October 17 Thursday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote a short note of recommendation for Mrs. Frances A. Ramsay as a stenographer “To whom it may concern”: I take the pleasure in saying that as a stenographer I found Mrs Ramsay competent & in all ways satisfactory” [MTP].

Sam inscribed his photo   to “Dear Miss Bessie.” (Miss Bessie Holloway wrote thanks to him on Oct. 29 and this is likely the same Bessie). “Dear Miss Bessie, Even if an agent should take your scoldings on a commission, I doubt if he would get much of a living out of it. Sincerely yours, Mark Twain, Oct.17/07” [Adam Adrusier Autographs, Ltd. London] Notes (from seller’s listing): “It seems likely that Twain is making reference here to his story ‘Little Bessie’ (with whom the recipient of this photo presumably shared a first-name), an irreverent story in which Christianity is ridiculed, written in the year of signing this photo (1907). The story was suppressed until well after Twain’s death, when it was published in 1972.”

The New York Times, “Theatrical Notes,” Oct. 17, 1907, p.9 :

Mark Twain will be a guest on Tuesday evening next when the New York members of the American Press Humorists will have a theatre party at the Casino to witness “The Gay White Way,” with Jefferson De Angelis, Blanche Ring, and Alexander Carr [Notes: Jefferson De Angeles (1859-1933), comic actor; Blanche Ring (1871-1961), singer and actress in Broadway productions; Alexander Carr (1877-1946), Russian-born silent-filmactor. 

Robert Erskine Ely for the Economic Club of New York sent Sam a membership list, and a request for annual dues of $15 [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote for Sam on the letter, “Too many of these taxes & they aggregate too much / must withdraw”; Sam hated paying any club dues.

Harry Windsor Dearborn wrote to Lyon asking for a Twain photo for Mr. Walter Scott [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Oct. 17, ‘07”