February 7 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Santa home ill” [MTP TS 27]. Note: “Santa” was Clara.

Two copies of Christian Science were deposited with the copyright office [Hirst, “A Note on the Text” Afterword materials p.13, Oxford ed. 1996].  

In N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to James K. Paulding. “Mr. Clemens asks me to write for him to say that he is willing to have his name used as one of the committee arranging for the memorial meeting for Ernest Howard Crosby” [MTP]. Note: Crosby, active in the Anti Imperialist League, died on Jan. 3 in Baltimore at age 50.

Sam also inscribed a copy of CS to Isabel V. Lyon: “To / Miss I.V. Lyon / Hon. Sec. G.D.H.R. / with affectionate best wishes of / The Author. / God’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn. / Truly Yours, / Mark Twain / N.Y. Feb./07” [MTP].  

Sam also noted for Lyon what is probably a reply to J.C. Tebbetts’ Feb. 4 about CS. “I accept his letter in the spirit in which it is sent, but I perceive that he has not read the book but only scrappy reviews of it, & therefore he is not in a position to form an opinion of it” [MTP].

Sam also replied to the Jan. 30 of Harriet E. Whitmore.

But the truth is, that when a library expels a book of mine & leaves an unexpurgated Bible lying around where unprotected youth & age can get hold of it, the deep unconscious irony of it delights me. But even if it angered me such words as those of Professor Phelps would take the sting all out. Nobody attaches weight to the freaks of the Charlton library, but when a man like Phelps speaks, the world gives attention. Some day I hope to meet him & thank him for this courage for saying those things out in public. Custom is, to think a handsome thing in private but tame it down in the utterance.

I hope you are all well & happy; & thereto I add my love [MTP].

C.R. Eastman wrote to Sam on Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. letterhead. After reading the several recent articles on Christian Science and Sam’s attack on it, Eastman inquired “whether it would be agreeable to you to have your findings considered from the standpoint of a professional scientist…” Eastman noted that he was  not allowed to take notes or copy extracts from the materials at the “Free” CS reading rooms, “not even a line or word.” His notes were demanded of him and taken by a “frizzle-haired harpy in charge, who clearly ‘missed the boat with Noah’” [MTP].

John Gelert, sculptor wrote from NYC to ask Sam if he would sit for a bust [MTP].

William J. Paine wrote from Orange, NJ (c/o Edison’s Laboratory) after reading Clemens’ opinion of Christian Science in Sunday’s NY World. Paine knew “positively from experience that a part of Science and Health was written by someone thoroughly posted on [The Secret of] Secret Service & I do not think that Mrs Eddy was the person…” If he could have an interview he could explain [MTP].

James A. Renwick wrote from NYC to receipt Sam for Feb. rent. $291.67 [MTP].

Count Arthur de Jcherep-Spiridovitch (1858-1926) wrote a postcard to Sam from Moscow, Russia, sending compliments and noting that Miss Lyon had forgotten to send Twain’s photo [MTP]. Note: The Count claimed to be a Major General in the Russian Army and President of the Slavonic Society of Russia and also of the Latino-Slavic League of Paris and Rome. Sam would attend his luncheon on Mar. 27. Nikolai V. Chaikovsky for Friends of Russian

Freedom would dispute Spiridovitch’s claims in a Apr. 1 and other later letters to Sam.