July 14 Friday – In Sanna, Sweden Sam wrote to Robert Lutz, sending him the finished biographical sketch which his nephew, Samuel E. Moffett had completed from Sam’s draft. Sam informed him it would be published in the 22-volume Uniform Edition of his works. “It is plenty long enough, & I shall be glad to see it take the place of the longer one you are now publishing” [MTP]. Note: Lutz had published, “Mark Twain Lebensgeschichte,” an unauthorized and offensive biography in a six-volume edition of MT’s works published in Stuttgart. See Feb. 27 and Apr. 3 for Sam’s requests that the bio by Lutz be suppressed.

Sam also wrote to nephew Samuel E. Moffett.

This biographical sketch suits me entirely—in simplicity, directness, dignity, lucidity—in all ways. All previous ones have made me ashamed of myself.

Bliss can leave it all out, if he needs the room, but if he uses it he must not shorten it or alter it, & he must not put any other in its place [MTP].

Sam also replied to an unidentified man’s request for a photograph that he didn’t carry them when traveling [MTP: ].