Howells promptly wrote again, urging him to enter the campaign for Hayes.  “There is not another man in this country,” he said, “who could help him so much as you.”  The “farce” which Clemens refers to in his reply, was “The Parlor Car,” which seems to have been about the first venture of Howells in that field.

To W. D. Howells, in Boston: 

Elmira, August 23, 1876.  My dear Howells,—­I am glad you think I could do Hayes any good, for I have been wanting to write a letter or make a speech to that end.  I’ll be careful not to do either, however, until the opportunity comes in a natural, justifiable and unlugged way; and shall not then do anything unless I’ve got it all digested and worded just right.  In which case I might do some good—­in any other I should do harm.  When a humorist ventures upon the grave concerns of life he must do his job better than another man or he works harm to his cause.

The farce is wonderfully bright and delicious, and must make a hit.  You read it to me, and it was mighty good; I read it last night and it was better; I read it aloud to the household this morning and it was better than ever.  So it would be worth going a long way to see it well played; for without any question an actor of genius always adds a subtle something to any man’s work that none but the writer knew was there before.  Even if he knew it.  I have heard of readers convulsing audiences with my “Aurelia’s Unfortunate Young Man.”  If there is anything really funny in the piece, the author is not aware of it.

All right—­advertise me for the new volume.  I send you herewith a sketch which will make 3 pages of the Atlantic.  If you like it and accept it, you should get it into the December No. because I shall read it in public in Boston the 13th and 14th of Nov.  If it went in a month earlier it would be too old for me to read except as old matter; and if it went in a month later it would be too old for the Atlantic—­do you see?  And if you wish to use it, will you set it up now, and send me three proofs?—­one to correct for Atlantic, one to send to Temple Bar (shall I tell them to use it not earlier than their November No.) and one to use in practising for my Boston readings.

We must get up a less elaborate and a much better skeleton-plan for the Blindfold Novels and make a success of that idea.  David Gray spent Sunday here and said we could but little comprehend what a rattling stir that thing would make in the country.  He thought it would make a mighty strike.  So do I. But with only 8 pages to tell the tale in, the plot must be less elaborate, doubtless.  What do you think?

When we exchange visits I’ll show you an unfinished sketch of Elizabeth’s
time which shook David Gray’s system up pretty exhaustively. 
                                        Yrs ever,
          
                                        Mark.