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.