December 22 Wednesday — Sam left NYC for Redding by this day, according to Paine [MTB 1547].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote from NYC:
“You may recall that we had a talk not very long ago about making some school books from your writings. | talked the matter over with Paine yesterday. The school book plan seems a good one in so far as it teaches the young where to go for the most limpid English.
“The object of this letter is to confirm the talk, and to say that in doing these books we can pay only ten per cent. royalty upon the price received for the book.” He asked for Sam’s approval and added “Colonel Harvey and the rest of us here think it is a good plan” [MTP].
Laura Hawkins Frazer wrote a postcard from Hannibal, Mo. to Sam and dated it Dec. 22-25. It had been a long time since she’d heard from Clemens and hoped his health was good; she congratulated him on Clara’s wedding and wished Merry Christmas; she mentioned snow there [MTP]. Note: the card was not addressed nor stamped, so it may have been inserted in a letter. The front of the card is printed “The Season’s Greetings” with a portrait of a Gibson-type woman.
Bessie Hazen in Georgetown sent a picture postcard of four cats on a bench and holly, and printed message, “A Joyous Christmas and a glad New Year”; “From your little friend Bessie Hazen” [MTP].