Existing comment:
John J. Murphy
Letter from Alta California's New York office engaging Samuel Clemens as special correspondent on excursion to the Holy Land, 1867
The great pleasure excursion to Europe and the Holy Land was advertised as being led by the famous pastor of Brooklyn's Plymouth Church, Henry Ward Beecher. Passengers included famous Civil War generals -- including William T. Sherman --, and actors and actresses, and other notables. Twain needed to be part of that voyage. The trip would be his book. And as an up and coming writer he would make useful contacts. So, he persuaded the Alta California to cover the $1250 cost of the trip in return for weekly columns -- over the five month journey, Twain sent 51 letters to the newspaper -- and he persuaded the ship's captain to give him a spot amount the famous passengers. |