note to my friends of "The Mercury." Your notice, by the way, did much

good here, as it doubtlessly will elsewhere. The miscreants of the

Union will be batted in the snout if they ever dare pollute this rapidly

rising city with their loathsome presence.

Some of the finest intellects in the world have been blunted by liquor.

Do not, sir--do not flatter yourself that you are the only

chastely-humorous writer onto the Pacific slopes.

Good-bye, old boy--and God bless you! The matter of which I spoke to you

so earnestly shall be just as earnestly attended to--and again with

very many warm regards for Jo. and Dan., and regards to many of the good

friends we met.

I am Faithfully, gratefully yours,

ARTEMUS WARD.

The Union which Ward mentions was the rival Virginia. City paper;

the Mercury was the New York Sunday Mercury, to which he had urged

Mark Twain to contribute. Ward wrote a second letter, after a siege

of illness at Salt Lake City. He was a frail creature, and three

years later, in London, died of consumption. His genius and

encouragement undoubtedly exerted an influence upon Mark Twain.

Ward's second letter here follows.

108

The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete