himself pursued by claims of considerable proportions. The "land"

referred to is the Tennessee tract, the heritage which John Clemens

had provided for his children. Mark Twain had long since lost faith

in it, and was not only willing, but eager to renounce his rights.

"Nasby" is, of course, David R. Locke, of the Toledo Blade, whose

popularity at this time both as a lecturer and writer was very

great. Clemens had met him here and there on their platform tour,

and they had become good friends. Clemens, in fact, had once

proposed to Nasby a joint trip to the Pacific coast.

The California idea had been given up, but both Mark Twain and Nasby

found engagements enough, and sufficient profit east of the

Mississippi. Boston was often their headquarters that winter ('69

and '70), and they were much together. "Josh Billings," another of

Redpath's lecturers, was likewise often to be found in the Lyceum

offices. There is a photograph of Mark Twain, Nasby, and Josh

Billings together.

Clemens also, that winter, met William Dean Howells, then in the

early days of his association with the Atlantic Monthly. The two

men, so widely different, became firm friends at sight, and it was

to Howells in the years to come that Mark Twain would write more

letters, and more characteristic letters, than to any other living

man. Howells had favorably reviewed 'The Innocents Abroad,' and

after the first moment of their introduction had passed Clemens

220

The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete