November 23 Friday – The Charlton Public Library banned Eve’s Diary, and the New York Times reported the story on page one, Nov. 24:
BAR MARK TWAIN’S BOOK.
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A Massachusetts Librarian Draws the Line at “Eve’s Diary.”
Special to The New York Times.
WORCESTER, Mass., Nov. 23—“Eve’s Diary,” by Mark Twain, a copy of which is among 100 books recently bought for Charlton Public Library, has been barred by Frank O. Wakefield, one of the Trustees. The other Trustees, the Rev. G. O. Jenness and Lewis A. McIntyre, concur with him. The other ninety and nine books are all right, but this one book Mr. Wakefield says, is objectionable. That is because there are pictures in the book of a kind to which Mr. Wakefield objects.
Before “Eve’s Diary” could go on the circulating shelves, the Librarian, Mrs. H. L. Carpenter, looked it through. She saw the pictures and made known to Mr. Wakefield that she “had her doubts.”
On every left-hand page is a picture, fifty of which represent Eve in Summer costume. Her dresses are all cut Garden of Eden style. In one of them Eve is seen skipping through the bushes unrestrained and not at all afraid. The bushes do not seriously cut off the view of Eve. After looking long and earnestly at one picture depicting Eve pensively reclining on a rock, Mr. Wakefield decided to act.
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Mr. Clemens sent out word last night to a TIMES reporter who conveyed to him the substance of this dispatch, that the action of the Charlton library was not of the slightest interest to him.
At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to Miss Faith Baldwin of Brooklyn; he suggested if she had provided a self-addressed stamped envelope on her five other attempts at an autograph, she might have then been successful. He signed the typewritten note and sent it on [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: Clemens tells of his idea in regard to international copyright, which he disclosed to Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes thirty-five years ago [MTP Autodict2].
Elizabeth Jordan wrote to Sam, thanking him for the “privilege of reading these letters. They are delicious; and as I told Mr. Paine over the telephone this morning, I would like nothing better than to publish a few of them with introduction and comments by you. However, I know you are ill…and I can see, too, why you do not care to appear in connection with these letters. / I am therefore returning them to you by messenger to-day” [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the back in ink: “Thank Mrs. Frances Powell Case, of Flotsam, Wainscot, L.I. / for her book.” Frances Powell Case, pseud. “Frances Powell” had sent a copy of her book The Prisoner of Ornith Farm (1906) in August. This may be another book or a delayed thanks by Clemens. See Gribben p. 132.
McClure, Phillips & Co., signed N.A.B., wrote to Sam, assuring him that the author of The Viper of Milan was indeed now only 19 and had written two other novels since Viper, when she was between 16 and 17 years old [MTP]. Note: Between Nov. 23-26 Sam wrote in the top left, “Send me her picture & let me see.”
William O. McDowell wrote on The United Nations of the World, NYC letterhead to Sam. “I have to-day given Mr. Ezekiel Leavitt, a Russian literary man of distinction, a letter of introduction to you. / Mr. Leavitt was compelled to leave St. Petersburg a number of years ago, and has established himself successfully in New York. / You will remember our work together as co-members of the Pan Republic Congress Committee…” [MTP]. Note: Sam on the env. “Russian distinguished literary man coming. Am done with everything.”
Mrs. Harold B. Smith wrote from Worcester, Mass. to Sam enclosing a clipping (not extant). She wrote they enjoyed “Eve’s Diary” and also chapters from his Autobiography [MTP].
November 23 ca. – On or after this day Sam directed Isabel Lyon to “Thank Mrs. Frances Powell Case, of Flotsam, Wainscot, L.I. for her book” [MTP]. Note: The book and author, Frances Powell Case, pseud. “Frances Powell” author of The Prisoner of Ornith Farm (1906). The book had been inscribed by Case in August, 1906. See Gribben 132.