October-December – Sometime during this period Sam wrote a short note to the editor of the St. Louis Republic: “May my namesake follow in my righteous footsteps, then neither of us will need any fire insurance” [MTB 1424]. Note: Sotheby’s auction Apr. 3, 2008 Lot 29 sold this note and commented: “In 1907 a new boat was built for the St. Louis Harbor and christened ‘Mark Twain.’ The editor of a local paper wrote to Clemens and asked for a comment.”

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Clemens told Isabel Lyon to make a note of the fact that “Harper paid Du Maurier 50,000 for the Martian” [Gribben 207]. Note: The Martian (1896) novel by George Du Maurier (1834-1896).