11 April 1883 • Hartford, Conn. (Sales catalog: Robert F. Batchelder, unknown date, no. 106, lot 130, UCCL 12608)
130. TWAIN, MARK. (SAMUEL L. CLEMENS). American Author. Autograph Letter Signed, 2 separate pages, 4to, Hartford, April 11, 1883, to Mrs. Rollins. Twain writes: “Ah, but I’m not afraid of you, after seeing how kindly your pen is. Dear me, mild as I am, & mildness is one of the most pronounced passions of my character, I couldn’t be as gentle as you are over those French phrases. To my mind, the woman who says ‘mille fois’ when it is her privilege to say ‘shucks!’ & the man who says it when it is his privilege to say ‘damnation!’ or some other word that’s got some sand in it, is a thoroughly despicable person, & I would tear him out of a book in a minute & make a fire with him.”
References
- Machlis, Paul, ed. Union Catalog of Clemens Letters. Edited by Paul Machlis. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press. [In some cases, UCCL catalog numbers cited in this volume supersede those assigned in 1986 and reflect corrections or additions to the catalog since publication. An updated version of the catalog can be consulted via the Letters Search page at MTPO.] 1986
Sales catalog, Robert F. Batchelder, unknown date, no. 106, lot 130.