From a letter to Mark Twain, postmarked October 1, 1879, from Carl Jensen, a customs officer in Stubbekøbing, Denmark. Twain’s annotation reads, “Preserve this remarkable letter.” Dear Mark Twain: Letters from His Readers, edited by R. Kent Rasmussen, is out this month from University of California Press.

To Mr. Samuel L. Clemens, alias Mark Twain:

Please to excuse that I fall with the door in the house, without first to begin with the usual long ribble-row. I want to become the autograph of the over alle the world well known Mark Twain, whose narratives so apt have procured me a laughter.

If you will answer this letter, I will be very glad. Answer me what you will; but two words. If you not will answer me other so write only, that you do not like to write autographs.

Your
Carl Jensen