Clemens, Samuel L.

Autograph letter signed ("Mark Twain"), 3 pages (5 7/8 x 3 7/8 in.; 150 x 100 mm), at sea, 28 August 1895, to "Jack," writing a poetic invocation on the occasion of the latter's birthday; light soiling and toning, small splits at right side of central horizontal fold of both pages. Together with: a newspaper clipping noting the date of Clemens's lecture in Victoria, Canada.

A birthday tribute. While en route for Australia, Clemens celebrates the birthday of his friend Jack on board "with all the noise the captain will allow."  To honor the occasion, Clemens is "grinding out a poem for such of the tribe as are interested in the fauna of Australia & of course you are one of that number." As his friend is a naturalist, Clemens incorporates animals into his rhymed invocation such as the kangaroo, although he hasn't managed to work in the emu and dodo.