April 23 Friday - On a page of notes in the Lyon-Ashcroft MS, Sam wrote under the heading “Eavesdropping,” “Apl. 23 Clara went to Mr. Rogers. (His letter)” [L-A MS XIV]. Note: the letter from H.H. Rogers in the source as follows:
My dear Clemens:
I had a call this morning from Clara, when she told me of her troubles, and after she had said you knew of her coming to me, I ventured to say that I would be very glad to take up the matter, if you desired it, and see if I could straighten it out to your entire satisfaction.
I think I have read between the lines. In the last two or three years I had my suspicions of things, which you in your good natured way have overlooked. You may be sure I shall be glad to serve you, as ever, if you will but give me your approval. My judgment is that you should call in a competent lawyer and accountant to overhaul your entire affairs. This should be done with but little annoyance to you, and if you will but say to those people that you have decided to ask me to look into things, I am quite sure you will have no further trouble. I do not know how far you will be willing to go in this matter; but I am satisfied that somebody should take it up in a frank, earnest way in your interest. If you desire to see me in reference, I will be in New York until next Thursday, when I expect to go to Fairhaven for a short stay.
Clara was very considerate and dignified in her talk. Her story was very convincing, and making due allowance for her anxiety and trifling nervousness, the same was admirably and fluently told. I think she felt quite relived when I told her I would be very glad to assume such burden in the matter as was necessary.
Yours truly,
[signed:] HH Rogers [MTP: L-A MS XIV].
On this day Sam began 17 pages (intended for the Autobiography) with the following heading:
To Rev. S.C. Thompson
A letter from him, after thirty-six years of ever-deepening, ever-broadening, ever-solidifying silence! And a tragic letter it is, too, full of pathetic human interest.
(insert his letter here.)
Notes: April 23, 1909
It is a brave long fight. Think of putting in a whole lifetime digging & delving & slaving & scrabbling for money to pay debts with! How pale the painted heroisms of romance look, beside it. They are achieved in an hour, & they clothe their hero with a shining glory that moves with him like the pillar of fire all the rest of his days, for men to see & admire; but Thompson’s heroism, which is real, which is colossal, which is sublime, & which is costly beyond all estimate, is achieved in profound obscurity, & its hero walks in rags to the end of his days [MTP]. Notes: during my last trip to the MTP in Oct. 2012, I brought this document to the attention of Benjamin Griffin and Victor Fischer of the MTP, pointing out a file note, “Belongs with Autobiog—DV” (DeVoto); Griffin stated that he had sometimes come across such notes by Clemens and spoke of the difficulty of deciding what should be included in the current Autobiography volumes.
James M. Beck (1861-1936), attorney with Shearman & Sterling, NYC, wrote to Sam thanking him for Is Shakespeare Dead, which he’d read during a bout of insomnia. “Indeed it is the first pro-Bacon book that I have ever read that really impressed me.” He was returning the book in hopes Clemens would write something on the title page [MTP]. Note: Beck was often referred to as “the great attorney,” and had been assistant to the Attorney General under President McKinley (1900-1903).
John W. Nagle wrote from Lockport, NY to ask Sam where he might obtain the American Publishing Co. editions of his books, and was Clemens born in Hannibal or Florida? [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Ans’d Apr 26, “09”
Horace J. Stevens, editor for The Copper Handbook, Houghton, Mich., wrote to send a copy of his new edition, labeled Vol. VIII, “with new matter and emendations,” since he understood Sam had some interest in copper mining [MTP].