This sketch is reprinted in the Iowa/ California Edition of EARLY TALES &
SKETCHES, VOL. 2 as "The Pioneers' Ball" (p. 367-370) along with editorial
background and commentary. "Jenkins" was a generalized name for any
journalist who placed respectability above honest reporting. There is no
commentary or insight on who "Miss X" may have been who got the final
savaging in that report.

Barb

On Mon, Sep 19, 2022 at 10:19 AM Scott Holmes <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> I just received a comment on a video I made for You Tube (many years
> ago) of "After" Jenkins -  "It always puzzled me for what reason he
> wrote this"
>
> I'm unsure on how to respond to this except that 1) motives are always
> difficult to determine, 2) Twain had been reading society columns, 3) He
> was paid to write and that's what came out.  Any thoughts on this squib?
>
> --
> /Unaffiliated Geographer and Twain aficionado/
>