March 13 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: The check has gone off for the Bermuda tickets, & we are to sail on Saturday. Mr. Howells came in to see the King this afternoon & said that Mrs. Howells is proposing to go to Bermuda on the 28th, but that he has to pretend indifference, otherwise she’d back down at once. For tht’s what she always does. It’s her illness that causes her to oppose anything that Mr. Howells wants to do. And the King observed as he walked around the billiard table doing random shooting, that it was suh an easy trait to acquire; he used to have it himself in an exaggerated form & now he knows that Mrs. Clemens used to use all her diplomacy to get him to do what she wanted him to do. It makes him miserable & sick when he thinks of it now[MTP TS 38-39].
William Thomas Stead of The Review of Reviews, London wrote to Sam sending a current number of the publication and asking if they might “hope to have” his “presence as one of the Pilgrims…” [MTP]. On or after Mar. 13 Isabel wrote notes for answering Stead’s letter. “was a time when he was young enough to do such a thing & should have been glad enough to take part in it, but now does not take any journeys that can be avoided, nor take a practical interest in any movement, good or bad” [MTP].
Percival E. Fansler wrote to ask Sam which of two phrases was correct: “You would best stop at the Waldorf-Astoria,” or, “You had best stop at the Waldorf-Astoria” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote: “Out of my line. / Answrd Mch 14, ‘07”
James Forbes wrote on “Offices of Henry B Harris, Hudson Theatre New York” letterhead to Sam. “Miss Janet L. Gilder made me very happy the other day by the news that you had witnessed Miss Rose Stahl’s performance in my play, “The Chorus Lady” and had enjoyed our joint effort. / To have won the approval of a mastercraftsman is the greatest tribute that a novice like myself could have received” [MTP].
John M. Howells wrote to Sam about the Redding house plans. “Persuant of our telephone conversation to-day with Miss Lyon, we write covering several points discussed.” John covered drawings for piping of acetylene gas, electricity, and quotes from 3 general contractors. “We will take up the specifications next week and believe that all will be ready to take figures by the end of the month” [MTP].
Arthur Leonard wrote from Liverpool, England to Miss Lyon on “The West African Mail” letterhead. Morel had been away on Congo matters a long time but would be very glad to see Dihdwo Twe when he passed through Liverpool [MTP].
Roi Cooper Megrue for Elisabeth Marbury wrote to Miss Lyon, enclosing a letter in French concerning a dispute over the dramatization of Sam’s tale, “The Californian” [MTP].
Barbara Mullen wrote from Hannibal, Mo. to Sam, praising the Mar. 1 segment of his Autobio. in the NAR [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote: “Write her a thank you of some kind or other. So pleased to find that there are a good manyh people—Southern people here who recognize the truth / Answrd Mch 25, ‘07”
Emma N. Warfield (Mrs. Edwin Warfield) wrote to Sam on Executive Mansion, Annapolis, Md. Stationery. “The Governor and I are inexpressibly touched by the hospitality you have extended to us. / We expect to be in New York on the twenty-first and the twenty-second of March, Thursday and Friday of next week [MTP]. Note: Sam had invited them to dine.
Richard B.B. Wood wrote from Keokuk, Iowa to Sam, enclosing “Orion Clemens’ Lunch”— the story about Orion eating a bowl of yeast by mistake. Wood had sent it to the NAR but they returned it and suggested he send it to Clemens [MTP].