December 7 Friday – Sam was in Washington, D.C., and spoke before the Joint Congressional Committee on Patents in favor of stronger copyright legislation. It was a cause Twain was long chasing. Shelden writes perhaps the most dramatic and telling account of his appearance in his white suit:
December 6 Thursday – Sam replied to the Dec. 1 from Eugene Fitch Ware aka “Ironquill”, the letter later appearing in the Dec. 16 issue of the Washington Post, p. E6. which contained Ware’s “compliment” and Sam’s reply:
Dear Mr. Ware:
December 5 Wednesday – Francis Trevelyan Miller for Connecticut Magazine wrote to Sam, enclosing a poem, “To Genial, Whole-Souled Mark Twain,” and a copy of the current issue with birthday congratulations [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: “A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur” written to contrast English life of the Middle Ages with modern civilization—Arraignment of King Leopold II— His character contrasted with character of lawyer who cared for John Marshall Monument Fund [MTP Autodict3; MTE 211-213].
December 4 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal (in Hartford): “At twilight I walked through the beautiful rooms of this beautiful house & my heart torn into sobbing shreds by my homesickness for the King” [MTP TS 148]. Note: she likely toured the Farmington Ave. house.
December 3 Monday – Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: Mesmerism continued—The Baron F. incident [MTP Autodict3; MTE 131-136].
Fanny E. Coe wrote from Jamaica Plain, Mass. to Sam. She was “preparing a series of reading books for publication” and wished to use the TS fence episode [MTP]. Note: “Ansd Dec. 6”
Major Leigh of Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam. “I beg to hand you herewith statement of your account for the year ending October 30 last. In doing so, permit me to present to you my congratulations” [MTP].
December 2 Sunday – At 21 Fifth Ave, NY Sam wrote a letter of thanks and greeting with a German translation on second leaf to “My far away friends” to an unidentified person [MTP: American Art Assoc. catalog, Mar. 3, 1925 Item 98].
Sam also wrote on a calling card to Robert Underwood Johnson: “Mouldy 71 thanks the Johnsons a thousand times” [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: Sam’s early experiments in mesmerism, continued [MTP Autodict3; MTE 125-131].
December 1 Saturday – In NYC Albert Paine wrote for Sam to Thomas Bailey Aldrich in Boston.
December 1906 to 1907 – Sometime during this period, more likely on his 1907 trip to England, Sam enclosed a “Tuck’s Post Card” in a letter (the card itself is not postmarked) to daughter Jean. The card has a printed poem “To Mark Twain” about the “secret little maid,” so that famous picture is likely on the reverse side. He wrote:
Jean dear, do you remember this picture with the accidental child in it?
December – Sam’s story, “Hunting the Deceitful Turkey,” first ran in Harper’s Monthly, p. 57- 8 [Budd, Collected 2: 1012].
Sam inscribed a copy of The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories to Anita Moffett: “To Anita Moffett / with affectionate Xmas greeting / from her kinsman / Mark Twain / Dec. 1906” [MTP].
Sam also wrote a letter declining to attend a gathering of Kentuckians to honor Henry Watterson, his third cousin by marriage.
November 30 Friday – Sam’s 71 Birthday.
Gertrude Natkin sent a telegram to Sam. “Congratulations & best wishes with love and blots” (kisses) [MTAq 30]. Note: in her diary, Gertrude wrote: “I sent this telegram early in the morning. In the evening I sent Mr. Clemens my birthday gift which was a leather case. Soon after this Mr. Clemens went to Washington on business, that is to try to hve a copyright bill passed to have the rights of the published preserved fifty years after he is dead” [ibid.].