Perhaps in the 2-volume Twain-Howells letters, Harvard/Belknap Press, circa 1960? Martin Zehr, Kansas City From: Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 2:11 PM Subject: MT & WDH = members of the "club" Friends; I'm sorry to bother y'all at this busy time of year. I tried really hard to turn this up without the kindness of this LIST. But alas, I'm banging my head against the bookshelf, trying to locate an old quote or passage that seems to have either disappeared completely from my notes/digital files; or else is simply something I once encountered in the nether world of dreams . . . . I believe there is, perhaps in a letter, a passage where Twain tells Howells, after Susy's passing, that they were both now members of the "club" that nobody ever wished to join. Or the club nobody wanted to join. Or something along those lines. Of course, Twain witnessed Howells's own encounter with that club, about 7 years earlier... meaning, the club of parental grief. Does that ring a bell for anyone? Perhaps it's WDH saying it to Twain. But anyway, any help or guidance much appreciated. I've grown weary and embarrassed by my own inability to turn this one up! -hb -- Prof. Harold K. Bush Professor of English 3800 Lindell Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO 63108 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h) <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>