May 21 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

Mr. Clemens spends too much time over his work. Hours & hours & hours he sits writing with a wonderful light in his eyes. The flush of a girl in his cheeks and oh the lustre of his hair. It is too terribly perishably beautiful. It is no wonder that his tread is light as a spirit’s, for the great power of his brain seems to draw him up and to give him his delicacy of step [MTP TS 59].

Hubert Howe Bancroft (1832-1918), historian and ethnologist, (Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley was named in his honor) wrote from San Francisco to Sam, having seen his name in connection with the Fourth of July celebration at Elko, Nevada. If Sam planned to be in attendance there would it be possible for him to come to S.F. as his guest at St. Dunstan’s? He told of the place and mentioned that Henry James had spent a week with him [MTP].

Brander Matthews wrote from NY to Sam on the back of a flyer dated May 18, 1905 in the cause of Carnegie’s Simplified Spelling. Matthews was named at the top as chairman of the group. Matthews related sickness and death in his family with the recent burial of his sister. “… and if I haven’t seen you this winter, I’ve the same feeling for you. / The letter on the other side explains itself. Howells and Garland have adhered. Will you take my pledge I enclose?” [MTP].

St. Clair McKelway wrote from Brooklyn Heights to Sam. He hadn’t answered Sam’s letter due to being under a doctor’s care in Boston, and only returned the night before.

“I found great comfort in your letter and heartily agree with its remarks about railway officials to whose criminal ignorance and recklessness so-called accidents are due. I have the worst shake up and jar and the least external injury of any one of the passengers in the car. Four Negro wailers were killed.” He learned of Clara’s operation and hoped she recovered fully [MTP].