March 14 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: This morning I mentioned R.U. Johnson not being at a meeting & the King let on to be astonished, & he said “Oh Jesus, No Johnson. Undershirt!” Mr. Rogers arrived pretty early & the King was in the bathroom; he came along the hall in his night clothes & his old red slippers, saying “Oh yes, oh yes, I reckon you’ll find that somebody else is up just as early as you are” & then as the door closed, followed the usual affectionate abuse of each other.
Robt. Collier & Mrs & Mr. Walker dined here. But—After dinner the King read “Interpreting the Diety” aloud, & then followed a discussion as to whether it should or shouldn’t be published. It should be, of course; but there isn’t a publisher who would have the courage to print it. Although, as Collier said “The publisher ought to want to publish it, & doubtless would want to.” But it’s just as the King says, we are all slaves in one degree or another. The King is a slave because he mustn’t submit to it because it would be bad for his children [MTP TS 39-40].
R.G. Chase wrote from West Medford, Mass. to ask Sam for “a few selections for reading” on his evening with his Reading Club. He planned to give his club an account of Carleton’s “estimate of himself for declining the publication” of The Jumping Frog [MTP].
Anna Palmer Draper wrote from NYC to decline Sam’s dinner invitation of Mar. 22, as she had to be on Boston that day [MTP].
Hugh McLellan wrote from Champlain, NY to Sam, “at last” thanking him for Tom Sawyer [MTP].
A. Emilius Outerbridge & Co., Agents for Quebec Steamship Co. wrote to Miss Lyon: “We acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th inst. enclosing check for $273.36 for which we return herein the tickets and advise having booked Mr. Clemens and party in rooms 29 and 62 from Bermuda March 19 ” [MTP].
Victor Robinson for Alturia Magazine wrote to Sam asking for his 10 favorite humanitarians of the 19 Century [MTP].
Maryland Governor Edwin Warfield wrote to Sam, accepting his invitation for dinner, and expressing pleasantries that he was finally able to get to know Mark Twain [MTP].