August 1 Thursday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam replied to the July 15 of Joy Agnew, daughter of Phillip L. Agnew, editor in chief of Punch.
Unto you greeting & salutation & worship, you dear sweet little right-named Joy! I can see you now almost as vividly as I saw you that night when you sat flashing & beaming upon those sombre swallow-tails.
“Fair as a star when only one
Is shining in the sky.”
Oh, you were indeed the only one—there wasn’t even the remotest chance of competition with you, dear! Ah, you are a decoration, you little witch!
The idea of your house going to the wanton expense of a flower garden!—aren’t you enough? And what do you want to go & discourage the other flowers for? Is that the right spirit? is it considerate? is it kind? How do you suppose they feel when you come around—looking the way you look? And you so pink & sweet & dainty & super-natural? Why, it makes them feel embarrassed & artificial, of course; & in my opinion it is just as pathetic as it can be. Now then, you want to reform, dear, & do right.
Well certainly you are well off, Joy:
“3 bantams;
3 goldfish;
3 doves;
6 canarys;
2 dogs;
1 cat.”
All you need, now, to be permanently beyond the reach of want, is one more dog—just one more good, gentle, high-principled, affectionate, loyal dog who wouldn’t want any nobler service than the golden privilege of lying at your door, nights, & biting everything that come along—& I am that very one, & ready to come at the dropping of a hat.
Do you think you could convey my love & thanks to your “daddy” & Owen Seaman & those other oppressed & down-trodden subjects of yours, you darling small tyrant?
On my knees! These—with the kiss of fealty from your other subject— / Mark Twain
P. S. Won’t you please be good & send me the lovely speech you made to me? [MTP].
Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Mrs. Emma Gertrude Quick in Plainfield, N.J. making arrangements to have Dorothy Quick visit from Monday Aug. 5 to Friday Aug. 9, when Sam had to leave to spend a week with Col. Harvey [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Mr. Clemens dined with Mr. & Mrs. Tams. The Poors were there, & Mr. Clemens hated Mr. Poor. Such a tiresome idiotic purseproud creature. But Mrs. Tams improves on acquaintance.
Colonel Harvey went this morning. Yesterday he had a long talk about syndicating the Autobiography, for through the medium of the N.A. Review it has reached comparatively few people, and the world wants it especially as it is not to appear at all in book form. No one seems to read the little note at the head [of] each review instalment, which says that the present intention is not to issue the Auto in book form. Many people that I have been talking to about it, & who have not read it from the beginning are placidly waiting for it to be issued in a volume [MTP 89].
Thomas N. Miranda wrote from Norfolk, Va. to Sam. “ I trust you will pardon my worrying you again over that curious accident ‘kid’ that came to light first under your pillow. You will remember that I wrote you about it last June, and received a very kind letter in return.” (This relates to the “optical illusion” of Sam’s photo with the imagined little girl leaning to his ear.) She was glad he was back in America [MTP]. Note: IVL wrote: “Answd Sept. 18, ‘07”
William M. Stewart wrote from Rhyolite, Nev. to invite Sam to be the guest of the ladies of Goldfield for the anniversary of Nevada’s entry into the Union on Oct. 31 [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Answd. Aug 9, ‘07”
Annie E. Wilkins wrote from Vooreesville, NY after seeing Sam’s picture with his “little ocean-mate” in the Brooklyn Eagle. She knew the girl (Dorothy Quick) when just a tot and related a humorous story of her on her grandfather’s knee [MTP].