November 25 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margery Hamilton Clinton, 39 E. 57th, N.Y.C.
Dear Plumber:
Oh no, bless your heart, you are not in any danger of losing your job. All you have to do is to be sweet, & look sweet, & sit around & let on to plumb, same as the others do. These are the only requirements in your case, & they will always come easy to you. Your job is quite secure.
I am very sorry the cold hangs on, but glad it did not turn to grippe. Watch it, take care of it. If I had it I would vibrate it with the machine, & observe results. I have two ailments, & only two —that violent crick in my neck, & a frequent & protracted heartburn, due to indigestion. But nowadays I have ceased to mind them: when they attack me the vibrator abolishes them with surprising promptness—three applications of a minute each, with ten-minute intervals between. You see it is much quicker than the massageur’s achievements with his hands, although the principle is just the same.
Come again, Plumber! / Affectionately … [MTP].
Isabel Lyon wrote for Sam to Charles A. Ellicock. “Mr. Clemens has no photos, but will be glad to sign one if they can find one they like & will send it” [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Will came early and Santa came later. / Benar came too” [MTP: IVL TS 81].
William H. Bliss wrote from NYC to invite Sam to a luncheon on Saturday, Dec. 5 to meet William J. Locke [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Nov. 27 MLH”; and IVL: “Mr. Clemens has invited guests here”
Katharine I. Harrison wrote from NYC to ask Sam if she might get two sets of his Hillcrest Edition books at a lower price than from Harpers direct, this for a friend of hers [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Nov. 27 MLH”; and IVL: “Where shall they be sent”
William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
My dear Clemens: / I should like mightily to meet your farmers, but, poor fellow, I thought you went to Redding to get rid of Mark Twain. Besides knowing all your stories, I am prevented from coming to you by Mrs. Howells’s not wanting to be left alone here; Pilla is still in Boston; and I have to help Mrs. H. breathe, and take other little jobs off her hands. If you ever give me another chance, be sure I shall take the first train. I am up so early, old man like, that if there were any lark round he would find me ready to shoot him.
L. Northcliffe, whom I met at a Harvey lunch, verified before-hand every thing you have since reported his saying of the house, but what pleases me most is your generosity. They usually say, “Oh, yes, Jones was the architect, but the fact is, my daughter planned the whole thing; and her aunts carried out her ideas. / Yours ever / W.D. Howells [MTHL 2: 838-9]. Note: Howells’ son, John Mead Howells was the architect for Stormfield, though Clara Clemens had been active in the planning of the house, albeit not to the degree of Isabel Lyon.
See n1, 2 source. In reference to getting “rid of Mark Twain,” Clemens must have complained to Howells at some point about the burdens of fame.
Frank A. Munsey wrote to advise Sam that he would give Lord Northcliffe a fairwell dinner on Dec. 14; a formal invitation would be sent in a few days [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Nov. 25 MLH”
Walter Hines Page for the North Carolina Society of NY wrote to invite Sam to a dinner for the society, at which William Howard Taft would be present [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Nov. 27 MLH”; and IVL: “Mr. Clemens thanks you”
W.A. Perry for the YMCA, Salem, Mass. wrote to Sam, listing elements which might have been “most valuable” in his success, asking him to double check his choices [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Nov. 30 MLH”
Charles P.G. Scott for the Simplified Spelling Board wrote to ask Sam if he’d rec’d the book to autograph that Scott had written several notes about [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Nov. 27 ’08 MLH”; and IVL: “Dear Sir, Mr. Clemens hopes you have recd” —Meaning he sent it on.