January 12 Saturday – The New York Times, p. BR21 ran a short notice of Sam’s new book:
Mark Twain’s Latest.
Mark Twain’s newest book is entitled “Christian Science,” and the Harpers announce it for publication early in February. It is especially stated that the book is not primarily a luminous work. Quite the contrary, and it is admitted that Mr. Clemens is not an advocate of Mrs. Eddy’s system. In fact, he opposes Christian Science with characteristic vigor and sincerity, taking in his opposition a line of his own, which is interesting whether the reader is or is not inclined to agree with the views expressed. The serious body of the work is, of course, lightened with a good deal of that quaint humor which is Mr. Clemens’s favorite weapon and the chief delight of his readers.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: This morning Jervis Langdon was here—he’s very charming—& Mr. Clemens called me in to hear him say that the house is to be built for $25,000, out of the auto- biography money, & then he said that he was going to make an investment for the children— not for himself. After Mr. Langdon left, Mr. Clemens told me that it was to be a $5,000.00 in an organ association.
Today it rains & the King has gone to Lafayette Restaurant to lunch with Moncure D. Conway & his children. He has been depressed since we went out to see Jean, & wanted the solemnest music before he left. Tonight at dinner he told when they were going round the world & would arrive at Australian or other ports, he would go off with the mayor & Mrs. Clemens would go to the hotel. On one occasion Mrs. Clemens was induced to go with Mr. Clemens & the mayor because there would be another lady there. Mrs. Professor Gibson. They found Mrs. Gibson to be a heavy coarsely dressed woman & finally discovered that she had a panorama of the Innocents Abroad & to help out the show would throw in a song & dance & sell patent medicine concocted by her husband. She was so sorry they couldn’t stay to see her show [MTP TS 6]. Note: Moncure D. Conway wrote on Jan. 9 asking for the luncheon and for Sam to meet his children, Eustace and Philip. It would be their last meeting. See entry.
Neltje de Graff Doubleday (Mrs. Frank N. Doubleday) wrote on board the SS Cedric to thank Sam for his inscription her husband has secured for her, which made her “squeal for joy” [MTP]. Note: she referred to the volume as “The Old Man’s Philosophy” when she’d read the galleys last summer; likely “What is Man?”
A.L. Hodgdon wrote from Pearson Post Office, Maryland to Sam. Her father, Capt. James Hodge Hodgdon, was commander of the Quaker City before the Civil War—was that the same ship Sam excursioned on? [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Yes.”