Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-06-04
"For James W. Nye, US. Sena-

''For James W. Nye, US. Sena
tor"
"That is an atrocious, a ruinous
epistle! Distraction"
"Well, sir, I amsreally sorry if
there is anything wrong about il
-but-but-it appears to me to
dodge the water-lot question"
"Dodge the mischief! OH
but never mind. AS long as
destruction must come now, let it
be complete--let this last of your
performances, which I am about
to read, make a finality of it. I
am a ruined man. | had my
misgivings when / gave you the
letter from Humboldt, asking that
the post route from Indian Gulch
to Shakespeare Gap and interme-
diate points be changed partly to
the old Mormon trail. But i told
you it was a delicate question, and
warned you to deal with it deftly
Ito answer it obviously, and
leave them a little in the dark
And your fatal imbecility impelled
you to make this disastrous reply.
| should think you would stop
your ears, if you are not dead to
all shame:
"WAsHINGToN, Nov. 80, 1867.
s'Messrs Perkins, Wagner, ct al;
"GENTLEMEN It is a delicate
question about this Indian trail,
but handled with proper deftness
and dubiousness, | doubt not we
shall succeed in some measure or
otherwise, because the place where
the route leaves the Lassau Mead
ows, over beyond where those two
Swanee chiefs, Dilapidated-Ven-
geance and Biter-of-the-Clouds,
were scalped last winter, this be-
ing the favorite direction to some,
but others preferring something
else in consequence of things, the
Mormon trail leaving Mosby's at
three in the morning, and passing
through Jawbone Flat b Blucher
and then down by Jug-Handle,
the road passing to the right of it,
and naturally leaving it on the
right, too, and Dawson's on the
left of the trail where it passes to
the left of said Dawson's, and on
ward thence to Tomahawk, thus
the route cheaper, easier of
access to all who can't get at it,
and comprising all the desirable
objects SO considered by others,
Ind, therefore, comforting the most
rood upon the greatest number,
md, consequently, l am encour-
lged to hope we shall. How
'ver, l shall be ready, and happy,
o afford you still further informa-
ion upon the subject, from time to
lime, as you may desire it and the
POST Office Department be enabled
o furnish it to me.
every truly, etc.,
"MARK TWAIN.
''For James W. Nye, US. Sen
tor" II
"There-now, aohat doyou think $
f that 2"
"Well, 1 don't.know, sir. It
ell, it appears to me-to be du- |
ious enough"
"Du-leave the house l am a a
lined man. Those Humboldt Q
wages never will forgive me for t
lngling their brains up with this q
human letter. have lost the q
'spect of the Methodist Church, O
lie Board of Aldermen" t
"Well I haven't anything to
y about that, because I may
i've missed it little in their ca II
s, but l aoas too many for the u
aldwin's Ranch people, General !" Q
"Leave the house! Leave it for II
'er and forever too !" I
I regarded that as sort of Co a
rt intimation that my services Is
uld be dispensed with, and SO l re- K
,ned. / never will be a private
cretary to Senator again. You
MT please that kind of people. IN
hey don't know anything. They te
Mt appreciate party's efforts. al
MARK TWAIN. nj