Thanks to all members of the forum who replied to my question, especially to Barbara Schmidt, who knew the entry in Gribben's book where Twain's comment appeared; I've ordered the Fanning book, too.  It's wonderful that a query like mine can get such quick and helpful responses. Thanks also to Leslie Myrick for the tip about Google Books, which I should have tried first.
             Chris

________________________________

From: Mark Twain Forum on behalf of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu 10/14/2010 8:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Twain's thoughts of suicide



The talk of Twain and suicide is prominent in Phillip Fanning's book about=
 Orion Clemens.


Dennis Kelly


-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Talbot <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:36 pm
Subject: Re: Twain's thoughts of suicide


Dear Chris,
Not marginalia but direct reference....You'll find it in Justin Kaplan's=
 Mr.
Clemens and Mark Twain. Kaplan quotes Twain as he refers to the incident.
You should find it in the front of the book. Twain in his early years on=
 the
Pacific Slope had fallen on hard times in San Francisco. Paraphrasing:
"There was a time when I put a pistol to my head. Even though I didn't
succeed I have never regretted having done so."

I thumbed my copy pretty good but didn't locate it, but I know that I did
just read it last week as I began my 7th read through of this award winnin=
g
book.

Good luck
Rick Talbot



-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Leslie Myric=
k
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 9:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Twain's thoughts of suicide

Google Books is an excellent tool for queries like this. I entered =20
three terms: Clemens suicide marginalia -- the second hit returned was =20
Phipps' Mark Twain's Religion, p. 53,  where in n. 56 he cites =20
Clemsns' copy of the Letters of James Russell Lowell as the source =20
you're seeking. Further searching for corroboration in Gribben or =20
Google Books should nail it.
Leslie Myrick

On Oct 14, 2010, at 5:34 AM, Christopher D. Morris wrote:

> To the members of the Mark Twain Forum,
>
> I've been trying to track down the source of the story about the =20
> night =3D
> in 1866 when Twain considered suicide. Apparently Twain mentioned =20
> the =3D
> incident in the margins of a book he was reading in the early 1900s; =3D
> I've learned that the particular reference can be found in Alan =3D
> Gribben's Mark Twain's Library: A Reconstruction (2 volumes). This =3D
> excellent work lists and comments on Twain's books alphabetically, =20
> and =3D
> there is no index. So, before I begin with the entry for Abbey's Old =3D
> Songs and work my way through to Zurcher's Meteors, I thought I'd =20
> check =3D
> to see if anyone knows which particular book the marginalia appears =20
> in. =3D
> Thanks to anyone who can help me.
>
> Christopher Morris

=20