June 3 Monday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Chatto & Windus. “M . Clemens asks me to write for him & say that he must refer you to the London Harpers, and say to them that he has no objection himself to the cheaper edition of the three books you mention; but that as he is a sort of partner of the Harpers, he cannot give his consent without consulting them” [MTP].
Sam also wrote an invitation to H.H. Rogers, Jr. and Mary B. Rogers, also in Tuxedo Park, N.Y.
The pleasure of the company of Mr. & Mrs. H. H. Rogers, jr. is requested at luncheon at the Voss domicile on Wednesday, 1.30 p. m. to meet Mr. Clemens, the celebrated humorist.
Informal Dress not necessary.
Only clothes [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal quoted the above invitation: Here at 6:15 the King came slipping up to my room with just his silk underclothes on—such a beautiful man he is—with a little invitation for Mary and Harry Rogers to lunch here on Wednesday—“to meet the celebrated humorist” [quote of last 3 lines of above invitation here]. He said this morning that he’d like to have Miss Hobby hurry and finish copying the “Mysterious Stranger” ms., “like to have her pull off that job in a hurry as the prophet used to say.”
He is my most complete delight. Evenings he sits in the living room under the great electric light and he seems to be all the colors of soap bubbles, for there is a great red shade that excludes the light from every one but the King [MTP TS 64].
John B. Downing wrote from Middleport, Ohio. to Sam, enclosing a clipping (“Londoner Remembers Old Times on the River” about John E. Rowland) sent to him from Daytona, Fla. By Dr. G.E. Watton.
On arrival at Baltimore, several took me by the hand calling me ‘Mr. Clemens’ etc, by which I learned you were being entertained by the Governor and wife. Col Latham, Wm R Hoel and Belden were with you on the Quaker City after which you wrote ‘Innocents Abroad’—all from Cincinnati & all dead. Is this correct? I was a Cub under Hoel who with the others named went up in a balloon and had their ribs broke. On George Smiths farm near Waymouth Ohio. I was to go on Quaker City with above named party but got broke, on Poker and am reformed now; like Bob Taylor, Gov of Tenn occasionally speak a piece and play the fiddle. Of course, you remember Rowland, —Downing [MTP].
Ella McMahon wrote to Sam on a card pasted with an article from the NY Sun for June 3, “An English Opinion of Samuel L. Clemens. / From the Spectator.” The article recalled Sam’s involvement in the Batavia disaster, and spoke to the upcoming Oxford degree. “But he is above all, the fearless, upholder of all that is clean, noble, straightforward, innocent and manly…Mark Twain …stands for all that Englishmen like best.” Ella wrote one sentence under the clipping “‘So say we all of us’ – an American echo voiced by yours truly” [MTP].