November 23 Saturday – Hamilton W. Mabie’s article, “Mark Twain the Humorist,” ran in Outlook (NY), p. 648-53. Tenney: “A general, admiring discussion of the man and his works, generally uncritical though noting the ephemeral quality of some of his writing. On p. 648, full- page photograph of MT” [44].
Joseph B. Gilder for Putnam’s Monthly wrote to Miss Lyon about Sam sitting for a portrait [MTP].
Howells & Stokes wrote to Sam, billing him for $3,464.06 for William Webb Sunderland, and enclosing (in file) a breakdown of the first four payment amounts [MTP].
J. Hardup McLeod wrote from Yukon Territory to Sam—in part with “original” spelling intact:
My Dear Mark;- / It is with feelings of deepest regret that I am compelled to pen these few lines to you, for know you therefore, that no later than last night a lecturer on “Wit and Humour”, added a new luster to the world wide fame of the old Mississippi River pilot, by making your name conspicuous by its absence, or to use a saying so prevalent amongst our amateur Bridge Whist players of this city, you were “passed up like a white chip”. …
The lecture was an able one, and greatly enjoyed by all, yet Mark for some unexplicable reason, the Author of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, and a few others, was omitted. …
Slowly and in a semi dazed condition…I betook myself sadly home…I mused and meditated on the uncertainty of Fortune’s smile as depicted in the waning fame of one, who so suddenly sprang into the public’s gaze, on account of a recent trip to the old lands; and musing thus Mark, I decided to write to you and invite you to visit this hot old City of Dawson in the Klondike; visit our creeks, view our dust gathering machines, known to the Chechaco and the unsophisticated as dredges, See and observe the manner of the falling of that very rarely and little known element known as “Blue Snow,” which is only found falling in its natural state, after the glass lingers in the neighborhood of 70° below zero. And you may also if you are a true epicure, indulge in the national dish of the Yukon, i.e. the succulent juicey dish of Ice Worms. Come and see us Mark old boy, and after our people have viewed you close at hand so to speak, why your name might once more ring out through the length and breadth of these old Artic regions as fit to be mentioned with several contemporarys of yours, and with us as Abou Ben Adhem was with the Angel, your name will sure lead all the rest. / Yours at 60° below Zero. / P.S. Bring your pocketbook along when you visit as charity [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Dec. 20, 07”
Frances Nunnally replied to Sam’s Nov. 18:
Dear Mr. Clemens, — / You don’t know how sorry I am that you can not come down here to school, for I had looked forward to your visit with a great deal of pleasure. I wish your engagement in Boston had been just a little later, so [you] could have made the Annapolist trip too. I sincerely hope that your cold is entirely over now, so that you will not be deprived of both these trips, and that you will not have bronchitis again [MTAq 83]. Note: she finished the letter with activities at her school.