Mark Twain: April Fool, 1884

Clara Louise Kellogg to Samuel L. Clemens
31 March 1884 • New York, N.Y.
(MS: CU-MARK, UCLC 41958)

Tuesday Mar. 31st

Dear Mr Clemens,

I have been fortunate enough in my career to gather together a large number of valuable autographs; My collection will be incomplete without your distinguished name and I therefore beg you to make an exception in my favor, knowing as I do how averse you are to giving of autograph. View Page
Full size in new windowAnd send me yours at your earliest convenience.

Believe me Sincerely & faithfully

Clara Louise Kellogg

The Clarendon

4th Ave.

New York.

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Full size in new window S. L. Clemens Esqre | Hartford | Conn. [rule] [postmarked:] new york apr 1 6 am d 84 [docketed by SLC, in pencil: ] Clara Louise Kellogg [rule]

Textual Commentary

▮ Copy-text: MS, Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley (CU-MARK).

Persons Mentioned

Clara Louise Kellogg (1842–1916)

Soprano and musical actress Clara Louise Kellogg was considered the first American prima donna. She made her professional debut as Gilda in Rigoletto in February 1861 at the New York Academy of Music. Over the next two decades she sang in over forty roles in several languages. By the mid-1880s she was reduced to sporadic concert engagements, and retired shortly after marrying her manager, Carl Strakosch, in 1887. She died in New Hartford, Conn. She was a close friend of the Gilder family and a frequent participant in the Gilder Friday “At Home” gatherings.

The Annual of the Association for Documentary Editing

2017, Volume 38

Edited by Leslie Myrick and Christopher Ohge

Clara Louise Kellogg to Samuel L. Clemens
31 March 1884 • New York, N.Y.
(MS: CU-MARK, UCLC 41958)

Textual Commentary

Persons Mentioned

The Annual of the Association for Documentary Editing

2017, Volume 38