February 12 Tuesday – In N.Y.C. Sam wrote instructions for Isabel V. Lyon to reply to Rev. Dr. Henry Blanchard in Portland, Maine—thank him for confirming statements made in a letter seven years before by Rev. Mr. Wiggin when Clemens was in England; he’d lost Wiggin’s letter long before [MTP].
Henry Darracott Allison wrote from Dublin, N.H. to Miss Lyon. “Your favor of the 6th, received. I have been to the house and got the hat, livery &c. and the bag from Mr. Carey and have to-day shipped them in one box, all together to Miss Jean Clemens, Katonah, New York, care of Dr. Sharp.” [MTP].
Laura M. Dake (Laura Wright), Sam’s old sweetheart wrote to him:
My dear, old friend, this is just a line by way of remembrance. I keep pretty well in touch with you through your autobiography which I am enjoying very much. Your photos, also, have been enjoyed and much admired. They are so easy, and so natural, that one feels right there and waits to hear you speak.
The protégé is making fine progress in his studies. I hear from him often, and I have such faith that he will climb to the topmost rung of the ladder. Money surely is the lever that moves the world! I could never wear diamonds or costly furs etc. etc with any comfort, because human souls, struggling to reach higher planes, would always be peering at me from behind them. “A socialist,” I hear you ask. Well, no—I think not, but a humanitarian.
If you knew how grateful I am to you and how grateful the protégé is for the means of working to the end desired, without being harassed by the pinches of poverty or having to curtail his studies by working after hours—you would feel such a blessed peace stealing into your heart that you will understand better when you have found such a peace in Kingdom Come.
I write, to night, chiefly to tell you of this gratitude, lest you think by my silence, that I have forgotten.
I keep in fairly good health this winter and am able to work for which, of course, I am thankful.
Some find day you ought to take a run out to California and go once more over your old stamping ground. I cannot say that San Diego offers any attractions, but Los Angeles is simply delightful. If I ever re-incarnate, I hope my karma will bring me to pass my days in Los Angeles. I sent you a line of congratulations on your birthday. I hope it reached you. I have quit counting mine, long ago. It does seem hard that old Noah and other chaps of those old days, should swing around the circle of centuries, as easily as we do decades. Oh, for the secret! Even though life be what Matalini called “a demnition grind,” it is better than the Unknown beyond, for me. What think you? Yet, hold! I do not expect you to tell me, my ancient friend, when every word of yours is 30 cts! Why it makes me dizzy to think of it. Why I would write, even in my sleep if I could get 30 cts a hundred.
If ever I have a little cabin, and am “settled,” I hope you will send me a few of your books, with your name in your own hand writing. I will have a “Clemen’s Corner,” though ever so small. Not now, however, while I am on the wing, so to speak.
I sometimes hear from your old friends, my cousins, the Youngbloods. They are well and fairly prosperous. Laura is a noble, generous woman, and the mainstay of the family. I enjoyed them very much during my brief visit last summer.
But I must not let my gossiping quill meander over the pages too freely, so I will dip it for the last time, to night, and say Adios, and with innumerable good wishes for your continued health and contentment of mind.
As always your friend now as in Auld Lang Syne / Laura M. D— / San Diego, Cal.
P.S. I dip my goose quill once more to tell you that our embryonic physician has one more year after this to study, and then—the “bread cast upon the waters,” will surely return [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote at the top of the letter: “Have Paine write her—”
Amos F. Eno wrote a hand-delivered card to Sam inviting him to a meeting of the Neighborhood Club, Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the card, “Decline”
Ella Harrison wrote to Sam from Chattanooga, Tenn. on mourning stationery asking him to put his name on a teaspoon she was collecting [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote “No Ans.”
Joseph Abel Morris wrote from NYC to Sam, enclosing an address Morris gave on Oct. 25, 1906 at Columbia University for the presenting of the honorary LLD degree to Samuel Clemens [MTP]. Note: Lyon attached note: “Mr. Clemens had already seen this.” Also: “an affront / no reply to make”
William Smith wrote from NYC to ask Sam’s support in “behalf of an innocent man, Patrick.” Smith referred to a reprint of “The Sunnyside” article, and asked Sam “to write a brief letter” after reading the article, “stating your opinion and address it to Judge W.M.K. Olcott, 170 Broadway” [MTP].
Clemens A.D. for this day is listed by MTP.