has taken deepest root in my thought, and which I oftenest return to and

dwell upon with keenest no matter what, is this: That the proper place

for journalists who solicit literary charity is on the street corner

with their hats in their hands.

Mailed Answer:

DEAR SIR,--Your favor of recent date is received, but I am obliged by

press of work to decline.

The manager of a traveling theatrical company wrote that he had

taken the liberty of dramatizing Tom Sawyer, and would like also the

use of the author's name--the idea being to convey to the public

that it was a Mark Twain play. In return for this slight favor the

manager sent an invitation for Mark Twain to come and see the play

--to be present on the opening night, as it were, at his (the

manager's) expense. He added that if the play should be a go in the

cities there might be some "arrangement" of profits. Apparently

these inducements did not appeal to Mark Twain. The long unmailed

reply is the more interesting, but probably the briefer one that

follows it was quite as effective.

Unmailed Answer:

691

The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete