he end it
became a revival of Colonel Sellers, or rather a caricature
of that gentle hearted old visionary. Clemens had always
complained that the actor Raymond had never brought out the
finer shades of Colonel Sellers's character, but Raymond in
his worst performance never belied his original as did
Howells and Clemens in his dramatic revival. These two,
working together, let their imaginations run riot with
disastrous results. The reader can judge something of this
himself, from The American Claimant the book which Mark
Twain would later build from the play.

But at this time they thought it a great triumph. They had
"cracked their sides" laughing over its construction, as
Howells once said, and they thought the world would do the
same over its performance. They decided to offer it to
Raymond, but rather haughtily, indifferently, because any
number of other actors would be waiting for it.

But this was a miscalculation. Raymond now turned the
tables. Though favorable to the idea of a new play, he
declared this one did not present his old Sellers at all,
but a lunatic. In the end he returned the MS. with a brief
note. Attempts had already been made to interest other
actors, and would continue for some time.

XXIV. LETTERS, 1884, TO HOWELLS AND OTHERS. CABLE'S GREAT APRIL FOOL.
"HUCK FINN" IN PRESS. MARK TWAIN FOR CLEVELAND. CLEMENS AND CABLE.

Mark Twain had a lingering attack of the dramatic fever that
winter. He made a play of the Prince and Pauper, which
Howells pronounced "too thin and slight and not half long
enough." He made another of Tom Sawyer, and probably
destroyed it, for no trace of the MS. exists to-day. Howells
could not join in these ventures, for he was otherwise
occupied and had sickness in his household.

*****

To W. D. Howells, in Boston:

Jan. 7, '84.

MY DEAR HOWELLS,--"O my goodn's", as Jean says. You have now encountered
at last the heaviest calamity that can befall an author. The scarlet
fever, once domesticated, is a permanent member of the family. Money may
desert you, friends forsake you, enemies grow indifferent to you, but
the scarlet fever will be true to you, through thick and thin, till
you be all saved or damned, down to the last one. I say these things to
che