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December – “Eve’s Diary” was first published in Harper’s Monthly. In June 1906 it was published in book form as Eve’s Diary Translated from the Original MS; also included in The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories (1906) [Budd, Collected 2: 1010-11].

In N.Y.C. Sam inscribed his photograph to Mrs. John C. Graham: “Perhaps Mrs. John C. Graham will divine why this picture is intruded upon her by her obliged servant. / Mark Twain Dec./05.” [MTP].

Sam also inscribed a copy of HF to Charles Aubrey Slosson (1875-1965): “Mr. Charles Aubrey Slosson  his book.” Sam followed this with his “June-bug” aphorism [MTP].  

Sam also inscribed a copy of The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg to an unidentified person: “Necessity is the mother of taking chances. Truly yours Mark Twain. Dec./05” [MTP: American Art Assoc.—Anderson Galleries catalogs Jan. 29, 1936, Item 104].

Sam also inscribed a copy of A Dog’s Tale to an unidentified person: “You may straighten the worm, but the crook is in him & only waiting. Mark Twain. Dec/05.” [MTP: Parke-Bernet catalogs June 17, 1964, Item 14].

Sam signed his copy of Voices of Doubt and Trust (1897) by Volney Streamer (1850-1915): “S.L. Clemens / Dec. 1905. / 21—5th ave” [Gribben 674].

Sam also wrote an aphorism to an unidentified person: “Taking the pledge will not make bad liquor good, but it will improve it./ Truly yours / Mark Twain./ Dec./05” [MTP: Swann Galleries Inc catalog, May 3, 1990 Item 315].

Sam also wrote an aphorism to an unidentified person: “Never put off till tomorrow what can be put off till day after tomorrow just as well. / Truly yours / Mark Twain./ Dec./05” [MTP: Kenneth W. Rendell catalog, No. 258].

The following persons wrote various birthday congratulations to Clemens sometime during December:

  • Daniel Carter Beard wrote to Sam sometime during the month.
  • Mary S. Coristine.
  • William Hock.
  • Louis E. Michael.
  • Eliza Morton.
  • Robert D. Work [Note: all above names and letters courtesy MTP].


Strand Magazine ran “Portraits of Celebrities at Different Ages—New Series. ‘Mark Twain’” p. 667-8, picturing Samuel Clemens at ages 18, 27, 33, 48, and 62. They ran the identical article again for Jan. 1906.

Day By Day Acknowledgment

Mark Twain Day By Day was originally a print reference, meticulously created by David Fears, who has generously made this work available, via the Center for Mark Twain Studies, as a digital edition.   

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