September 18 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote a sketch unpublished until 2009: “The Privilege of the Grave” [Who Is Mark Twain? xxvi, 55-60].

In Dublin, N.H. Sam also replied to the ca. Sept. 15 from Mrs. Minnie Maddern Fiske (1865-1932), born Marie Augusta Davey in New Orleans, leading actress from childhood on, and also a playwright and activist for artistic freedom.

I shall certainly write the story. But I may not get to it to suit me, in which case it will go in the fire. Later I will try it again—& yet again—& again. I am used to this. It has taken me twelve years to write a short story (“The Death-Wafer”)—the shortest one I ever wrote, I think. So, do not be discouraged; I will stick to this one in the same way [MTP]. Note: aka “The Death Disk” appeared in the 1901 Harper’s; a one-act play of it was performed at the Children’s Theatre, Carnegie Hall on Feb. 8, 1902; In 1909 D.W. Griffith directed it as a silent film.

Isabel V. Lyon replied for Sam to Paul Kester in Westmorland, England Sam was not well enough to answer any letters, but Lyon acknowledged receipt of Kester’s Sept. 5 regarding the Tom Sawyer play. Sam had written to Mr. Megrue as suggested and whatever Megrue does would “probably be satisfactory” [MTP]. Note: Roi Cooper Megrue, was assistant to Elisabeth Marbury, Sam’s agent for all things dramatic.

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Mrs. Fiske’s letter about a story to be written—subject—bull fights in Spain.

We drove over to see the Upton house this afternoon. It’s a good house, in some respects better than this one—but very inartistic. Later Jean came home with 10 children, and that made us sit 13. I don’t like 13 at table. I can’t like it either. We played Boston later—all of us and Mr. Clemens got caught and had to be blind-folded too. Down at his end of the table Mr. Clemens talked about Kipling, and the journey he made to Elmira to see Mr. Clemens, sending up a card “Rudyard Kipling who has come 16,000 miles to see Mark Twain from Alahabad, India.”

Kipling, looking about Mr. Langdon’s library and knowing everything about every book— finally asked Mr. Clemens what he thought of “Pendennis,” and Mr. Clemens replied “Oh I don’t know—what’s his other name?” (He can’t abide Thackeray) He didn’t know who Kipling was then, hadn’t every heard of him (see Frankfort book—)

Writing more about that evening with the children and how Mr. Clemens talked about Kipling, he went on to say that his daughter Susie kept Kipling’s card because of the inscription on it. Some time later when he had returned to Hartford, Mr. George Warner sauntered in one morning with a book in his hand and said to Mr. Clemens “Did you ever hear of Rudyard Kipling?” “No, I never did,” Mr. Clemens replied. “Well you will—Did you ever hear of “Plain Tales from the Hills?” “No never.” “Well then, just read it and see how wonderful it is.” And Mr. Clemens took it and read it and found the tale of its wonder a true one. Vaguely the name began to seem familiar to him and asking for the card with the Indian inscription, his daughter brought it and it was the same as the name of the writer of that book [MTP TS 100]. Note: see the first meeting between Kipling and Twain in Vol. II, Aug. 15, 1889. William Makepeace Thackeray’s History of Pendennis, etc. (1848-50).

Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Miss Clemens went to Boston today to see Mary Lawton act in ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’” [MTP TS 28].

H.H. Rogers wrote to Sam, the letter not extant but referred to in Sam’s ca. Sept. 22 [MTP].

Alice M. Ditson (Mrs. Charles H. Ditson) wrote from Jackson, N.H. to Sam. They had enjoyed his remarks on the Russo-Japanese situation and sent her love to Clara and Jean [MTP].

Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam, reporting on several matters: the biographical sketch sent to Sam had not arrived so he sent another; the postal card scheme would be a hit without Sam’s signature—to sign them would be to “cheapen” his signature; “Eve’s Diary” was going into the Xmas issue, and both diaries would later be published together; He was looking into the Swedish translation of CY about which Mr. Lindberg had inquired; he requested a photograph of the “new bust” (Marr’s?); last he asked about “this new volume written by ‘Anon.’ of which you wrote the Colonel” [MTP].

September 18 ca. – Isabel V. Lyon for Sam answered E. Hampden-Cook’s Sept. 8 letter: “Messrs. C & W. must have the copyright of the C.S. article—Mr. Clemens is too busy now to write on the subject” (Christian Science) [MTP]. Note: The MTP catalogs this as “on or after 8 Sept.” Ten days estimated postal time from England is allowed here.

Lyon also replied for Sam to H.E. Heller, who on Sept. 16 wrote suggesting a musical production: “Idea is very good—but Mr. Clemens feels that he is now too busy & too old to be able to interest himself in it” [MTP]. Note: two days mail time allowed for this reply, marked “on or after Sept. 16” by MTP.