November 12 Monday – In N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote to Harriet E. Whitmore.
The darling wonderful White King isn’t out of the house yet. It wasn’t a bad bronchitis, but it housed him well & on Saturday when Thomas Bailey Aldrich was here—(he came Friday & left Sunday) the King hopped around without many clothes on & so added to his bronchial condition which finished with heavy coughing again. But again he is better.
He was really very much disappointed over not going up to Hartford; for he wanted to go, & he wanted to go a good deal, or he wouldn’t have made the slightest effort if he had been even a little indifferent. In these days he is not by way of making any exertions that can be avoided altogether, or that can be made by me. And my own disappointment can’t be put into words at all [MTP]. Note: Sam was to go to Hartford on Nov. 2 for the 30 anniversary of the Saturday Morning Club of young ladies; Lyon was to accompany him. Bronchitis won out.
Dr. Halsey called on Sam and ordered him to bed a day or two and continue his medicine [Nov. 13 to Jean].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Mr. Doubleday telephoned this morning to ask if he mightn’t publish the C.S. book that the Harpers decided not to publish in 1903. I told him from the King, to apply to Col. Harvey & Mr. Doubleday said, “Oh, pshaw” [MTP TS 146].
Mrs. L.H. Curtiss wrote from Rensselaer, NY to Sam. In “a Christian spirit,” she offered a treatment for bronchitis after noting in the Albany Times-Union that he suffered from it [MTP].
Absalom Carlisle Grimes wrote from Troy, Mo. and enclosed a Nov. 9 front page article from The Elsberry (Mo.) Democrat, picturing Grimes and his wife. The story was about his exploits as a Confederate spy. Also enclosed was a letter from J. Brooks Johnson and a squib about “Mark Twain ill with Bronchitis,” likely from the same paper, which prompted Grimes to write. Evidently Grimes was serving time in jail for some offense, judging by Johnson’s reply and the “Sheriff of Lincoln County” letterhead and envelope Grimes used.
My Dear Old Friend Sam, I enclose you a letter which explains itself, it was received yesterday —its contents vividly recalled to my mind—the days way back yonder in June or July 1861… when the scenes of Nuck Matsons Home = the vinegar keg barber chair Old Col Ralls Home = Gordins Mill where Lieutenant Clemens loomed up into existence = the March to Headquarters in the old stable = the Horse trough = which was wont to be the bed chamber of Lieut Clemens = the ignominious return March = The not much Dinner at Col Tinkers = the nights camp in Col Splawns [?] Barn & the final Disbanding of the regiment next day = & return in disgrace again to Martins farm = & last though not least the endurance & Patience of “Paint Brush”[.] [MTP]. Note: Grimes mentioned he’d failed to meet up with Clemens during his western lectures. He’d quit the River in 1884. He gives the date of his preliminary trial but does not disclose his offense. “Paint Brush” was Sam’s donkey.
Roi Cooper Megrue for Elisabeth Marbury wrote to ask Sam if Mr. Timmory could also adapt “An Encounter With an Interviewer” to the stage on the same basis as the other stories [MTP].
Edward Owen wrote on Confederate Veteran Camp of New York letterhead to invite Sam to their annual dinner in honor of the memory of Robert E. Lee on Jan. 23, 1907 [MTP]. Note: written on the left margin in pencil, “Decline beautifully.”
Anne W. Stockbridge wrote from Providence, R.I. to Sam. She judged by reports of the Alden dinner that he was now in NY and was sending at his suggestion eleven letters “forged” by Miss Grace Donworth from “Jennie Allen” hoping that he would “find sufficient merit in them to make them worthy of publication.” After her signature she added: “A woman’s postscript / Do you not think they should be published before the public forgets there was an earthquake in California?” [MTP].