March 1 Friday – Fatout lists a speech for Sam at the William Dean Howells dinner [MT Speaking 676]. Note: On Feb. 19, George B. Harvey had invited Sam for a Mar. 1 birthday dinner for Howells at the Cosmopolitan Club. No record was found for the contents of Sam’s remarks. See Feb. 19 entry.
Sam wrote “to any friend or acquaintance of mine” [MTP]. Note: not found at MTP.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Terrible headache” [MTP TS 32].
Brander Matthews wrote to Sam advising him that the Simplified Spelling Board would have its first meeting in April, a dinner at the Waldorf on April 3, Carnegie presiding [MTP]. Note: After Mar. 1 Sam wrote instructions to Lyon for a reply to the invitation: he wouldn’t go to any banquet, not even the Lotos, if he had to “feed through”; he didn’t accept night events but “should like to have the privilege of dropping there toward the end of the banquet” [MTP].
Calvin H. Higbie wrote from Greenville, Calif. to Sam, noting that Paine and Isabel Lyon had written about Sam’s Autobiography, asking him to contribute all he knew about his dealings with Twain in the old days. A fire had destroyed his old MS and he asked if Sam could send his copy [MTP]. Note: Lyon answered on Mar. 11, sending Sam’s copy.
Jean Jewel Hotchkiss wrote from NYC to Sam, also sending in another letter articles written by her daughter on “New Metaphysics.” Her daughter Elizabeth Hotchkiss (Bessie) was born in Elmira and graduated from Elmira College, gaining a A.M. and a PhD. Could Sam advise as to how to make money from her articles? [MTP].
Robert Underwood Johnson for Century Magazine wrote to thank Sam for presenting to the Keats-Shelley Library “your volume from which you read the ‘Skylark’ and send you a duplicate so that your set may be complete” [MTP].
Hamilton W. Mabie sent Sam a bill for $5 for his dues in the American Academy of Arts and Letters for 1907 [MTP].
Clemens A.D. for this day is listed by MTP.
Chapters from “My Autobiography—XIII” ran in the N.A.R. p.449-63.