April 9 Thursday – Bermuda. Either this day or the next, Sam lost his half of the seashell used to identify him to Margaret Blackmer (see May 25 to Blackmer). It was found by a servant in the mess hall at Prospect Army Garrison and handed to Major Malcolm D. Graham, who mailed it back to Sam in New York. See also May 25 to Graham.

Isabel Lyon’s journal:  The King does love these English people. He has just been talking about Col. Chapman and says “he is such a sweet man, he has that curious diffidence and shyness that always means the unhardened heart.”

It was a mistake for us to drive over to St. George’s today—15 of us—for last night the King dined up at the officers’ mess, and for some reason he didn’t want and wouldn’t eat any breakfast this morning, and he felt so badly at luncheon, that he and I left the table at St. George’s and drove home alone and in silence along the beautiful north shore [MTP: IVL TS 44-45].

Eva C. Dix wrote to Sam about his letter on vivisection, in which he’d given permission for her to publish. She’d handed out a few of the letters, but wanted to wait to include it in their annual report. How many copies would he like? [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Answd. Apr. 4” and on reverse, “Mr. Clemens would be glad to have 8 or 10.”

Jean Spurr wrote from Newark, NJ to Sam.

I am writing to you to wish you a pleasant trip home. But if you do have a rough trip do not be foolish as I was and get so sick you cannot eat a thing. 

I am back at school again but we are to have Easter vacation next week. I could not bear to be indoors if I did not have that to look forward to.

Our country is looking fine for this time of year. Spring has set in early.

Have you seen many oleanders in bloom. We did not see any.

Hoping you a pleasant trip,

I am/ your little friend / Jean Spurr [MTP; not in MTAq].