers many a dry traveller with the pleasant thought that there's at least somebody that's full." Clemens did return to Hannibal -- for the last time -- at the end of May 1902 on his way to receive an honorary degree from the University of Missouri. He spent five days in his boyhood town, undoubtely meeting Barbara Mullens: it was Clemens who gave out the diplomas to the Hannibal High School graduating class. (4)
"THE HANNIBAL SCHOOLS ALWAYS SHOWED ME SPECIAL ATTENTIONS"
20 May 1901 (responding to an invitiation by Miss Mullen to speak at the high school): "I wish I could say yes, but I have already as many engagements for the coming months as I must venture to indulge myself with...although I do highly appreciate the compliment of your invitation, and regard it as an honor, I am obliged to deny myself the pleasure of accepting it. Your High School is paying me an illustrious compliment, indeed, and if I were not too old to travel so far I should be glad to come. I must apologize for the United States' mail. Your letter, which bears date May 7, has but this moment reached my hand."
30 May n.y.: "I wish to thank you for sending me the program. The High School did me great honor, & naturally I am proud of it. The Hannibal schools always showed me special attentions, even from the beginning (at Mrs. Horr's, nearly 61 years ago), but this is the first time I have taken pride in them. In those early times I won compliments every day; but I wore a sheepskin under my jacket & did not much mind it..."
[17 November 1905]: "I have not had, in all my life before, so many generous letters & so many generous poems as this past fortnight has brought me [for the celebration of Clemens' 70th birthday on 5 December]; my thanks go out to all these friends, but I wish to thank you particularly." 14 June [1906] (to Miss Mullen in Moberly, Missouri): "Don't you mind that. There is good in it, & no harm. It cheers many a dry traveller with the pleasant thought that there's at least somebody that's full." Clemens did return to Hannibal -- for the last time -- at the end of May 1902 on his way to receive an honorary degree from the University of Missouri. He spent five days in his boyhood town, undoubtely meeting Barbara Mullens: it was Clemens who gave out the diplomas to the Hannibal High School graduating class. (4)