January 8 Friday – John Albert Macy brought galleys of Some Acrostic Signatures of Francis Bacon, etc. (1909) by William Stone Booth (1864-1926) . Sam then wrote the first pages of “Is Shakespeare Dead?”  Sam thereby became convinced that “Booth, had demonstrated, beyond any doubt or question, that the Bacon signatures were there” (in Shakespeare’s works) [Gribben 77; MTB 1479, 1485-6].

Sam’s new guestbook:  

Name Address Date Remarks

Annie S. Macy

John Albert Macy Waltham, Mass. Jan 8th-11   Though she had never seen him before / SLC

Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam. “The Book News Monthly, which is published by John Wannamaker [sic Wanamaker] in Philadelphia and New York, is proposing to issue a Mark Twain Number sometime this year. The editor asks whether you could find it convenient to let its representative see you in the hope of getting an interview, and all that sort of thing.” He enclosed their letter (not in file) [MTP]. Note: “Ansd”

Oliver Otis Howard for the Lincoln Centennial Committee wrote to invite Sam to “be present and preside in the afternoon at a big, big meeting to be held at one of the opera houses on the eleventh of February.” Howard mentioned the time Sam presided at Carnegie Hall and the “happy time we had together at West Point.” The object of the event was “to aid in raising the $500,000 Endowment Fund for Lincoln Memorial University, Cumberland Gap, Tenn.” He also teased Clemens for being on the Confederate side [MTP]. Note: see Sam’s reply Feb. 12.

Howells & Stokes wrote to Lyon (though catalogued to Clemens) [MTP].

George Meredith was one of various British writers who wrote to Ralph W. Ashcroft on behalf of Mark Twain—all relating to Twain’s proposals for int’l copyright reform [MTP:Auction sale catalog Mar. 27, 1943].

January 8-11 Monday – Sam receipted Helen Keller for $1 as a “tax” for the Redding Library, though Helen was exempt by her gender from the tax. He wrote on the form, “Received of the darling Helen Keller, $1” [MTP].

Sam also receipted Anne Sullivan Macy (Mrs. John Albert Macy) for $1 for his library “tax” [MTP]. Note: Anne Sullivan was Helen Keller’s famous teacher. See Jan. 11 entry.