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Some time ago I read a letter from Mr Jas. B Pond of N.Y. who appears to be a Gen
Manager for all the lecturers and readers that are on the globe. He wished me to
take the platform as a lecturer. This honor I achieved; But as I have found that
I can always hold an audience with dialect stories I made a suggestion to him
cots.page.IMG.0612.jpg to consider what the chances of success might be of a
Reading Tour. To this he replied giving his opinion that a joint reading with
Miss Rives or Cable would be
immensely popular. I thought this unpracticable and suggested that he use his
blandishments with you.
He writes me that he is satisfied that a joint reading with you would be an assued success from the start, and offers to take charge of the programme if I can obtain permission.
I should like to know if
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any circumstances agreeable to you.
Pond is the man who managed for Mark Twain and Cobb several years ago and netted
them some $30,000. I have heard. I must say the project has a pleasant look for
me, and if I could induce you to join, I think we might in a couple of months
lay by enough of our Yankee Cousins' gold to compensate us for some we have
furnished them. I have refused up to this
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propositions to read except for some charitable object, but I have been much
flattered at my success whenever I have attempted it.
Col. Johnston wrote to me last summer proposing a Reading Tour but I was at that time too much occupied.
I hope you will not think this presumptuous in this putting Pond on you.
By the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, in conjunction with the Center for the Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis.