Reply: Charles H. Clarke to S. L Clemens:

MY DEAR FRIEND, You are "the only literary animal of your particular

subspecies" in existence and you've no cause for humility in the fact.

Yale has done herself at least as much credit as she has done you, and

Don't you forget it."

C. H. C.

With the exception of his brief return to the river in 1882. Mark

Twain had been twenty-seven years away from pilots and piloting.

Nevertheless, he always kept a tender place in his heart for the old

times and for old river comrades. Major "Jack" Downing had been a

Mississippi pilot of early days, but had long since retired from the

river to a comfortable life ashore, in an Ohio town. Clemens had

not heard from him for years when a letter came which invited the

following answer.

****

To Major "Jack" Downing, in Middleport Ohio:

719

The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete