I recall a number of letters concerning Orion -admonishing him as a “dreamer” directly or indirectly. And one can’t ignore his having to bail Orion out of numerous crazy schemes. Nor can we avoid at least a partial attribution of Colonel Sellers as an Orion avatar. Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 2, 2019, at 1:24 PM, Mac Donnell Rare Books <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > It's also not so difficult to credit that editor with having his tongue in his cheek. > > 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 > > > ------ Original Message ------ > From: "Clay Shannon" <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: 9/2/2019 11:47:43 AM > Subject: Twain was pulling Orion's leg, right? > >> In a February 6, 1862 letter to his brother Orion, Twain described a visit to a fortune-teller, in which he quotes her as saying many things about his brother (Orion), such as, "..he is too visionary--is always flying off on a new hobby; this will never do--tell him I said so." &c >> >> To me, it's pretty obvious that Twain is pulling Orion's leg, or trying to counsel him, by relating this "conversation." >> The editor of Twain's letters, though, seems to take Twain's account as "gospel," though, writing: >> "It is not so difficult to credit Madame Caprell with clairvoyant powers when one has read the letters of Samuel Clemens up to this point." >> My reaction is, "What!?! Don't you know Twain was a kidder from the cradle and remained one all his life? And that he would not miss an opportunity to tease his brother thus?" >> What do y'all think? >> - B. Clay Shannon >>