September 8 Friday – An anonymous article, “An American Defender of the Faith,” ran in The Jewish Chronicle (London), p.11. Tenney: “Excerpts from ‘Concerning the Jews; editorial commentary is brief and descriptive [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Fifth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1981 p. 164]. From Tenney’s Bibliographic Issue #4: “‘An article by Mark Twain in the March number (1899) of Harper’s Magazine attracted many letters from readers asking what in the writer’s opinion were the causes of anti-Semitism. In the current number of the same magazine he deals with this correspondece, with special reference to the letter of a Jewish American lawyer, which states most definitely the points of the case.’ MT’s September article is summarized at some length” [MTJ Bibliographic Issue Number Four 42:1 (Spring 2004) p.7].

Cyrus L. Sulzberger’s article, “Mark Twain and the Jews,” ran in The American Hebrew p.549-50.

Tenney: “‘In a spirit of absolute fairness and clearly without prejudice, Mark Twain makes some interesting suggestions regarding the Jewish question’ in Harper’s. Sulzberger takes strong exception to specifics in MT’s article. The editor of this journal urges: ‘For an intelligent comprehension of Mr. Sulzberger’s criticism of Mark Twain, a reading of the original article is necessary, and we advise all our readers to get Harper’s Magazine for September containing “Concerning the Jews,” by Mark Twain. His article is thoughtful, suggestive and witty”’

[MTJ Bibliographic Issue Number Four 42:1 (Spring 2004) p.7].