December 29 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam replied to Clarence C. Buel (incoming not extant).
This letter from Harper & Bros. troubles me a little, for I hate both the name and memory of Charles Henry Webb, liar and thief, and I know of no such play. I have no memory of it and of course am not going to allow it to be either published or played; and I should like to forestall any attempt to do either of these things. There may be nothing in the report, still it is a case of might be, and can you tell me how to find out in a private way without appearing in the matter myself? / Yours Sincerely [MTP].
Sam also wrote an answer to an unidentified person (now identified in Notes below): “Yes I did lay aside the ‘stick’ to resume it no more forever; but January 1857 was the time it happened, & Keokuk, Iowa the place” [MTP].
Note: the “stick” was the typesetter’s line of type. On Dec. 23, Horace A. Kelly wrote that his father had, in 1864 or 1865 been a typesetter with Sam at the same “cases” when Clemens “suddenly one day” announced that he was “going to lay down the “Stick” forever.” This is obviously Sam’s answer to Kelly.
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Mr. Henry Draper / 271 Madsion Ave. / To meet the members of the Astronomical and Astrophysical society at nine o’clock” [MTP TS 38].
William Courie wrote from Syracuse, NY to Sam, sending a book which he hoped he would like, with things in it he thought he might not like. He recommened several stories. Sam wrote on the top of the letter: “N.B. Always get somebody else to send your book. It will save two persons embarrassment”
Anna Palmer Draper sent an engraved invitation for Friday evening at 9 p.m. Dec. 29, to meet members of the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society [MTP].
George P. Morris wrote on The Congregationalist and Christian World letterhead to Sam. “Possibly you may like to see a tribute to your friend, which we think not only true but clever. Yours…” [MTP].
Owen P. White wrote on Wise & White (El Paso, Tex) stationery to Sam, sending a “toast” since he wasn’t invited to the 70 party [MTP].
Sam inscribed a copy of George Ade’s Pink Marsh. A Story of the Streets and Town (1897): “S.L. Clemens, 1905, Dec. 29. From Wm. Dean Howells.” Gribben notes Sam may not have seen this book until Howells sent it to him, and cites the July 22, 1908 note of thanks to Howells [10].
This letter from Harper & Bros. troubles me a little, for I hate both the name and memory of Charles Henry Webb, liar and thief, and I know of no such play. I have no memory of it and of course am not going to allow it to be either published or played; and I should like to forestall any attempt to do either of these things. There may be nothing in the report, still it is a case of might be, and can you tell me how to find out in a private way without appearing in the matter myself? / Yours Sincerely [MTP].
Sam also wrote an answer to an unidentified person (now identified in Notes below): “Yes I did lay aside the ‘stick’ to resume it no more forever; but January 1857 was the time it happened, & Keokuk, Iowa the place” [MTP].
Note: the “stick” was the typesetter’s line of type. On Dec. 23, Horace A. Kelly wrote that his father had, in 1864 or 1865 been a typesetter with Sam at the same “cases” when Clemens “suddenly one day” announced that he was “going to lay down the “Stick” forever.” This is obviously Sam’s answer to Kelly.
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Mr. Henry Draper / 271 Madsion Ave. / To meet the members of the Astronomical and Astrophysical society at nine o’clock” [MTP TS 38].
William Courie wrote from Syracuse, NY to Sam, sending a book which he hoped he would like, with things in it he thought he might not like. He recommened several stories. Sam wrote on the top of the letter: “N.B. Always get somebody else to send your book. It will save two persons embarrassment”
Anna Palmer Draper sent an engraved invitation for Friday evening at 9 p.m. Dec. 29, to meet members of the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society [MTP].
George P. Morris wrote on The Congregationalist and Christian World letterhead to Sam. “Possibly you may like to see a tribute to your friend, which we think not only true but clever. Yours…” [MTP].
Owen P. White wrote on Wise & White (El Paso, Tex) stationery to Sam, sending a “toast” since he wasn’t invited to the 70 party [MTP].
Sam inscribed a copy of George Ade’s Pink Marsh. A Story of the Streets and Town (1897): “S.L. Clemens, 1905, Dec. 29. From Wm. Dean Howells.” Gribben notes Sam may not have seen this book until Howells sent it to him, and cites the July 22, 1908 note of thanks to Howells [10].
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