October 4 Thursday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam replied to the Sept. 27 from Anne W. Stockbridge.

Dear Miss Stockbridge (if she really exists):

257 Benefit Street (if there is any such place)

Yes, I should like a copy of that other letter. This whole fake is delightful, & I tremble with fear that you are a fake yourself & that I am your guileless prey. (But never mind, it isn’t any matter) Now as to publication. I shall be going home to New York 8 days hence— 21 Fifth Avenue

Suppose you send me, there, type-written copies of as many of “Jennie’s” letters as Miss [Grace] Donworth has thus far forged, & I will show them to a magazine editor & put him in correspondence with you if he thinks well of them. For they ought to be serialized in a magazine FIRST.

I think that the swindle that they are genuine ought to be maintained. This is a sin, but that is nothing. The newspapers will attack their genuineness, & this will furnish good & cheap advertising. The Christian publisher likes that. / Sincerely Yours …. [MTP].

Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: Clara Clemens’ debut as a concert singer, at Norfolk, Conn. Sept. 22 —Sam Clemens’ talk—Difference between speeches & talks [MTP Autodict2].

Isabel Lyon’s journal:

Raffael Pumpelly was here for tea.  

Tonight the King spoke in the basement of the Unitarian Church for the assembled villages, an audience which appreciated him, but didn’t dare show it. I wish AB could have been there, for every time you hear the King it’s an event in a lifetime & I wish AB could have seen the people —trying to keep their faces straight. Bless ‘em. We drove silently down to the village through the moonlight & the King’s face was so beautiful that my heart stood still. He was smoking with all the dignity characteristic of his smoking. He idealizes tobacco. He makes the smoker’s action an art—just as he makes profanity an art, but he reduces me to limpness even when he even rolls out his curses at a collar button. He dictated this morning but not for the full session. Earlier, just as he got up to dress & was standing by the washstand, Scott, Jean’s horse, which had been turned loose in the field by the house, started off on a mad gallop & the King made a dash for the window to watch the beautiful creature. He didn’t see the water pitcher on the floor, so he struck it with his shin, knocked it over & fell headlong. He told me later that if anyone could have seen him, they’d have said, “That cus is going for 3 base.” He didn’t even seem to be shaken up [MTP TS 126- 127]. Note: this entry had diagonal lines through it as well as horiz. & vertical lines.

Frank Nelson Doubleday for Doubleday, Page & Co. wrote to Sam. “Here is a letter and bill which has just come from Mr. Bothwell, of De Vinne’s. Do you want to send out any more books?” He offered to make up a list of interested people [MTP]. Note: regarding the anonymous printing of 250 copies of What is Man?

Henry M. Flagler wrote from 26 Broadway, NYC to Sam. “The ‘serious’ photographs came this morning, and I want you to believe that I am very much obliged to you for them especially for the signature evidencing their genuineness. / I showed them to one of our trusted men who has had a severe nervous breakdown. You will be glad to know that he left my office completely secured [?] with every good wish believe me” [MTP]. Note: 26 Broadway was the office of H.H. Rogers; Flagler was likely in the employ of Rogers.

John Larkin wrote to Sam, enclosing the deed to Sam and other heirs of the Tennessee land. Sam needed to sign with a notary and return the signed document [MTP].

Henry Beach Needham for Success Magazine wrote to Sam. The idea of the People’s Lobby had been received positively “by citizens everywhere,” though there had been “a little illogical ridicule in the New York ‘Sun’ and a little pessimism in the New York ‘Evening Post.’” He asked Sam to use his influence to raise funds for the Lobby, and enclosed a list of sixteen on the “Governing Committee,” of which Mark Twain was one [MTP].