For a biography of my great-grandfather, Richard Kendall Munkittrick
(1853-1911), the poet, humorist, and associate editor of Puck and Judge
magazines, I
am seeking any information about his possible relationship with Mark Twain.

Munkittrick was the author of Yum-Yum! (1878), Farming (1892), Some New
Jersey Arabian Nights (1892), The Moon Prince and Other Nabobs (1893), The
Acrobatic Muse (1897), The Slambangaree and Other Stories (1897), and More
Mother
Goose: Little Bo Beep Continued (1898). He was also a contributor of
witticisms,
poetry, vignettes, and short stories to many newspapers and magazines.

R.K. Munkittrick was a friend of Albert Bigelow Paine in New York City. They
shared an office in the 1890s and were part of the "Poets of Printing House
Square" group. Munkittrick was also the basis for Paine's character "Capers"
in
his book, The Bread Line, A Story of A Paper (1900). Munkittrick attended
Twain's 70th birthday party.

I have been told that Twain was jealous or contemptuous of Munkittrick's
association with Harper & Brothers, which serialized and published in book
form,
Farming and The Moon Prince and Other Nabobs. (Munkittrick was also a
frequent
contributor to Harper's magazines.) However, I have not had any luck
confirming this. Certainly, Munkittrick was a minor figure compared with
Twain (who
wasn't?). However, Munkittrick was well-known and connected in literary New
York,
and seemed to have an easy time getting his work taken in by a great variety
of publications. Indeed, he had quite a reputation for understanding what
different editors sought from their contributors.

Any information, or direction for research, that will further connect
Munkittrick with Twain and Paine will be most appreciated. In addition, I
would like
to know more about Twain's business relationship with the Harper house, but
can't seem to find much about this in the biographies.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Alain D. Munkittrick