February 18 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margery H. Clinton in N.Y.C.
Very dear Plumber:
(who doesn’t know how to plumb);
Benares is away, the business part of the mail is in the hands of the stenographer, Miss Lyon is feeble & can undertake only of the personal letters—so I have stopped work & assumed charge of the other a, selecting your letter to her as a part of that third & adding it to a pair of letters to me, thus completing the tale. I will resume work presently—interesting work it is: throwing bricks at Shakspere; for privately I'm & Baconian—not a recent one, but a Baconian of 50 years’ standing. Does that shudder you? Very well, I will tie you in a chair when you come, & read it to you, & make you shudder some more.
The 3.2 train Tuesday? Yes, that is the right one, the only right one. J thought of your staying longer, & I told you to bring a change of soldering-irons, but you shall be indulged: you shall go away on Saturday (not Friday). This on condition that you come back later & stay a week; & longer if you can. Not many who know you would let you off as easy as I’m doing.
I wish you could have been here through this long illness of Miss Lyon’s. Nothing but rest was prescribed by the doctor, & you would have been the very person to furnish it & to ward off the irritations.
With love to you, best & respectful regards to Miss Caroline, & welcome to you both— / SLC [MTP].
Sam also answered the Feb. 16 from Finley Peter Dunne at The American Magazine, N.Y.C. addressing his reply, “(or, in his absence in jail)”:
Dear Peter:
To the G.D.A. meeting, hail & a hearty welcome! Name the date—& name it quick. Put it in March—any date you please—& name it before the month gets to filling up. What is left of February is already full-up, but I shall hold-up March till I hear from you. Commit Howells & Rob to a date, then impound them. Meantime, consider & determine the commissariat requirements, aside from the whisky—I’ve already got that. The Association has been separate & wandering & voiceless too long—let’s not fail to get together this time & make a noise.
Miss Lyon has your friend’s letter & will see that it is answered within a couple of days. We are shorthanded. Miss Lyon’s stenog is doing the business part of the morning’s mail, but Ashcroft is away & Miss L & I have divided the personal part of it betune us.
Adieu, good-bye, aufwiedersehen, O only righteous one! / Yours ever / Mark [MTP].
Harry Windsor Dearborn for the Robert Fulton Monument wrote to advise Sam that Frank Lascelles sailed on Feb. 17, and to offer progress for the permanent monument to Fulton and a Historical Pageant to be held in NY [MTP].
Arthur E. Dole for New Hampshire Governor’s Ball sent a printed invitation to the Governor’s Ball on Feb. 18 at the “new State Armory, Concord,” tickets $5 [MTP]. Note: New Hampshire.
N.A. Kimmish wrote from Lincoln, Nebr. to ask for Sam’s autograph [MTP]. Note: “Auto sent Mch 28”
New York Evening Telegram wrote to ask Sam for “a few lines” of “personal view” on Omar Fitz Gerald and his Rubayat (translator) [MTP].
Henry B. Quinby, Governor of N. Hampshire sent an engraved card for a reception and ball at Concordon Feb. 18 [MTP].
Before Feb. 18 Bridget W. Guinness, replied to an invitation for a musicale at 21 Fifth Avenue on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m. “Dear Mr. Clemens. Does this mean Tuesday 18th or Thursday 20th as Thursday is not the 18th, What reply am I to make?” [MTP].