March 15 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to an unidentified woman (possibly Lucy J. Taylor, who wrote for the Quarter Club on Feb. 17 asking for signatures on Twain’s books) explaining Sam was not well enough to autograph “so many books,” but he would be glad to “autograph the ten extra volumes if that will do” [MTP].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: Today Mr. Coburn came and photoed Jean and then he took six more of

Mr. Clemens. Mr. Clemens was tired then and went wearily back to bed. This afternoon I went up to Mr. Coburn’s studio. All in exquisite green it is, and the dear man sat near my feet talking, talking of my wondrous master, and his own art, and he drifted back and forth between the two subjects, showing me a great deal of his beautiful work, his wondrous photographs, and glowing with the love of the beautiful. He wore a charming green silk Chinaman’s blouse, and there was no spear of white in the room, save some dull candles.

Tonight as I sat playing Mr. and Mrs. Loomis walked in. After a little sporadic talk we gathered around Mr. Clemens who brought in a letter that he had written to Mr. Twichell—he hasn’t quite dared send it yet—to read to the guests. It is apropos of President Roosevelt and the man’s characteristics—it is such a remarkable letter that it ought to be scattered abroad— though the clergy would not stand it, and lots of their followers could not. It compares Roosevelt to God, for “God must be a Republican.”

Then Mr. Clemens, after the shouts of appreciation of all of us, warmed to the task of it and told us a story or two about Mr. Twichell as chaplain [MTP: TS 44-45]. Note: Lyon likely refers to Sam’s Mar. 14 to Twichell, though no direct reference is made to Roosevelt in that letter as there is in the Feb. 16 to Twichell. Alvin Langdon Coburn was the photographer.

Frederick A. Duneka wrote to thank Sam for “the beautiful picture with the more beautiful autograph,” which he would give to his baby boy to enjoy as a man some day [MTP].

March 15 ca. – In San Remo, Italy, William Dean Howells wrote to Sam on a letter from Edward Everett Hale to Howells dated Washington D.C., Mar. 1.

“Dear Clemens: I’ve offered to pay $100 in this cause. Wont you join? If yes, write to Hale. The publishers ought to be milked, too” [MTHL 2: 796].

Note: n2 of source: “Hale, with the cooperation of several literary men and lawyers, was seeking to establish ‘a common law title in copyright existing wholly apart from the statute law.’ The plan was to make the end of Hale’s statutory copyright on The Man Without a Country the occasion for taking this issue to the courts. Hale believed that Wayne MacVeagh, former Attorney General of the United States and ambassador to Italy, would prepare and argue the case.” See Mar. 28 to Hale. With this note, Howells enclosed a clipping without place or date headed, “Un Crapaud Géant/Le Plus Grand Crapaud du Monde.” The clipping concerned an enormous frog which “M. Coleman…à Fredericton” had trained to respond to his name, Snag, and to leap a barrier while carrying an American flag in his mouth. Howells wrote on the edge of the clipping: “Digne Rivale du Frogue Jompeur. Ho! for home, April 5th! W. D. H.” [MTP]. Note: Howells was headed for home.