December 11 Friday – In Florence, George Gregory Smith wrote to his mother of this day at his home:
“Friday we had quite a gathering. Mark Twain, Labouchere (Mr & Mrs) Mrs McCalmont & a lot of others.” Smith praised Sam for his lack of pretense and was pleased that Sam had taken “a great liking to us & we see a lot of him.” He confided that Livy was “very very ill,” and that Clara, “who is 19 & very sweet & pretty slight & graceful & dark” [Orth 31].
Sam also wrote to Thomas Cook & Son, Florence, about his claim for an unused ticket. His letter is not extant but is referred to in the Company’s Dec. 12 reply William Deason by.
Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam. “Harper & Brothers have sent for account of Mrs. Clemens $1663.77 (regular books,) and $6516 (six volume editions), making $8179.77. This amount was sent the first of January, although the vouchers are dated November 1, 1903. …the Total amount received is $10,346.43.” She expressed hope that Livy was improving [MTP].
Thomas W. Lewis, “an aspiring young man,” wrote from Duenweg, Mo. to Sam. He was 23 and left lame by a childhood fever. He had since left school, discouraged by obstacles. He was asking for help in return for several inventions and literary works [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Put the whole of this amazing production in the Auto.”