Mark Twain's Sentimental Side

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

Many of us probably think of Mark Twain primarily for his pointed satire and ascerbic observations about society and human nature. But this story suggests that a thwarted youthful romance may have influenced Samuel Clemens's writings for years to come. From Smithsonian Magazine, here is "Mark Twain In Love," followed by his posthumously published brief essay, "My Platonic Sweetheart," an account of his muse's frequent appearance in his dreams that ran in Harper's Magazine in December 1912.

"Mark Twain In Love" - http://bit.ly/2a6tfiJ
"My Platonic Sweetheart" - http://bit.ly/2aKVjVZ

 

[LoriAnn]

Wow! I was completely drawn in by this story.

I'm glad her wishes and privacy were respected, but boy...I bet those letters were quite a read!

"On one of my visits we happened to be talking about Mark Twain," Byrd wrote to Gold. "She took me to her bed room, had me open her trunk, and got out several packages of letters from Sam Clemens. For several hours she read me portions of many of the letters. I think Lippincotts [the publishing company, J. B. Lippincott & Co.] offered her $20,000.00. I know that some of the letters were written during the [Civil] war."

Laura Wright Dake told Byrd that her sisters and brother had urged her to sell the letters, but this was not her wish. "She made me promise, on my honor, that after her death I would destroy the letters and not let anyone read them. She said Sam Clemens wrote them to her and for her and that they were not to be published." C. O. Byrd was one of those vanishing oddities of the 20th century, a man of his word. In his 1964 letter he blandly informed Gold, "I destryed [sic] the letters and followed all her instructions after her death."

 

[Dilba]

Great, thought-provoking post, thanks!

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Thanks for the thread, Loyalty of Dogs. I don't know- his ability to be deeply wounded through tragedy makes me unsurprised at his depth of feeling either way, at least- poor man. As you said, Twains general reputation wasn't one where you'd be prepared for such a soft side- then he applied all that talent to his most awful moments? OH my goodness. So sad, it'll put you in bed for a week.

The first was his brother's death in a steam boat disaster ( Twain had a hugely disturbing prophetic dream about the entire event ) - survived, to be left to die, to be found by Twain and saved to be killed by careless overdose. The other his beloved daughter's death- TB? After reading those, anything Twain wrote expressing a ' softer ' side feels like such a relief!

 

[kholland]

Many of us probably think of Mark Twain primarily for his pointed satire and ascerbic observations about society and human nature. But this story suggests that a thwarted youthful romance may have influenced Samuel Clemens's writings for years to come. From Smithsonian Magazine, here is "Mark Twain In Love," followed by his posthumously published brief essay, "My Platonic Sweetheart," an account of his muse's frequent appearance in his dreams that ran in Harper's Magazine in December 1912.

"Mark Twain In Love" - http://bit.ly/2a6tfiJ
"My Platonic Sweetheart" - http://bit.ly/2aKVjVZ

Interesting post. I would never imagine a romantic side of Twain!

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

An ambrotype of Laura Wright (possibly subject to copyright, so I am not including the image) can be seen here, https://calisphere.org by searching for "Laura M. Wright (later Dake)." She is 16 in the portrait, the age she would have been when Samuel Clemens briefly courted her.