April 22 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam inscribed a copy of JA to Dorothy Butes: “To Dorothy—/ with the affectionate regards of / The Author. On the whole it is better to deserve honors & not have them, thatn have them & not deserve them. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain/ April 22/07 [MTP].
Sam also wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah, N.Y.
I’ve been to Hartford, Jean dear, to help the other girls celebrate the 30 anniversary of the Saturday Morning Club. I helped them organize it 30 years ago, & for this service was made a member; & to this day I am the only male member it has ever had.
These girls were 18 & 20 years old, in that ancient day, but they are 50 & past, now, & the signs of age are upon them; but they are still young in their hearts. We had a rousing time, a happy time, a memorable time.
I am still rusty & tired from the railway journey, & am resting-up in bed & getting ready for the yacht-voyage to Jamestown. We sail Wednesday afternoon, & shall be gone several days.
I have appointments in the first fortnight of May for Tuxedo—4 ; Actor’s Fund Fair, New York—6 & 8 ; leave for Annapolis 9 —return in 5 days. Then Tuxedo & REST.
I hope you are having good times, dear Jean, & that I shall have a longer visit with you next time. That other visit does not count—it was nothing but a glimpse. Goodbye, dear heart—& many hugs & kisses …. [MTP].
W.R.E. Collins wrote to advise Sam that his “two associates did not to the hour keep their agreement to pay a small instalment on the coal land…and I must rearrange matters and make a new deal…” Collins was trying to get Clemens to loan $10,000; see Apr. 18 from Collins [MTP].
Helen Johnson (Mrs. A.C. Johnson) wrote from Glen Falls, NY to assure Sam she didn’t wish financial help, but wanted to see him—“not an interviewer, nor a reporter—just a humorist” [MTP].
Mrs. Arthur J. Tenney wrote a fan letter to Sam from Branford, Conn., She enclosed a photo of their library. She noted Sam had spent time in Branford “a number of years ago” [MTP]. Note: See Apr. 24 for Lyon’s reply.
Sam G. Moore wrote a long, long letter to Sam from Portsmouth, Ohio about old days on the Mississippi. Moore had been re-reading LM, and “had to write.” He steered for Horace Bixby in Sept. 1853. “Bixby learned the river from Cairo to St. Louis with my brother Capt Enos Moore[.] they were on the Crescent then…” [MTP]. Note: There are no Lyon or SLC notations on the letter and no env. in file.
Robert H. Rice wrote to Sam on Union Library Assoc., Oberlin College letterhead, Oberlin, Ohio. Would Sam favor them with a lecture? [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Answd Apr. 27 ‘07”
Howard S. Ruddy for American Press Humorists wrote to Sam on the Literary Department of The Rochester Herald (NY) stationery to invite him to the next convention in Los Angeles on Sept. 15 [MTP].
William T. Shannonhouse wrote to ask Sam for a lecture in Norfolk, Va. to raise funds for the Pickett-Buchanan Camp No. 9, Virginia Division, United Sons of Confederate Veterans [MTP].