March 4 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).
In packing my things in your house yesterday morning I inadvertently put in some articles that was laying around, I thinking about theology & not noticing, the way this family does in similar circumstances like these. Two books, Mr. Rogers brown slippers & a ham. I thought it was ourn it looks like one we used to have. I am very sorry it happened but it shant occur again & don’t you worry He will temper the wind to the shorn lammb—& I will send some of the things back anyway if there is some that wont keep. / Yores in jesus [MTP: MTHHR 613 as only “summer 1906”]. Note: letter headed “Tuesday” but Mar. 4 was a Monday.
Isabel Lyon wrote for Sam to Harriet G. Whitmore.
M . Clemens doesn’t want to have you & M . Whitmore go away on Saturday. He says that from Thursday to Saturday is no kind of a visit & that he must have you stay until Monday, & you will do that, won’t you? For his blessed, blessed sake? You can sleep in separate beds, if your habit requires it; I’ll have them ready for you. And you can’t think how beautiful it will be for M . Clemens to have you two here. I’m not mentioning the secretary’s prejudiced views [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Colliers & Russian meeting. Aladin.
Mr. Clemens & I dined with the Collier’s this evening for we were to take them up to the Russian meeting & the dinner was very lovely. Mr. Collier has 2 parrots & he took a young one out of the cage & put it on the dinner table, & the graceful (graceful because he was so awkward, the way he turned his toes,) thing walked around & upset the bon-bon dishes & Mr. Collier’s cup of coffee. At the meeting, much the best thing—the only best thing—was Aladin speech; it was a very great speech. His English, his gestures & his spirit were beautiful & moving & the audience shouted & waved its handkerchiefs at the strong young graceful creature. He spoke of the “crahdle of liberty” but there wasn’t anyone there who wished he had called it a cradle.
This afternoon the King & I drove up to hear the Weete-Mignon [sic] piano player. The King thought he’d like to have one at Tuxedo—but the price is too high, $1500, & they’re not entirely satisfactory [MTP TS 33]. Note: insert, the keyboardless reproducing piano by M. Welte & Sons.
Fred H. Clifford wrote to Sam from Bangor Maine about Clara’s concert there on Mar. 21. Would Sam come? [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote: “Tell Clara she has added a new burden to life / Quite a mistake Mr. Clemens was present only once.”
Frank B. Cole wrote to Sam from Tacoma, Wash.. He’d recently read Sam’s Autobiography in the NAR and had known Orion in Keokuk, whom he called “a very odd man” [MTP].
George Griswold, managing director of the Tuxedo Park, NY Assoc wrote to Isabel Lyon about the price of William Voss’ house rental there [MTP].
Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam enclosing a check for $350, preferred stock dividend from US Steel Corp. “Would it not be a good idea to put this in your own name, now that you have all the stock?” [MTP].
Walter W. Price for The Lambs Club, NYC wrote to invite Sam to a breakfast next Sunday at 1 p.m. Would Sam be the guest of honor? [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote: “Thank them as elaborately as want to / don’t go unless duty commands this year”
Cornelius Vanderbilt for the Robert Fulton Memorial Assoc. wrote to reassure Sam that William R. Stewart, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, would not call upon Sam “for any active work” but would be pleased if Sam accompanied them to Albany [MTP].
Emma N. Warfield (Mrs. Edwin Warfield), wife of Maryland’s governor, wrote to Sam asking him to give a reading during his May visit. Dr. Henry Van Dyke had urged her to write Clemens directly [MTP].