January 11 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y., after dictating and playing billiards, Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah.  

Dear Jean, I do hope you are feeling happier, by this time, it wrung my heart to see you so disappointed, & I could not help thinking all the time how grieved your mother would have been to see you long for a thing—anything—& have to be denied it. [in a paragraph, Sam encouraged her to see the best in people; that she’d be happier that way]

We shall do all permissible things we can that can give you comfort & pleasure. Although you will not be able to drive with George in snowy times, you can make up for this by skeeing & coasting, no doubt.

Clara sang in the church in Elmira, last night, to a silent house—by the program, applause was not allowed. It was an amazingly funny idea—it could have originated in no place on the planet but Elmira, I reckon. But no matter, Clara sang at her very best, Katy says. Katy is enthusiastic about it.

Miss Lyon was sick yesterday, with a headache, but is better to-day.

I hope you will make my compliments to the doctors, & to all whom I had the pleasure of meeting there.

Be pleasant with Anna—do your very best to be pleasant with her, & don’t let a prejudice against her grow up in your heart. You would hardly find a better person to take her place. It is not an easy place, dear heart, & you should consider that.

I have been trying to think of some way to dispose of your bird. Would you try the cat? I think the cat would like that kind of a bird.

I did my day’s work to-day, & played billiards 8 hours, besides.

Be as cheerful & contented as you can, dear heart, for your mother’s sake & mine. I love you, dear, & I send you many hugs & kisses. / Father [MTP]. Note: Anna Sterritt, Jean’s maid.

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Mrs. Hutton seems so dictatorial. My experience with her has been only over the telephone & when I asked Mr. Clemens what kind of a woman she was, he replied, “She’s a gentleman, & wears feminine attire as an affection” [MTP TS 8].  

Professor William Lyon Phelps of Yale lectured in Bridgeport and called Mark Twain “easily the greatest American novelist in the history of this country’s literature” [NY Times, Jan. 12 p.8].