December 28 Monday – In Redding, Sam wrote a postcard to Ragnvald Blix in Munich, Germany.

December 27 Sunday – Sam’s new guestbook:

Name  Address  Date  Remarks

December 26 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam sent the same postcard with a photo of himself, Ashcroft, and Lyon to Dorothy Sturgis, this time adding supposed dialog between those photographed:  

December 25 Friday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Dorothy Butes.

December 24 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam inscribed a copy of P&P to Ossip Gabrilowitsch: “To Ossip Gabrilowitsch, all good wishes & a Merry Christmas, from the Author. Stormfield, Dec. 24/08” [MTP].  

December 23 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Dec. 10 of L.M. Powers. “Published without my consent; & promptly suppressed. SLC /Don’t know where to find this one. It was a political brochure” [MTP].

December 22 Tuesday – Mansfield Hobbs, an attorney friend of Ralph W. Ashcroft filed incorporation papers for the Mark Twain Company, with $5,000 in capital stock. Clemens, Ashcroft, and Isabel Lyon were the original officers. Sam signed a document assigning and transferring all of his literary rights to the new corporation.

December 21 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam added to his Dec. 20 to Margaret Blackmer.

Next morning. 8 a.m. Before breakfast.

December 20 Sunday – In Redding, Conn. Sam began a letter to Margaret Blackmer that he finished on Dec. 21. The Dec. 20 segment:

December 19 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Dec. 18 from H.H. Rogers.

Dear Admiral: