December 11 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Marjorie V.d.W. Brooke. “I am quite sure, Miss Brooke, that if I had seen that photograph in a shop window I should have supposed it was a picture of myself, so marked is the resemblance” [MTP: eBay item #30366463].
Sam sent another Dec. 6 form letter for the occasion of his 70th to Will Larrymore Smedley. Sam added no comment [MTP].
In N.Y.C. Isabel Lyon wrote for Sam to Dihdwo Twe.
Mr. Clemens directs me to write for him & say that he is planning to give a talk on the Congo question on Thursday evening Dec. 21. in a church near at hand, and as you say you can come to New York at any time he hopes you will be able to be here on that date and talk for 20 minutes in the Church; after which M . Clemens will say what he wishes to have reach the Associated Press.
The Rev. Percy Grant, rector of the Church of the Ascension, expects to write to you soon—but if he does not, M . Clemens wishes me to say that you are to come any way, and on the next day he can see you and talk about your article.
M . Clemens directs me to say that he would rather you wouldn’t say anything about this plan, for he doesn’t wish to get into the papers as a lecturer, and therefore there is to be no advertising of the talk. [on verso:] giving details of the horrors that have been perpetrated in Africa [MTP].
Isabel Lyon also began a letter to Raffaello Stiattesi that she finished on Dec. 14. Her perspective on the 70 birthday celebration, the servant Ugo, and the Clemens girls may be instructive to researchers.
Carissimo Toscano Mio: / Two weeks ago I received your dear welcome letter, and I am slow in answering it, because I have been very busy indeed, and not very well—not very strong;—but I have a good Doctor—the one who took care of Miss Clara during all her long illness—and he will bring back my strength again I know.
You will probably not hear that a great banquet was given to Mr. Clemens on his 70 birthday —only writers of fiction were invited, but Col. Harvey who gave the banquet invited me, and I went to sit near my wonderful chief (Mr. Clemens) who made a beautiful and humorous speech; there were many other celebrated men who made speeches also—and it was a beautiful evening for me. But you would never think that Mr. Clemens is seventy years old, he looks far better than he did when he was in beloved Quarto, and he is well and quite contented I think, for now Miss Clara is at home here, well and beautiful & sweet, as you know she cannot help but be. She is singing again—not very much yet, but she is studying and her voice is charming.
Yes. You write English very fluently now, and I am delighted to have so great a benefit come to you in your new neighbor—I think I remember that she was always an interesting woman. You are fortunate.
But Carissimo, you do not tell about “Nina”—& “Sirio” & “Peg.” & the dear Panhard—and I love them all. but best I love to remember the sound of your feet on your gravel walk. Oh how sweet it was. Do you think, really, that I shall ever be in the Canonica again? I promise myself that dear pleasure, but who can tell? Does any one sleep in my tiny bed?
Today I have received the pamphlet you so kindly sent, and I thank you very much for it. I am so happy that your favorite work has made you famous.
I very much hope that you will not be tempted to show my letters to anyone, for I wish to write you freely, dear Don Raffaello— and the letters are only for your eyes—are they not?
About two weeks ago Siquor Ubaldo Traverso was here, and called upon Mr. Clemens. We had a very nice talk with him, and he made me long to see you, & the via Strozzi—& all Florence.
Ugo who re-entered Mr. Clemens’s service in the summer is now back in Italy. Mr. Clemens had to send him home, for he could not learn English, nor our customs, and it made much trouble—All your words came true once more you see [MTP].
Sam also instructed Lyon to reply “Thanks for the honor” to Albert L. Wilson’s Dec. 6 of Kansas City, Mo. for naming their only son, now seventeen, “Mark Twain” [MTP].
Isabel Lyon replied for SLC to the Dec. 9 of John F. Tremain:
At bottom of Tremain’s Dec. 9 in pencil Miss Lyon wrote: “Sorry he cannot come or join, but that he accepts no invitations now, which I can with propriety decline. She quoted him: “Realize that I am old & am staggering along under a heavy burden of duties & industries.”
This letter ran in the Elmira Morning Telegram for 17 Dec. 1905.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Oh, Mr. Clemens is so interested in the Congo question, the terrible, terrible Congo suffering”[MTP TS 113]. Isabel Lyon’s Journal # 2: “Lunch with Mr. Melville Stone” [MTP TS 36]. Note: Stone ran the Associated Press.
A. Rosenthal, editor of The Modern View Publishing Co., St. Louis, wrote to Sam. They were sending a copy of The Modern View magazine which contained a poem by Henry Tudor written in Sam’s honor. The publication catered to “the representative Jewish element of the country”; they lauded Sam’s “noble stand … in denouncing Russian atrocities against an innocent people” [MTP]. Note: Sam’s one-word directive to Lyon “Answer” is estimated at five days, or ca. Dec. 16.
Daniel Carter Beard wrote from Flushing, L.I. to thank Sam for accepting our invitations and how excited they were at the prospect [MTP].
Marion von Kendler wrote on a picture postcard (of Franz Joseph of Austria), her wish of happiness to Sam “on your natal and all other days” [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote above Franz’s head; “No address?”
James F. Mallinckrodt wrote from St. Louis to praise Sam’s birthday speech [MTP].
Annie H. Martin wrote from Carson City, Nev. For the Nevada Press Co. to ask Sam for an article for their Christmas edition [MTP].
George W. Spencer wrote congratulations from Boston, and asked Sam if he would sign the enclosed photo, one he got as a boy at Lee & Shepard’s 35 years before: “I had the pleasure of meeting you three gentlemen, and became somewhat familiar with Billings and Nasby and so much so that I was able to procure their autographs but did not get yours” [MTP].
December 11 ca. – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam replied to Albert L. Wilson’s Dec. 6 [MTP]. Note: The MTP catalogs Sam’s reply as “on or after 6 Dec.” Five days estimated postal time is allowed here, giving ca. Dec. 11.
Sam also replied to W.B. Hosford’s Dec. 7 query: “left the River for good in June ‘61” [MTP]. Note: three days allowed for mail time and a Sunday for the reply.