I wasn't paying close attention to this thread, and I wanted to check in with Ben Griffin before posting the following, so there was a slight delay in sending this message. I've attached an image from a set of foundry proofs (aka "f-proofs" with "guard-lines"--type-high ink bearers--visible in the margins) for Literary Essays. This set of proofs has a note on them dated March 19, 1900, which jibes with the March 30, 1900 letter cited by Ben, which is why I thought they would be of interest. On the first proof, an American Publishing Company proof-reader has underlined several lines of text where the Smiley/stranger error occurs, and has written in ink "This is exactly the reverse of the story--the stranger takes Smiley [in]." Below this is a pencil note "sent to Clemens to ask about that." This note may have read "Note sent to Clemens . . ." but it's hard to tell; the second proof was glued over part of this note and some (all?) of the obscured words rewritten on the new proof. This note is followed by a later pencil note that says "Clemens said this change was right, the other was wrong." A corrected page proof is pasted over the original proof. In one image I've lifted the later proof to show part of the original f-proof. No, I did not tear anything; somebody did that years ago, perhaps even before these proofs first popped up in the market (by 1938, long before I acquired them). If you care to learn more about other proof-reading for the collected editions and the Am Pub Co proof-reader, Forrest Morgan (1852-1924), cf the 1988 and 2003 MTP eds of HF (pp 522 and 806), and the 1993 ed of RI (p 941). I will send a second image shortly. Kevin @ Mac Donnell Rare Books 9307 Glenlake Drive Austin TX 78730 512-345-4139 Member: ABAA, ILAB, BSA You can browse our books at: www.macdonnellrarebooks.com