October 14 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

I’m dumb with my pen when it comes to trying to write of the King. But this afternoon we were talking—he was talking about religions, and “first causes” and he said that he was not built so that a religion could be of any use to him; he got away from the husk of it ages ago but no one could say how much he may be influenced by the religions of those who are around him. He is not conscious of it, and it would seem as if the line of conduct were due to his own development (and so it is, let him say what he may) but it is all due to the influences about him. (It is he who is the influence.)  

Just then Father Fitzsimon and Mrs. Price of Sterlington came in and we had a very jolly time. The Prices took Lawrence [sic Laurence] Hutton’s house in Princeton after Mr. Hutton died and they did enjoy it so much. In the library hung the framed letter and envelope that Mr. Hutton received from the King once when he was in Venice and the King had inscribed it “Keep till the cuss comes.” We talked about our collecting instincts and the King said that he is collecting school girls, and Mrs. Price is collecting little Prices. Mrs. Price told such a cunning little story about her little girl of 6 who is just learning the notes on the piano. Mrs. Price told her that when she is old enough she will be able to read music. After a little the child say “Where is the T on the piano, mamma?”. “There isn’t any T, dear.” “But there will have to be for I’ve found the C and the A, and if I’m going to read how can I spell cat on the piano without a T. When the King and I went to dinner, I explained with delight over the centre piece of flowers that Claude had provided—but on one of the delicate sprouts I discovered a biggish spider. With a shudder I showed him to the King who said “God made him, and will see that he suffers”. Just then Claude snipped off the sprout and the spider and dropped it into the open fire. We heard him sizzle and pop, and the King smiled, oh he smiled rarely [MTP TS 115-116].

Alice E. Bartlett for Detroit Women’s Press Club wrote to ask Sam for an autographed book for their sale in order to erect a new club house [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Sent Eve’s Diary”

Charles R. Lamb for the Municipal Art Society (NY) wrote an invitation for Lyon [MTP].

Elvelena W. Morford wrote on Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, Pa. notepaper to thank Sam for his visit to the Jamestown Fulton Day and for a welcome home telegram sent by Sam/Ashcroft to Miss Howard [MTP].

Mrs. Charles T. Parsloe, widow wrote from NY Sam to reconfirm her authorization to use and modify the play Ah Sin, as per a letter from Clemens she still had. Since her son had died of a heart attack, and was her only means of support, she hoped the play might bring her income [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter for Sam:

You will see by the letter written & what Mr. Clemens’s position is, that he is glad you have an opportunity to make the trial, but Mr. Clemens says merely protect yourself & him & Bret Harte by inserting that line in the advertisements. That if this play can be rewritten by a competent person, it ought to make a success in these days when every one’s doubtful eyes are on China & Japan. That when the piece was put on the stage originally in NY the miners in it were so unnecessarily coarse & vulgar that they were revolting. The miners that were in these characters were drawn from were not dressed for the part, but at the same time they were not brutes, yet nevertheless…Ah Sin was so good that it would have made that play succeed so handsomely if all the critics had not been after Bret Harte. They had waiting a long time for their chance to square with him. He had said you can buy any critic for cash, & he wasn’t going to do any buying. My comment is, which was thoughtful & judicious on his part, since he hadn’t a cent to buy anything or anybody with….

An unidentified person wrote from Washington, D.C. to Sam. (Only a large, brown envelope survives with a pasted return address: Manager, LONGEVITY / 242 North Capitol Street / Washington, D.C.) This likely contained a copy of the modified Ah Sin play which Mrs. Parsloe was directing [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote a lont reply on the envelope: Ought to have put up with the rest of the piece which was bad. He was always busy & people would interrupt him & he’d say “you go hella.” I might dictate a blast about Bret H. & put this in about the play in such a way that if she can get this play on the board that this might be worth something. When B.H. brought out this play with Ah Sin it it it was then that he brought out the indiscreet remark—which was partly true. … Cost Mr. Clemens 3000 to put play on state. He died owing Mr. Clemens 3000 [MTP] Note: Lyon wrote more but in a seeming rush— much is illegible or difficult to make sense of.

Clemens A.D. for this day is listed by MTP. Note: MTP lists this A.D. date as “conjectural.”