With kindest regards to Mrs. Howells, and Pilla and John,
                                   Yours Ever
          
                                   mark.

Howells was more hopeful.  He wrote:  “I read something in a strange book, The Physical Theory of Another Life, that consoles a little; namely, we see and feel the power of Deity in such fullness that we ought to infer the infinite justice and Goodness which we do not see or feel.”  And a few days later, he wrote:  “I would rather see and talk with you than any other man in the world outside my own blood.”

A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court was brought to an end that year and given to the artist and printer.  Dan Beard was selected for the drawings, and was given a free hand, as the next letter shows.

To Fred J. Hall, Manager Charles L. Webster & Co.: 

[Charles L. Webster, owing to poor health, had by this time retired from the firm.]

Elmira, July 20, ’89.  Dear Mr. Hall,—­Upon reflection—­thus:  tell Beard to obey his own inspiration, and when he sees a picture in his mind put that picture on paper, be it humorous or be it serious.  I want his genius to be wholly unhampered, I shan’t have fears as to the result.  They will be better pictures than if I mixed in and tried to give him points on his own trade.

Send this note and he’ll understand. 
                                        Yr
                                             S. L. C.

Clemens had made a good choice in selecting Beard for the illustrations.  He was well qualified for the work, and being of a socialistic turn of mind put his whole soul into it.  When the drawings were completed, Clemens wrote:  “Hold me under permanent obligations.  What luck it was to find you!  There are hundreds of artists that could illustrate any other book of mine, but there was only one who could illustrate this one.  Yes, it was a fortunate hour that I went netting for lightning bugs and caught a meteor.  Live forever!”

Clemens, of course, was anxious for Howells to read The Yankee, and Mrs. Clemens particularly so.  Her eyes were giving her trouble that summer, so that she could not read the Ms. for herself, and she had grave doubts as to some of its chapters.  It may be said here that the book to-day might have been better if Mrs. Clemens had been able to read it.  Howells was a peerless critic, but the revolutionary subject-matter of the book so delighted him that he was perhaps somewhat blinded to its literary defects.  However, this is premature.  Howells did not at once see the story.  He had promised to come to Hartford, but wrote that trivial matters had made his visit impossible.  From the next letter we get the situation at this time.  The “Mr. Church” mentioned was Frederick S. Church, the well-known artist.

To W. D. Howells, in Boston: