February 3 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Mai H. Coe and William Robertson Coe.
Dear Coes:
It has arrived, & Miss Lyon, who is ill in bed & under contract with the doctor to keep perfectly quiet for ten days, has gone into raptures & frenzies & convulsions of admiration & delight over it. But a happy earthquake doesn’t hurt a patient, it sets the drowsy circulation going at lightning-express gait, & does good. And that is what has resulted in this instance.
It surely is the most beautiful thing & the most sumptuous I have ever seen, & I thank you heartily. It would be too fine for some people, but it fits me, because I was born a king & got changed in the cradle.
You ought to be here now, to enjoy the spectacle of the white hills & vales, & I would wish you were here if Miss Lyon were not out of commission. But I know I can trust you to keep your promise & come by & by. / With the best love of / SLC [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Maud W. Littleton (Mrs. Martin W. Littleton) in N.Y.C.
Dear Mrs. Linthicum:
Miss Lyon says yes; & so we shall hope & expect to see the Linthicums & Lady Constance & Sir Edward arrive here Saturday after next. And she says won’t you please pass this invitation on, to the parties of the second part?
Miss Lyon is ill in bed, therefore I am secretary, wherefore brevity’s the word, brevity being the soul of indolence. /With love, / ... [MTP].
Sam also inscribed a copy of IA to Louise Paine: “To / Louise Payne, [sic] M.A. [Member Aquarium] / with the love of / The Author / === / He laughs best who laughs least. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Stormfield, / Feb.3/09.” [MTP].
Mary L. Howden (“Miss Mollie”) was replaced by a male stenographer, William E. Grumman on this day [Hill 208, 229]. :
Percy A. Clisdell wrote from Buenos Aires, Argentina to ask Sam for two autographed photographs. A newspaper clipping is in the file from the Buenos Aires Herald along with Clisdell’s business card from General Electric Co. as South American manager, and Don Juan McMillan, who was to receive the photographs [MTP].
Richard J. Echols, “a poor cripple,” wrote from Eusley, Ala. to ask Sam how he might publish his book—how did Sam manage his? Did Sam have money to help himself or did someone help? Echols needed to help support his aged mother [MTP]. .
Harrison Maitland for Culture Club Bureau, NYC wrote to tout a service of sending gifts by their staff of “competent, cultured people” [MTP].
Laura J. Post wrote on a small name card, 24 East 33™ Street: “I shall be happy to see you next Friday afternoon at four o’clock. It may interest you to see the gift which will be presented to Madame Sembrich on February sixth” [MTP].