December 10 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Home again—& the King is still in Washington. The papers are full of him, for he went down there with plenty of white clothes & people love to see him in them” [MTP TS 149].
David A. Munro for the North American Review wrote to Sam:
I am in distress over one of the first four pages of the new instalment of the autobiography, and the printer expects me to send them to the press tomorrow. That is why I pursue you to Washington.
On page 1218, Joe Goodman challenges Tom Fitch to duel and “modifies” him.
On page 1219, we expect the major to stand Joe up against Tom Fitch. But Joe is stood up with Steve Gillis and “modifies” Steve. What I would know at the last moment is if that is a slip of the pen….If it is all right as it stands, please telegraph me the words “Let it stand.” [MTP]. Note: see Sam’s reply in the “Dec. 10 after” entry.
The New York Times, Dec. 11, p.1 reported Sam’s progress in Washington, D.C.
MARK TWAIN, LOBBYIST.
———
He Cuts Loose from Artists and Musicians on Copyright Bill.
Special to the New York Times
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.—Uncle Joe Cannon did not comply with Mark Twain’s request to get him the thanks of Congress, “in a hurry,” so that Mark, in his new capacity as lobbyist, could go on the floor and seek votes for the Copyright bill. Uncle Joe would have done it if he could, for he would do anything for Mark, but even a Czar’s power is limited.
However, he did the next best thing. He turned his private room over to Mark Twain today to do his lobbying in. As soon as the Speaker spread the tidings Congressmen began to pour in. Mark Twain talked incessantly for five hours and a half. He saw 180 members, very nearly half the membership of the House. All the leaders of both parties came in, Grosvenor, Dalzall, Payne, Williams, Champ Clark, and all the rest.
Mark Twain did not try to be funny with these 180 Congressmen. He fired solid argument at them, and when he got through he had learned something as well as they. He had learned that the authors had made a mistake in tying up their cause to that of the musicians, artists, and other professional men. He discovered that not even his influence and popularity were great enough to save the musicians and artists; that they were doomed anyhow, and that the authors were likely to fall with them unless the bill were split. He also learned that if it was split and the authors got a bill of their own before Congress, it would pass.
Alice Terne Glitterman for Public Education Assoc. of Wash. D.C. wrote to Sam, recollecting the time as a “tremulous Freshman in the corridors of Smith College” Twain had asked her the way to “Harry Tyler’s.” “Then she guided you to his awe-inspiring door and fled.
Inquiry developed that you were YOU, and she always cherished the memory of your quip, and of the little merry walk with you along the halls of Fame.” She felt a beggar asking for “one whole evening of your time and voice” [MTP].
Margaret Lee wrote from Brooklyn to Sam. “I send you a copy of Senator Lodge’s Bill for Perpetual Copyright, and also Mr. C. D. Warner’s argument for it. I read that it was his last important piece of work. I am praying that you will succeed this time in this effort for common justice.” She enclosed several newspaper clippings in support of copyright legislation [MTP].
William A. Wetzel wrote from the High School in Trenton, NJ asking for a “message” for his students of “New Year’s Greetings” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Decline / Thank him for his suggestion” December 10 after – Sam wrote on the back of David A. Munro’s Dec. 10, a likely telegram reply: “Make page twelve-twenty read ‘Joe tumbled Fitch down next morning with a bullet’ etc.” [MTP]. Note: Since Munro was up against a deadline, it may be Sam telegraphed him on Dec. 10 or 11. The MTP catalogs as “after 10 Dec.”
December 10 after – Sam wrote on the back of David A. Munro’s Dec. 10, a likely telegram reply: “Make page twelve-twenty read ‘Joe tumbled Fitch down next morning with a bullet’ etc.” [MTP]. Note: Since Munro was up against a deadline, it may be Sam telegraphed him on Dec. 10 or 11. The MTP catalogs as “after 10 Dec.”