The mock-military tone of the notice and the initials G. G. suggest that the Notice is meant to pay homage to Twain's friend Ulysses S. Grant. During the latter stages of revising HF for publication, Twain was also helping Grant to publish his memoirs. Grant was dying of cancer at this time and was also broke, and both he and Twain hoped the publication of his memoirs would help restore Grant's finances and his reputation (after a presidency that was marred by charges of corruption).