February 20 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Feb. 19 of Robert Fulton Cutting and Others. Declining an invitation sent on Feb. 19: “I do not go out this winter when I can avoid it” [MTP].
Sam also replied to the Jan. 17 from George Iles.
Goldwin Smith understands a part of the matter, but he has no clear & limpid understanding of even that fraction. When Smith understands a thing, he is eminently competent to state it in clear & definite terms; when he doesn’t understand a thing, he is like anybody else in the world, he makes a wordy fog of it—just as he has done in this instance.
I thank you very much for sending me the paragraph [MTP].
Note: Goldwin Smith (1823-1910), British-Canadian historian and journalist; after 1868 a professor at Cornell; in 1871 he moved to Toronto and edited Canadian Monthly, then founded the Week and the Bystander. It is likely that the paragraph Iles sent was from one of these latter publications.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Pamela Smith has been here for luncheon. Pam—with her drawings (& her clothes, such queer dear clothes)—but her drawings! This morning I told the King that she was going to bring drawings & he said “That is dreadful—I hate drawings!” But Pam’s drawings kept him riveted so he never came in to luncheon at all, and I nearly wept at the sight of him down at the end of the library, bending over those beautiful creatures of her fancy. After dinner she sat on the floor & recited some of her Anancy [sic] stories. She says she will come again, for I played some for her & she made a sketch to go with the Schubert Impromptu. Aunt Lou came in this morning full of news of the Good Spring people. She was dressed in very simple black & her hair is like a wonderful silver halo [MTP TS 30]. Pamela Colman Smith, nicknamed “Pixie” (1878-1951), artist, illustrator and writer, best known for designing the Waite-Smith tarot cards. She worked with the Lyceum Theatre group led by Ellen Terry, Henry Irving, and Bram Stoker. Among her several books was Annancy Stories (1902). Not in Gribben. Aunt Lou is not further identified.
Mrs. Delle W. Perry wrote from Ann Arbor, Mich. to remark on Sam’s white suit and praise his writings [MTP]. Note: After Feb. 20 Sam replied on Perry’s letter: “merely say “to be likened to be likened to the Apollo Belvedere is compensation & healing, & comes at a fortunate time when another friend of mine—M . Howells—who hasn’t any white clothes & therefore is envious & malicious, has been calling me a whited sepulcher” [MTP]. Note: r Apollo Belvedere, also called the Pythian Apollo, was a classical marble Sculpture by Leochares, ca. 350-325 B.C.; Mrs. Perry is not further identified.
Gertrude Natkin wrote to Sam.
Although this is very late, to thank you for your sweet New Year greeting and also wish you a Happy New Year, I know that you will forgive me after I tell the reason of this delay. A very sad misfortune has occurred in our family which naturally has upset us all. My sister (who you met and) who was with us at the Majestic Theatre on that memorable afternoon died. I wanted to write sooner but I had not the heart to write on such a sad occasion and thought I would wait until I became more reconciled to this loss.
My mother has not been well since this misfortune happened and is now in Lakewood but I hope she will come back in better health.
Now I know that you will accept my greetings for this New Year even though it is late / Your little Marjorie [MTP].
Albert Bigelow Paine wrote from NYC to Sam:
To S.L. Clemens, Billiard Champion and Adviser.
Pupils taken, and Impoverished.
Our motto: It is easier to give advice than to receive it; also, less expensive.
To two errors in judgement; @ .50 each,…………………….$1.00
[MTP: Cushman]. Sam wrote on the faded letter: “Received, as the presence of the money herewith is evidence. / SL. Clemens”
Leslie W. Quirk, editor of The Editor, NYC sent a list of 6 questions to Sam advising the young story writer [MTP].