January 1 Friday – In Redding, Conn., Isabel V. Lyon replied for Sam to the Dec. 28, 1908 from Clara Frazer in Withers Mill, Mo.
Dear Miss Frazer: / Mr. Clemens asks me to write for him & say certainly you may have that photograph copyrighted, & then used on post cards.
It is such a pretty little photograph that when the cards are printed, Mr Clemens hopes to have some of them.
Mr. Clemens & I both send you our very best wishes, & shall hope for the pleasure of seeing you here, again. We did have a nice time, didn’t we? And I shall always remember the disagreeable woman who made impolite remarks about your pretty blue hat, at the library that day. / Sincerely Yours / Isabel Lyon. (over)
P.S. You will see by the heading of this paper that the name of Mr. Clemens’s house has been changed [MTP]. Note: Clara Frazer was Laura Frazer’s granddaughter.
Sam also wrote on a card (picturing a woman wearing a hat) to Dorothy Quick. “Happy New Year, / Dorothy dear! / from / S.L. Clemens” [MTP].
And about this day Sam also wrote to Elizabeth Jordan.
Dear Miss Jordan: / Nothing in Dr. John Brown’s book is copyright anywhere, now; but Mr. MacBean has introduced matter from Marjorie’s journals not used by Dr, Brown: these additions are copyright in Great Britain. I have borrowed some of them, & will get Mr. Paine to ask the Putnams’ permission to use them. / SLC
I shall need a very early proof to show the Putnam’s, so they can see how much (or rather how little) I am asking [MTP].
Sam’s new guestbook:
Name Address Date Remarks
Ethel Newcombe Stayed 4 days January 1
Ossip Gabrilowitsch “ “ “ New Year’s Day
Sam saved New York Times clippings about earthquakes dated Jan. 1, 1909 [Gribben 506]. Note: see Dec. 31, 1908.
Sam also signed his copy of George B. Harvey’s 1908 book, Women, Etc. Some Leaves from an Editor’s Diary. “SL. Clemens / Stormfield, Jan. 1, 1909” [Gribben 300].
Sam also signed his copy of The Ruby of Kishmoor (1908), by Howard Pyle (1853-1911): “S. L. Clemens, Stormfield, Jan. 1, 1909” [Gribben 565].
Lind Af-Hageby for the Anti-Vivisection Congress, London wrote to invite Sam to their gathering on July 6-10 [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 19. M.L.H.”
Mrs. Elvira H. Brumfield, age 67, wrote from Waco, Texas believing Clemens to be her brother; and offering names in her family [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Mr Clemens [says] that there can be no relationship between the two families as he has never heard the names you mention.”
Edmund Gerson for Golden West Exhibitions, London wrote to ask if they might add Sam’s name to their Committee for their Exposition on March 1909 [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 19. M.L.H.”
Jeannette L. Gilder wrote from NYC to wish Sam a happy new year and a hope he was enjoying Stormfield [MTP].
Mrs. H.B. Gooding wrote from Tiffin, Ohio to Sam, enclosing a clipping (not in file) and asking for “a few lines” for their 1890 Club [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 5 M.L.H.”
L.M. Hudson wrote from Indianapolis, Ind. to ask where she might get a description he’d written “many years ago” about fighting missionary societies [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 5 M.L.H.”
Lewis H. Machen, atty. wrote from Alexandria, Va. to verify, in a rather droll way, about Mark Twain. It was said of Twain by an old gentleman at the New Willard Hotel in Washington, “his forte is humor.” … “I write now to enquire whether there is any truth in this charge. I certainly think you should be given an opportunity to absolve yourself from such a grave aspersion” [MTP]. Note: IVL: “I am very much obliged to him for his letter which is exceedingly pleasant, but as to the charge you mention, it has been made four times before, but not by any responsible person.”
Samuel Samuels wrote from NYC to Sam, receipting him for $75 for apartment rent in “The Stuyvesant” 17 Livingston Place, NYC for one month commencing Jan. 1 [MTP]. Note: for Clara Clemens.
William George Steinke, Jr., NYC, wrote a note with cartoon and pasted short article about Clemens getting an elephant for a Christmas present from Robert J. Collier [MTP]. Note: “Ans. Jan 5 M.L.H.”; “We think its about the best one we’ve got yet.”
Sometime between Jan 1-12, L.M. Powers wrote to Clemens advising he was sending some books “as directed” for his signature, offering to “replenish your stogies of you have not reformed” [MTP].