Clemens, Samuel L.

Two playful letters to his daughter Jean, in which he teases her mercilessly about his wardrobe of white suits:



Autograph letter signed (Father"), 4 pages, New York, 25 February 1907, reports that that he had fallen on the ice and ripped his white trousers and that a neighbor's old tomcat had a basketful of kittens and was booked for yet another litter. Together with: holograph envelope franked "From Father." — Autograph letter signed ("Father"), 4 pages, New York, 5 March 1907, admits he didn't fall on the ice only said he did and that he dined at Robert Collier's resplendent in full evening dress of white broadcloth.

The signature white suit.  Clemens claimed to have adopted his white suit in all seasons for purposes of hygiene, but most likely, he wore them to attract attention. It was an eccentricity that mortified his daughters. In the first letter he writes: "I was to fall on the ice yesterday and rupture my white pants & have to stand an hour with my back to the wall at Mrs. Professor Lord's & help her receive 200 women and girls."  He impishly mentions that he is going to a matinee of Joan of Arc—but not in white.  In the 5 March letter, he declares: "Oh dear me, child, what are you talking about? I didn't fall on the ice, I only said I did." He describes the outfit he wore to a dinner at pubisher Robert Collier's: [I] "was de 'queen o' de magazines,' as Aunty cord used to call your mother; for I was in full evening dress of white broadcloth, & was white as a ghost. It is a very beautiful costume—and conspicuous. ... take care of yourself, dear, & don't slip on the ice."