February 22 Tuesday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam added to his Feb. 21 to daughter Clara,
Feb, 22. Paine has written to Col. Harvey & asked him to do his possible to get you those Easter-privileges at St. Peters, & I have written Harvey & reinforced that request. Dear Clara, my first impulse was to write my friend Archbishop Ireland, but that impulse was merely a lightning-bug flash, & died in a moment; for I can’t bring myself to personally ask a favor of that odious Church, whose history would disgrace hell, & whose birth was the profoundest calamity which has ever befallen the human race except the birth of Christ—this, because if I asked a favor I couldn’t talk against that rotten concern with limitless freedom & with an unblushing cheek afterward.
Roosevelt closed my mouth years ago with a deeply valued, gratefully received, unasked favor; & with all my bitter detestation of him I have never been able to say a venomous thing about him in print since—that benignant deed always steps in the way & lays its consecrated hand upon my lips. I ought not to allow it to do this; & I am ashamed of allowing it, but I cannot help it, since I am made in that way, & did not make myself.
Dear heart, I shall take care of myself, for your sake; I shall live as long as I may, for your sake,—not my own, for I believe I was born indifferent to this silly life—in fact I can’t see how a person in his right mind can refrain from laughing at it & making fun of it [MTP]. Notes: John Ireland (1838-1918), first archbiship of St. Paul, Minn. He was instrumental in creating many religious and educational institutions in St. Paul and Wash. D.C. Theodore Roosevelt’s “favor” which Clemens referred to was likely the “pass” given upon arrival in NY with Livy’s body in 1907 (see NB 47 TS 16). Also, in the following letter to Harvey, it seems clear that Clara wished to see Easter services at St. Peter’s in Rome and was asking her father to use his influence to accomplish the favor. Clara and Ossip were not allowed into the Pope’s mass in Rome—see Mar. 27 NY Times article.
Sam also wrote George B. Harvey.
Dear Old Man:
Paine says it has gone at you in Clara’s behalf, to get her a chance to see the Easter services at St. Peter’s, Rome, & I hope you will manage it for her. I don’t know any way myself, for I am only a poor humble dam Presbyterian, with no influence in Catholic circles.
Mr. Frohman has been in & says you won't be going abroad for some time yet, he thinks: very well, then, run down here. Why not? And bring the others. Come—do it!
With the love of your
Uncle Mark [MTP]. Note: see above to Clara,
W. North Robins, photographer in Syracuse, NY wrote to ask for an autograph [MTP].