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Papers of Ambrose Bierce, Accession #5992 through 5992-r, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
Gifts and deposits of Clifton Waller Barrett; purchases from the Barrett fund.
[#5992-a]
re: military personnel recommendations
Re: military personnel recommendation
appointing Ambrose G. Bierce a Brevet Major, effective 1865 MAR 13.
Signed by Acting 2nd Comptroller [P.?] McMahon
Re: death of John C. Eastman's mother, Harriet A. Eastman
(letter is misdated 1883 by Bierce)
(letter is misdated 1883 by Bierce)
Refers to earlier correspondence between Putnam
and Ambrose Bierce concerning the publication of his
book, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians, which was
eventually published in San Francisco by Bierce's
friend, E.L.G. Steele in 1891. Bierce had claimed
that he could not get an Eastern publisher to accept
his book for publication, but this letter indicates
Putnam had made Bierce an offer which he refused.
[Barrett PS 1097 .Z5A3 1922a c.2]
Re: "Black Beetles"
Bierce promises to have his photograph taken so
that he can fulfill her request for an autograph and
photograph and playfully says, "When I get there I
shall blindfold you, hypnotize you and command you to
find my lost youth and freedom. Then I shall marry
you alive and live happily ever after."
Bierce writes "I am sending you by this mail the photograph of a bad old man with a scowl. The scowl, however, is not for you -
Bierce accepts her gratitude and regard for
himself although he does not believe that he merits
it. He regrets that he cannot say when he will be
able to meet Mr. King but agrees to see him
informally some time when he is in Oakland.
Bierce sends Harriet some wild pansies growing by
the wayside because they made him think of her, "I
feel sure that the thought of you was put into my
head by some divine intervention in the affairs of
mortals, and for some purpose. My interpretation -
with my feeble light and dull intuition- is that I am
to send you some of those poor little frail pansies."
He then goes on to explain that pansies are for
thoughts and their old English name "hearts-ease" is
better suited than "pansies = pensees"
Bierce thanks her for sending him the ginger cakes
which he tried to share with the horned-toads but
they preferred grasshoppers. He declines to visit
Oakland because his last visit cost him a month's
illness but urges her to visit him in Los Gatos and
to bring with her "that impossible paragon, the
Pittsburgh sister - whom, however, I believe to be a
myth."
Bierce asks Harriet for the Paris address of her
"musical sweetheart," Will King, so that he can thank
him for a book and asks her to write him concerning
herself. Otherwise he will have to hire a detective
to shadow her night and day and send him reports of
everything he learns about her activities.
Bierce wishes to see her very badly but remembers
all too well the last illness which he suffered in
Oakland, promises to send tickets to Belle and her if
they will visit him in Los Gatos for a Sunday
afternoon, and mentions receiving a letter from her
sister Louise.
Bierce expresses joy at the receipt of her letter
for "it clears you of the solemn suspicion of running
away from me in cold-blooded infraction of our
understanding" but he also thinks "it very rascally
of you to take all the sunshine out of Oakland to
bestow it upon Iona."
Sends another photograph to replace the damaged
one along with several books to "the Colonel and the
Major" and mentions a letter from Mamie who proved to
be a charming traveling companion.
Responding to her impression of his goodness
Bierce writes, "It is pretty easy to be good to you,
and I don't expect any credit for it in the books of
the Recording Angel. He will say: 'Bah ! who wouldn't
be good to Hattie Hershberg?' and then he will debit
me with one selfish motive." He also mentions Kodak
photographs of a group consisting of Hattie, Mamie,
Dave, Selma, Louise, and himself, while assuring her
of his devotion, "you are still the only girl in the
world; and if there is a man who does not love you he
is a scoundrel." Referring to his experience in
military life Bierce writes, "No, my pet scheme for
making soldiers of the Major's little rascals is not
practicable. The confounded Government is so
particular about the moral character of its recruits
that I couldn't enlist myself. This is a great
disappointment to me. I had quite set my heart on
getting Co. A into Cuba, to prove that bad boys make
the best soldiers. But I'm assured that it cannot be
done."
[misdated "April" in letter]
Bierce writes that he has severed all connections
with Los Gatos and that his health is good as he day
dreams under the redwoods. He complains that thoughts
of her often break in upon his reminiscences of the
past, "Only the other day you wantonly interrupted
the march of a column of troops from Readyville to
Woodbury, Tennessee, which was not at all nice of
you."
Bierce agrees to take her to see the soldiers and
to expound every military mystery they encounter and
to plan a trip to the country when she visits.
Bierce promises to visit San Francisco next Sunday
and Monday if she promises to give him Monday, when
they can see the soldiers or go anywhere she wants.
Bierce was unable to go to Oakland and wishes that
he could run the world awhile, "My first official act
would be to order you and Mamie to Los Gatos; my
second, to go there myself."
Bierce declines a guided tour of Silver Lake due
to his poor health and continues by teasing Belle
about her younger sister, "I'm thinking seriously of
transferring my love from Hattie to you. You don't
move away without notice, and - well, your mother's
right in worrying about Hattie. That girl needs a
convent worse than Selma - a convent with more
austere 'sisters' and higher walls, topped with
broken glass. A sentinel with a repeating rifle might
be added."
Bierce thanks Hattie for the present of a cushion
because it signified her return from her trip to a
lake in the mountains and asks if he can visit her on
Saturday afternoon.
Bierce hopes that she is happier than in her last
letter and asks individually about the health of her
whole family.
Bierce agrees to examine the manuscript of one of
her friends if it is in typescript and legible and
describes his new quarters in a house with six rooms,
one of which he has reserved for her and her chaperon
if she will visit.
Birece thanks Hubbard (1856-1915) for sending him
a bound volume of The Philistine, a monthly magazine
(1895-1915), and congratulates him on his success
with the venture; Hubbard, an American inspirational
essayist who published and edited The Philistine, saw
its circulation increase from 2500 copies given away
to 225,000 paid subscriptions.
Bierce apologizes for his seeming inattention and
answers her questions about the Rubaiyat of Omar
Khayyam.
Bierce urges Hattie to come, rent a house, and
visit several weeks along with Belle and Florence,
"Please say if you will come and thereby sweeten the
fragrance of the flowers, intensify the gold of the
sunshine and add a new music to the voices of my pet
quails - one of which sits on my knee as I write and
looks knowing as if he said: I can tell by your face
whom you are writing to?"
Bierce expresses his disappointment that she did
not come up to visit during her summer outing and
determines to accustom himself to disappointment even
to the point of allowing Harriet, Belle, and Florence
to marry if they choose.
Bierce asks her to again send the recipe for
molasses candy for some of the ladies there want to
make some and "as the purpose of my existence is to
please the members of the sex which your virtues
preserve from damnation I comply with the request."
Bierce voices his concern over Louise's illness
(malaria ?) and begs for news of her condition.
Bierce asks for news of Louise. Relates plans to
make a farewell visit to San Francisco before he
returns to Washington DC to live.
Bierce thanks Hattie for her good news about
Louise and the invitation to Thanksgiving dinner
which he must decline in the chaos of preparing to
leave for Washington DC but promises to try to see
them all before he leaves.
Replying to Blythe's letter of the sixth, Bierce
informs him that he has not written any fiction
recently and has "uniformly declined to write for the
magazines, being dissatisfied with the indefinite
character of their proposals and the uncertainty as
to when the work if accepted will be published." He
admits that the Cosmopolitan Magazine may have a
different system of publication than most magazines
and declares it to be better than the majority of
them.
Bierce tells Hattie that he is to leave today and
asks if she can keep herself and Louise and Belle at
home long enough to see him before he leaves at 5
p.m.
Bierce tells her that "it is not worthwhile to
love you anymore, for I shall never see you again"
even if she should visit Pittsburgh because the coal
smoke from the railway engines makes him very ill and
there is little else in Pittsburgh.
Asks about the family and when she will be able to
visit her sister Nettie in Pittsburgh and him in
Washington
Bierce declares that if he shall ever see those
whom he loves again he will have to do the traveling
"to the imminent destruction of my lungs" and wishes
her "as much happiness as I can make up my mind that
you ought to have in my absence."
Bierce deals with a coolness or "defection"
growing out of their joint venture in publishing
Black Beetles. Bierce also refuses to jointly
republish The Monk because their business
relationship was "the rock that wrecked our
friendship."
Bierce hopes to see her in Washington before she
leaves on her trip to Europe with her sister Nettie
and offers to show her the capital
Having just returned from an unpleasant fortnight
in New York, Bierce hopes that Hattie will be able to
visit him in Washington, although he would be willing
to return to New York to see her.
Bierce looks forward to seeing Harriet in a few
days and describes his Christmas Day activities.
Bierce assures her that he is not angry that she
won't be coming to Washington because "I have lived
long enough to learn that a woman's promise is merely
the expression of a mood - and woman's moods do not
last long."
Bierce is glad that Hattie had a good time in
Washington during her visit and that she is enjoying
New York City as well but does not plan to see her in
New York.
Bierce thanks her for her expression of sympathy
and mentions that his daughter is visiting with him.
Bierce writes that he hopes her reasons for
staying in the East so long is due to having such a
good time and not the matchmaking attempts of Sally
and Nettie, and he also touts his typewriting ability
"I have one great qualification: I can hold my
tongue, though sometimes both hands are required to
do the job."
Having received her note about her impending
marriage, Bierce writes, "It is pleasant to know that
you still live, though about to die - I mean marry
and live in Philadelphia. I approve the marriage, but
Philadelphia! - that is going too far" and asks for
news of everyone.
2 letters sent to different addresses.
Original in
An important letter concerning the material later used in
The recipient may be Frank Jenners Wilstach; the reference to "Wilstachian thinglets" may be FJW's
Cancellation noted, 1913 SEP 3, [upon receipt of
1913 AUG 29 transfer of title to Carrie J.
Christiansen]
Bierce returns her "excellent verses" which she
had enclosed in a letter to him under the
misunderstanding that he had some editorial
connection with Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Bierce returns the proofs of volume seven of
Bierce quotes a long excerpt from a letter to him from S.O. Howe, the editor of his book,
Bierce takes issue with Neale in his refusal to
serve on a jury with a Negro and agreeing with him in
his opposition to the Fifteenth Amendment, "but are
you sure that the Judge will not punish you for
contempt, seeing in your protest only an
advertisement of your book and business?..."
Bierce writes to his friend, eventual biographer, and publisher of The
Bierce writes in this partial letter, "I am not a
'free agent' and can now (as my time is short) hope
to see only a few even of those whom I most wish to
see." He also warns that Sacramento "is bad for the
heart - it used to be bad for mine."
Bierce apologizes for not being at home when Mrs.
Beckman and Mrs. Wright came to call and refers to
her health, "I fancy that good big heart of yours is
not going to fail you. It has never failed those who
love you - for example."
Bierce mentions his poor health since midsummer
and looks forward to the visit of his friends.
TL copy, n.y. SEP 18 S.L. Clemens [Mark Twain] to
[Edward Steele], 1 p. [#5992-f]
[publ. in Times Observer]
[publ. in The Bulletin, San Francisco]
[publ. in The San Francisco Examiner]
[publ. in Los Gatos Daily Times]
p. i
p. ii
p. 1-5
p. 5a
p. 6-15
note: p. 9 omitted in numbering error in
page sequence: correct sequence is pages 13, 15,
14.
p. 15.a
p. 15.b
p. 16
p. 17-19
note: p. 20 omitted in numbering
p. 21
p. 22-24
p. 24.a
p. 25-29
p. 29.a
p. 29.b
p. 30
p. 31-34
p. 35-37
p. 38-41
- insert:
p. 42
p. 42.a
p. 43
p. 44-46
p. 47
p. 48
p. 49-58
- insert:
- insert:
p. 59-63
p. 64
p. 65-68
p. 69-82
p. 83
p. 84
p. 84.a
p. 84.b
p. 84.c
p. 84.d
- attached
p. 84.e
p. 85-90
p. 91-95
p. 96-98
p. 99-103
p. 104-106
p. 107-111.
p. 112 omitted in numbering
p. 113-120.
p. 115 omitted in numbering
p. 121
p. 121.a
p. 122-124
p. 125-128
p. 129-131
p. 132-135
p. 136
p. 137-139
p. 140-141
p. 142-143
p. 144-145
p. 146-147
p. 148-150
p. 151-157
P. 158-159
p. 160-161
p. 162-164
p. 165-173
p. 173.a
p. 174
p. 174.a
p. 174.b
p. 175-185
p.186-188
p. 189-195
p. 196-206
p. 204
p. 208-211
p. 210
p. 212-215
p. 216
p. 217
p. 218-222
p. 223
p. 224
p. 225
p. 225.a
p. 226-232
p. 233
p. 233.a
p. 234-236
p. 237-244
p. 238
p. 245-247
("probably imperfect" and [see list on]
"page 196" written in pencil)
p. 248-250
p. 251-252
p. 253
p. 254
(Several initial letters written in
pencil)
p. 255-260
p. 261-267
p. 268-270
p. 271-277
(in Bierce's handwriting)
p. 277.a
(in Bierce's handwriting)
p. 278-279
p. 280
p. 281-282
p. 283-284
p. 285-286
p. 286.a
p. 287-288
p. 289
p. 290
p. 291-294
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.a
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.b
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.c
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.d
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.e
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.f
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.g
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.h
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.i
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.j
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.k
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.l
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.m
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.n
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.o
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.p
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.q
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.r
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.s
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.t
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.u
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.v
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.w
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.x
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.y
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.z
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.aa
This item is bound between pages 287 and 288.
p. 295.bb
This item is bound between pages 287 and
288.
- inserted inside of back cover
Containing reviews of Bierce's books, clipped from
a variety of newspapers. Generally, the sources of
the clippings were identified in ink at the
conclusion of each article, but the dates of
publication were not. Pagination added: 1-63, p.
44-46 blank.
p. 1-43
p. 47-63
Containing reviews of Bierce's books, clipped from
a variety of newspapers. Generally, the sources of
the clippings were identified in ink at the
conclusion of each article, but the dates of
publication were not. Pagination added: 6-55, p. 26
blank.
Containing reviews of Bierce's books, clipped from
a variety of newspapers. Generally, the sources of
the clippings were identified in ink at the
conclusion of each article, but the dates of
publication were not. Pagination added: 1-46, p.
17-18, 26 blank.
p. 1-15
p. 19-25
p. 27-45
Embossed "Scrap Book" in gold on the cover.
Generally, the sources of the clippings were
identified in ink at the conclusion of each article,
but the dates of publication were not. Pagination
added: 1-19
p. 1-9
Clippings from various sources re: San
Francisco "News Letter"
p. 10-19
Revies of Bierce's book:
Contains early artiles by Bierce, approximately 1884-1888, but the clippings are not in strict chronological sequence. Teh date and place of publcaiton of some of the articles was noted by Bierce in ink or pencil. Pagination added: 13-137; p. 36-136 blank
Contains various articles and columns by Bierce,
ca. 1893-1902, but the clippings are not in
chronological sequence, and many lack dates.
Many of the clippings were folded to fit within
the size of book and some items are obscured by
others.
Pagination added: 1-61
Inscribed in ink by Bierce inside front cover:
"Book 1, Jan. 1893 - Dec. 1894."
Contains Ambrose Bierce's column, "Prattle."
The clippings appear to be arranged in strict
chronological order.
Pagination added: 1-57
Inscribed in ink by Bierce inside front cover:
"Book 2, Jan 1895 - Nov. 1895."
Contains Ambrose Bierce's column, "Prattle."
The clippings appear to be arranged in strict
chronological order. Pagination added: 1-64
Contains titled columns by Ambrose Bierce,
beginning with "Prattle," and including other of his
columns published in later years, although many of
the clippings omit the column title. The clippings
appear to be in fairly good chronological order,
although some items lack dates. Pagination added:
1-123
Vol. 10 Covers the period 1899 Jan. 1 - 1900 Oct.
12. Contains titled columns by Ambrose Bierce,
beginning with "Prattle," and including other of his
columns published in later years, although many of
the clippings omit the column title. The clippings
appear to be in fairly good chronological order,
although some items lack dates. Pagination added:
1-120
Vol. 11 covers the period 1900 Oct. 14-1903 May
18. Contains titled columns by Ambrose Bierce,
beginning with "Prattle," and including other of his
columns published in later years, although many of
the clippings omit the column title. The clippings
appear to be in fairly good chronological order,
although some items lack dates. Pagination added:
1-30, 30A, 30B, 31 -40, 40A, 40B, 41-116
To correct an obvious error, two detached
leaves containing items dating from 1901 found in the
back of vol. 10 were replaced in vol. 11 by date and
repaginated as p. 36-A/36-B and 40-A/40-B.
In addition to Bierce's columns, vol. 11
includeds Bierce's reviews of others' books:
Pagination added: 1-131, 131A, 131B, 132-145. Most
of the items lack dates, and those that are dated are
not in chronological order. Of the items that are
dated, the earliest date noted is 1888 Feb 19 (p.65)
and the latest is 1904 Nov 29 (p.115). Although many
items lack mastheads, most appear to be Bierce's
titled columns:
Pagination added: 1-145.
Most items lack dates, and those that are dated
are not in chronological order. OF the dated items,
the earliest is 1888 Jan 22 (p.93); the latest is
1906 Jun _(p.18).
Although many items lack mastheads, and some
miscellaneous articles are included, most of the
clippings appear to be Bierce's titled columns:
Most items lack dates, and those that are dated
are not in chronological order. Of the dated items,
the earliest is 1892 Dec 4 (p.77); the latest is 1897
Aug 15 (p.28). Although many items lack mastheads,
and some miscellaneous articles are included, most of
the clippings appear to be Bierce's titled column:
Pagination added: 1-146
Most items lack dates, and those that are dated
are not in chronological order. OF the dated items,
the earliest is 1890 Oct 5 (p.97); the latest is 1897
May 30 (p.76).
Although many items lack mastheads, and many
miscellaneous articles are included (
Most items lack dates, and those that are dated
are not in chronological order. Of the dated items,
the earliest is 1899 Nov 26 (p.145); the latest is
1906 Jun 13 (p.1).
Pagination added: 1-150. Although many items
lack mastheads, and some miscellaneous articles are
included, most of the clippings appear to be Bierce's
titled columns:
Most items lack dates, and those that are dated
are not in chronological order. Of the dated items,
the earliest is 1892 Feb 13 (p.53); the latest is
1915 Feb-(p.115).
Pagination added: 1-143 (p. 1 is blank)
Most items lack dates, and those that are dated
are not in chronological order. Of the dated items,
the earliest is 1882 Jan 6 (p.82); the latest is 1915
Jul 4 (p.18).
Pagination added: 1-119
Most items lack dates, and those that are dated
are not in chronological order. Of the dated items,
the earliest is 1892 Apr 13 (p.30); the latest is
1915 Oct 30 (p.77, 94).
This "volume" actually consists of a brown
envelope containing loose printed articles clipped
from various magazines that were probably not pasted
in the scrapbooks because the text appears on both
sides of the leaves.
The items have been numbered and the item
numbers appear at the foot of each frame.
(recaps Bierce's campaign v. Huntington)
(see p.16)
(see p. 52)
(see p. 244)
(see p. 570)
(re: Bierce's home)