The narrative begins with a letter from a notable figure expressing a desire for privacy regarding their ownership of a typewriter, indicating a reluctance to engage in correspondence about it. The author reflects on their first experience with a typewriter in 1873, recalling a visit to a Boston shop where they witnessed a demonstration of the machine's capabilities. Initially skeptical, they were convinced by the speed of the typist and decided to purchase one. Upon returning home, the author experimented with the machine, producing repetitive text and eventually hiring a typist to assist with letter writing. The typewriter, however, had limitations, only producing capital letters, which the author found unsatisfactory. They recount dictating a letter to a young Edward Bok, emphasizing the value of their written work and the unfairness of giving away samples of their trade. The author claims to have been the first to apply the typewriter to literature, specifically noting that a significant portion of a book was typed in 1874. They describe the early machine as flawed and troublesome, leading to a decline in their character. After attempting to give the machine to a friend, who was initially hesitant, it returned to them multiple times before finally being given to a coachman, who later traded it away. Throughout the narrative, the author reflects on the evolution of the typewriter and its impact on their writing process, illustrating a blend of humor and critique regarding technological advancements and their personal experiences with them. The piece captures the tension between innovation and tradition in the realm of writing, highlighting the author's ambivalence toward the typewriter as both a tool and a source of frustration.
By Mark Twain · First published 1867 · Genre: Autobiography, Historical Fiction, Literary Non-Fiction