Blog | Mark Twain’s Earliest Example of Literary Humor? |
As I was scanning through the Clarksville (TN.) Chronicle for July 28, 1846, I found this bit of filler, which may turn out to be an example of Samuel Clemens’ humor at its earliest. Clemens worked as a type-setter for his brother Orion’s Hannibal Journal at around this time and this tiny “curiosity” would certainly fit the profile of an 11 year old future literary–and comedic– genius.
Jess
“Literary Curiosity.– The following is a true copy of a superscription of a letter which passed through our city post-office last week–Hannibal Journal.
‘to my deer ant Sally
She Cawgar–
Elinoize
I had a short agar spell to day.’”
