Beschreibung:

PORTER, WILLIAM SYDNEY ("O. Henry"). Autograph letter signed ("W.S.P.") to an old friend ("My Deer [sic] Jim"), in his home state of North Carolina, New York, 15 June n.y. [1909]. 4 pages, 4to, in pencil on tan pulp paper, backed, a few small fold holes (one affecting a letter) . "I hope you'll let me write with a pencil, because I shy like a bronco at the sight of pen & ink. I have answered every one of your letters (in the spirit) & I haven't any excuse except that I simply CANT write letters...I'm as busy these days as a man with the itch counting money, trying to put through a lot of things. I've got a novel, two plays & about 27 stories to turn out before the frost is on the punkin [sic]. I'm trying my hand at musical comedy in collaboration with a newspaper man here [ Lo , written with Franklin P. Adams]. It's to be put on in Chicago July 15th & so far it looks like it might win out. But 'you can never tell.' The producers are going to put about $25,000 in it, & anyhow, it will have a good run for one night [the musical wasn't a success]...Since I've been working so hard I feel a good deal better -- I believe in the 'work cure.' I sent Judge 'Tom' Jones a book, & if he will agree to join our fishing trip I'll bring along a demijohn or two of something that will take the taste of it out of his mouth..." O. Henry letters are rare. [With:] PORTER. Autograph manuscript of a 13-line bawdy poem on "the maidenhead," n.p., n.d. 1 page, 4to, in pencil on tan pulp paper, with a few revisions, the leaf stained and torn (a large piece) at bottom margin . (2)