May 16 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Sam wrote an introductory letter for his nephew Samuel Moffett to Bellamy Storer, American ambassador to Vienna, Austria.
I beg that you will allow me the privilege of introducing to your favor my nephew S. E. Moffett, one of the editors of “Collier’s Weekly” who is sent to Europe to gather some facts from governmental sources, & if you can send him to the officials he needs to see, I shall be very grateful. I vouch for his honorable character, his discretion & his honesty. He will do your kindness no discredit.
With great respect I am … [MTP].
In Dublin, N.H., Isabel Lyon wrote in her journal:
Clouds and Mist and Rain. Every evening Jean reads aloud to me. Now it is a book by Madame Laschovska, a Viennese friend of the Clemenses, on Transylvania—and now it will be a little French History—and now it is Heine—Dear Child that she is—Such a complex nature and yet so entirely simple—Consistent—yet so inconsistent. There is a power in that young nature [MTP TS 58]. Note: Heinrich Heine (1797-1856); see Gribben p. 305. Emily Laszowska- Gerard (1849-1905) inscribed a copy of The Land Beyond the Forest: Facts, Figures, and Fancies from Transylvania (1888) on 19 Dec. 1897. The spelling of Eastern European names is often varied. Also seen as Emily Gerard, Mrs de Laszowska, Emily Laszowska, or Emily de Laszowska Gerard.
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Mr. Clemens sees Miss Clemens [Clara] everyday” [MTP TS 18-19].
Dr. Frederick Gaertner wrote from Pittsburg, Pa. to Sam, Hoping you can remember me from Vienna, Wien, & Italy. The enclosed letter self explanatory.
I don’t intend to answer it. I am an editor of several scientific & surgical journals & could do you a lot of good as my testimonial knowing you personally, etc. would be worth a great deal to read all over the World [MTP]. Note: The enclosed letter was May 16 from Harper’s to Gaertner, declining his offer of a testimonial of Mark Twain in exchange for a discount from the published price of his works.
Harold Milbank wrote from Vanderbilt Hall, Yale University inquiring after the author of the poem, “Jim Bludsol” which appeared last spring in the NY Times [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the letter “Mr. John Hay wrote it.”
John L. RoBards, Sam’s old friend from Hannibal, Mo., wrote and enclosed a leaflet about lecturing (not in file). “Neither money nor endorsement is herein solicited, but an earnest friendly consideration of each excerpt…” If Sam didn’t care to comment that would be fine with RoBards [MTP]. Note: no reply from Clemens.
Philip Sawyer of York & Sawyer Architects, NYC wrote to Sam, sending a bill for $250 he considered late, for “professional services rendered,” in regard to 21 Fifth Ave [MTP]. Note: on May 23, Sawyer wrote he had rec’d Miss Lyon’s note and check dated May 20.