Clemens, Samuel L.

Two communications with his lecture promoters, Redpath and Fall.



Holograph draft of a telegram, one page on Western Union letterhead, Buffalo, 8 December 1871, notifying Redpath and Fall that Clemens will henceforth only read selections from Roughing It; light soiling, small docket hole in upper right corner. — Autograph letter signed ("S.L. Clemens"), one page, Pittsburgh, 13 January [1872, docketed date on verso], enclosing a draft in the amount of $124.69

the lecture circuit. James Redpath established the Boston Lyceum Bureau in 1869 to capitalize on the growing national interest in lectures. He attracted numerous popular speakers including Henry Ward Beecher, Josh Billings, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Petroleum V. Nasby, and Henry David Thoreau. Clemens signed on for two lengthy tours (November 1869–January 1870 and October 1871–February 1872). He earned $100 to $150 for each performance with ten percent going to Redpath. During the 1871–1872 season, he lectured seventy-six times, mainly using his Roughing It lecture, as evidenced by the telegram.