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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 2 May 1999 22:20:09 -0500
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>From a biographical sketch of cartoonist Harold T. Webster
(b. 1885 - d. 1952) that appears in the book _The Best of
H. T. Webster_ :

A boy barely out of his teens, Webby once drew a pen sketch of
Mark Twain and sent it to him.  Mr. Clemens' acknowledgment, to
the effect that he thought the likeness "striking," was framed
with his photograph and hung in a conspicuous place on the wall
of Webster's living room to the day of his death.  And it didn't
spoil his pleasure a bit when the author wrote to a friend:
"This morning I have received another heart-breaker.  It comes
from Webster of the Chicago Inter-Ocean.  You will see for yourself
that it is too exact.  This kind of accuracy, continued long
enough, can ruin a man who is constructed as I am.  I want to be
pretty.  I want to eliminate facts and fill up the gap with charm."
(p. 10).

Two questions --

1) There is no listing of a letter from SLC to H. T. Webster in the
Union Catalog database.  Has the letter appeared in print or
surfaced since H. T. Webster's death?

2) To which friend did SLC write the "heart-breaker" comment?  Howells
would seem the likely candidate but the MT-Howells volumes of
letters list no mention of H. T. Webster in the index. And no listing
for H. T. Webster in Paine's volumes of letters either.

Thanks,

Barb

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