November 18 Saturday – In New York Sam wrote to Livy, enclosing the invitation of Nov. 17 from Henry Irving.

I am desperately disappointed because my photograph is not ready for your birthday. I was going to send it to Susy & have her put it with the other tokens of love & remembrance Nov. 27th. But I see I can’t manage it now. I went there & sat 7 times & got one or two very good negatives. Sarony should have had the pictures here two days ago but he has failed me.

Sam also reassured her that the Century would send her money owed him on Dec. 1 and the rest on Jan. 1.

They feel the hard times like the rest. And bless your life they’re bitter hard times! You have never seen anything to remotely compare with them.

He also expressed regret he could not be with her on her birthday, but hoped she would be “light-hearted & happy,” for she would have all the children around her to bless her [LLMT 278-9].

Sam’s notebook carries a lined-out dinner engagement at John Brisben Walker’s [NB 33 TS 39].

Critic magazine ran “Mark Twain at the Lotos,” an unsigned article [Tenney 21].