March 14 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam replied to Edward M. Foote’s Mar. 9 invitation:
Indeed I should like to attend the reunion of the fellowship of honorary members of Mr. Rockefeller’s Bible Class, (of whom I am one, by grace of service rendered,) but I must be discreet & not venture. This is an account of Joseph. He might come up as an issue, & then I could get into trouble, for Mr. Rockefeller & I do not agree as to Joseph. Eight years ago I quite painstakingly & exhaustively explained Joseph, by the light of the 47 chapter of Genesis, in a North American Review article entitled “Concerning the Jews,” which has since been transferred to volume of my Collected Works; then I turned my attention to other subjects, under the impression that I had settled Joseph for good & all & left nothing further for anybody to say about him. Judge, then, of my surprise & sorrow, when by the newspapers I lately saw that Mr. Rockefeller had taken hold of Joseph—quite manifestly unaware that I had already settled Joseph—& was trying to settle him again.
In every sentence uttered by Mr. Rockefeller there was evidence that he was not acquainted with Joseph. Therefore it was plain to me that he had never read my article. He has certainly not read it, because his published estimate of Joseph differs quite materially from mine. This could not be, if he had read the article. He thinks Joseph was Mary’s little lamb; this is an error. He was—he—but you look at the article, then you will see what he was.
…. [Sam inserted a newspaper clipping from Dr. Silverman and a passage from the Bible about Joseph]
No, I thank you cordially & in all sincerity, but I am afraid to come, I must not venture to come, for I am sensitive, I am humane, I am tender in my feelings & I could not bear it if young Mr. Rockefeller, whom I think a great deal of, should get up & go to whitewashing Joseph again. But you have my very best wishes [MTP].
Sam also wrote instructions to Isabel V. Lyon. “If I am free of engagements for next Tuesday, invite Mr & Mrs. Doubleday to come to luncheon; if they can’t, then invite them to come at 2 p. m.—they want me to read my Gospel of Self. /We are to telephone them TO–DAY” [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: Moro Slaughter continued—Luncheon for George Harvey— Opinions of the guests as to Moro fight—Cable from General Leonard Wood explaining and apologizing—What became of the wounded?—President Roosevelt’s joy over the splendid achievement—Manner in which he made Wood Major General—McKinley’s joy over capture of Emilio Aguinaldo [AMT 1: 407-409].
A.A. Bustard wrote from Steubenville, Ohio asking where he might find a copy of “one of your recent stories which was written for the special edification of Secretary Hay? I believe it deals with Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh…” [MTP]. Note: The man referred to 1601; Sam’s answer is dated ca. Mar. 16, allowing two days postal delivery.
Charles Hopkins Clark wrote to Sam that the Mar. 1 luncheon bill in Hartford came to $28.95.
“I would very much like the privilege of paying the whole bill, but you can send me a check for $14.47, if you insist. Let me know next time you are coming and I will exercise a little of the American right of independence” [MTP]. Note: Sam’s answer was ca. Mar. 16.
W.O. Fuller, Jr. wrote from Rockland, Maine to invite Sam to the dedication of his new house on the night of Mar. 31. He mentioned several notables who would be there [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote “Decline it”
George Henschel wrote from Phila. to Sam. “Many thanks for your telegram. I am delighted you will be with me on Tuesday next, the 20 at 7.30. The entrance to the Dutch Room of the Hofbrauhaus is on Broadway (cor. Of 30 ) ..I am sorry your daughters can’t come” [MTP].
Ada Patterson for Hearst’s New York American wrote asking Sam’s opinion of an enclosed parody of Robinson Crusoe by Barry Pain, English humorist. And, would he give Patterson “a few minutes, not more than five…and allow me the pleasure of shaking hands with the father of ‘Huckleberry Finn’”? [MTP]. Note: Isabel Lyon answered for Sam ca. Mar. 16 that “Mr. Clemens couldn’t do either or any of the things asked,” which leads to some speculation as to Twain’s regard for the American or Hearst or Patterson.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. wrote to Sam about the Mar. 22 evening meeting of his Young Men’s Bible Class. Martin W. Littleton, ex-president of the Borough of Brooklyn (and Sam’s NY neighbor) would speak. He would send the subject of the evening in a day or two. “A few words, however, on any theme which suggests itself to you would be highly pleasing, or your views on the question of lying…” [MTP].
Clara Clemens tried out again, this time for Isidore Luckstone. He “gave his verdict and it was that C.C.’s breath is not as it should be” [Hill 122].
March 14 ca. – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam instructed Isabel Lyon to telegraph George Henschel “yes” to his Mar. 12 invite for a Bavarian dinner on Mar. 20 [MTP].