Details
CLEMENS, Samuel Langhorne. Autograph letter signed ("Sam Clemens") to Governor Frank Fuller ("Dear Gov."), Washington, 13 December [1867]. 2 pages, 8vo, in dark brown ink on ruled paper, virtually separated at center horizontal fold and repaired with clear tape on verso, (the tears cutting across several words but nothing missing).
"I MIGHT...SAIL FOR CAL[IFORNIA]"
Just returned from his five-month Quaker City journey to Europe and the Middle East (which resulted in The Innocents Abroad, 1869), Twain writes, in this very early letter, to his good friend and the impresario behind his big New York lecture in May: "I believe I have made a mistake in not lecturing this winter. I did not suppose I was any better known when I got back than I was before I started -- but every day I find additional reasons for thinking I was mistaken about that. [Actually Twain returned in November a national celebrity as a result of his travel correspondence.] I have prepared a new lecture ["The Frozen Truth," based on his trip] which I shall like better than the old one, when I shall have finished amending it. The Correspondents' Club have threatened to call me out for a speech for the benefit of their widows and orphans...If it made anything of a hit, I should be tempted to receive proposals from Young Men's Christian Ass.'s & such like. Because I am already dead tired of being in one place so long. I have received 2 or 3 calls lately from N.Y. and Indiana towns. When are you coming down? I might take a 'disgust' any moment & sail for Cal[ifornia]. Lovingly, Sam Clemens." Printed in Letters, ed. H.E. Smith, R. Bucci, and L. Salamo, vol. 2, p. 136
"I MIGHT...SAIL FOR CAL[IFORNIA]"
Just returned from his five-month Quaker City journey to Europe and the Middle East (which resulted in The Innocents Abroad, 1869), Twain writes, in this very early letter, to his good friend and the impresario behind his big New York lecture in May: "I believe I have made a mistake in not lecturing this winter. I did not suppose I was any better known when I got back than I was before I started -- but every day I find additional reasons for thinking I was mistaken about that. [Actually Twain returned in November a national celebrity as a result of his travel correspondence.] I have prepared a new lecture ["The Frozen Truth," based on his trip] which I shall like better than the old one, when I shall have finished amending it. The Correspondents' Club have threatened to call me out for a speech for the benefit of their widows and orphans...If it made anything of a hit, I should be tempted to receive proposals from Young Men's Christian Ass.'s & such like. Because I am already dead tired of being in one place so long. I have received 2 or 3 calls lately from N.Y. and Indiana towns. When are you coming down? I might take a 'disgust' any moment & sail for Cal[ifornia]. Lovingly, Sam Clemens." Printed in Letters, ed. H.E. Smith, R. Bucci, and L. Salamo, vol. 2, p. 136