February 6, 1906 Tuesday

scott 21 August 2022
February 6 Tuesday – Elisabeth Marbury wrote to Sam proposing a 2 ½ to 3 ½ % royalty if she sold Paul Kester’s verson of TS. Sometime later the note is annotated “satisfactory” [MTP].

Clemens’ A.D.   for this day: Playing “The Prince and the Pauper”—Acting charades, etc. [AMT 1: 334-341].

Isabel Lyon’s journal:

February 5, 1906 Monday

scott 21 August 2022

February 5 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam replied to William A. Caldwell (incoming not extant) who evidently had asked of something Sam spoke of in a recent talk; was it an example of “thought-transferrence”? No, it was simply an old maxim of his written in London ten years before that he’d made one of his texts in his speech. “The idea is pretty mouldy & commonplace. There isn’t anybody alive (or dead) who hasn’t used it from one to sixty times” [MTP].

February 4, 1906 Sunday

scott 21 August 2022

February 4 Sunday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Richard R. Bowker asking when “a copyright meeting of importance in Washington or elsewhere” would take place [MTP]. 

Isabel Lyon’s journal: 

Yesterday Mr. Paine gave to Mr. Clemens and me copies of the first Tammany Tiger designed by

February 3, 1906 Saturday

scott 21 August 2022

February 3 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Dennis J. Mahoney. 

Dear M . Mahoney: / If you go on trying to make better Americans of the people whom you meet you cannot be better employed. You will be doing your best, you will be doing your full share, & nothing more can be required of any man. / May you prosper— … [MTP]. Note: Mahoney not further identified.     

Sam also wrote to Gertrude Natkin, 138 W. 98 in N.Y.C. 

February 1, 1906 Thursday

scott 21 August 2022
February 1 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie. “I am requested to ask you to read the accompanying letter, and I comply, not reluctantly but with pleasure” [MTP]. Note: The letter enclosed not specified.

Sam also sent an inscribed copy of TA to Frank B. Swigart: “Let us save tomorrows for work” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Frederic Remington.

February 1906

scott 21 August 2022
February – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote to Edward E. Clarke. “DEAR SIR,—I have found the original manuscript and with great pleasure I transmit it herewith, also a printed copy. It is a matter of great pride to me to have any word of mine concerning the world’s supremest heroine honored by a place in that Museum” [MTP: Paine’s 1917 Mark Twain’s Letters, p.789].

January 30, 1906 Tuesday

scott 20 August 2022
January 30 Tuesday – Sam was in Washington, D.C. until the afternoon, when he returned to NY [IVL TS 13]. By invitation Sam went to “Uncle Joe” Cannon’s office to watch him work as Speaker of the House. NY Times of this date continued from Jan. 28 entry:

January 29, 1906 Monday

scott 20 August 2022

January 29 Monday – Sam was in Washington, D.C. Fatout lists him as giving remarks on copyright [MT Speaking 674].

Charles Alexander, Editor of Alexander’s Magazine (“dedicated to the interests of the black people in every part of the world”) wrote to Sam. He had a copy of “King Leopold’s Soliloquy” and also The Story of the Congo Free State by Henry Wellington Wack. Was Sam acquainted with Wack, and was his story of the Congo “worthy of belief?” Sam’s reply would be kept confidential [MTP]. Note: Sam answered Jan.31.

Subscribe to