December 19 Monday – From The Twainian Nov.-Dec. 1951, p.1 comes this piece of history in an article by Frank M. Flack of Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa:

“The January-February, 1946, issue of The Twainian reprinted the text of ‘Mark Twain’s Patent Adjustable Speech,’ as it was delivered on Forefather’s Day, December 20, 1887, before the Congregational Club of Boston.

“In the Charles Aldrich Autograph Collection, which is housed in the Historical Building in the Department of History and Archives, at Des Moines, Iowa, I found recently a proof sheet of this speech, printed, without title in two columns on an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper. Aldrich, who assembled a large autograph collection, … apparently had written to Mark Twain shortly before this date, asking the humorist for a contribution to the collection.

“It is a fortunate coincidence for students of Twain bibliography that Aldrich’s request reached Mark Twain, so that it could be answered on the day before the speech was delivered. This proof is apparently the original and only extant version of the speech except the stenographic report of it as printed in the Boston newspaper and The Twainian. On the margin appears this notation: ‘Proof sheet of a speech (to be) delivered at the New England Dinner in Boston tomorrow night, December 20, in response to a toast about postprandial oratory. S.L. Clemens,’ and on the opposite side of the sheet appears the well-known signature and date, ‘Yours truly, Mark Twain. Dec. 19, 1887’.” [Note: no listing for an incoming from Aldrich or Sam’s response in MTP files].

Andrew Chatto wrote to Sam about an English version of his new book [MTP].

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

3947?  B. Altman & Co    torn amount, check #

3950  Mr. A.L. Hunt, Supt.        5.00