February 19 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Aldine dinner in honor of Howells, new Pres. Of Natl Institute Arts & Letters” [NB 44 TS 6].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to nephew Samuel E. Moffett: “Please attend to him, Sam & tell him I am too ignorant of the matter & too busy” [MTP]. Note: the remainder of the letter is torn off; this may relate to the Montgomery request for family matter recently referred to Moffett.

Poultney Bigelow wrote a postcard from London to Sam: “My Dear Mark—it was something to see Bangs make an ass of himself while trying to teach you how to think—a l’Americaine! I didn’t think Bangs could be such a provincial scribbler!” [MTP]. Note: Bigelow referred to the Feb. 9 article in Harper’s Weekly, in which John Kendrick Bangs answered affirmatively to the question, “Is the Philippine Policy of the Administration Just,” while Mark Twain answered no. See Feb. 9.

George Lynch, war correspondent for The Illustrated Sphere and The Daily Express (London) wrote on Waldorf-Astoria Hotel stationery to Sam shortly after a visit; Sam promised to attend Lynch’s lecture on the following Tuesday (see Feb. 26). The following items are likely things Sam asked Lynch to investigate:

I have just come from seeing the editor of the Herald. He is not in direct touch from New York with their Pekin correspondent Mr. Bonsal. Their Eastern news is all handled by Mr. Bennett in Paris. He suggested your sending a short cable to Mr. Bennett asking him to get Bonsal to investigate the truth of the statements regarding Ament on page 162 of the current North American Review [MTP]. Note: the referred to p. 162: “Everywhere he went he compelled the Chinese to pay….He also assessed fines amounting to THIRTEEN TIMES the amount of the indemnity”.