Life went on very well in Munich. Each day the family fell
more in love with Fraulein Dahlweiner and her house.
Mark Twain, however, did not settle down to his work
readily. His “pleasant work-room” provided exercise, but no
inspiration. When he discovered he could not find his Swiss
note-book he was ready to give up his travel-writing
altogether. In the letter that follows we find him much
less enthusiastic concerning his own performances than over
the story by Howells, which he was following in the
Atlantic.
The “detective” chapter mentioned in this letter was not
included in 'A Tramp Abroad.' It was published separately,
as 'The Stolen White Elephant' in a volume bearing that
title. The play, which he had now found “dreadfully witless
and flat,” was no other than “Simon Wheeler, Detective,”
which he had once regarded so highly. The “Stewart”
referred to was the millionaire merchant, A. T. Stewart,
whose body was stolen in the expectation of reward.
*****
To W. D. Howells, in Boston: