December 21 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Sir Martin / N.E. Dinner—to-day or tomorrow” [NB 43 TS 32].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving Bacheller, declining an invitation. He had not accepted one since Nov. 12 and “declined an average of three a day ever since—the last three from my own home (Hartford).” He added that “The book charmed me!” [MTP]. Note: See Dec. 5 and 14 for, Eben Holden; A Tale of the North Country. Also see Gribben 36.

December 20 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Clarence F. Forrest, thanking “the Committee” for the invitation but declining [MTP]. Note: Forrest is not further identified.

Sam also wrote to Mr. Griswold.

“I shall be very glad indeed to have the Dresden edition of my old friend’s books in my library in this house. I knew him twenty years, and was fond of him, and held him in as high honor as I have held any man living or dead” [MTP].

December 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Opera with Col Harvey / Owen Wister coming, 10.30.” [Note: source gives Livy as writer of the opera engagement. Also:] “dinner with Harvey. See Monday. His carriage will arrive for me at 6.30” [NB 43 TS 31-32].

December 18 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner at Mr. Mott’s 8 pm 17 E 47th / HOWELLS Lunch at 1 Century Club 7 W. 43d” [NB 43 TS 31]. Note: Jordan Lawrence Mott, Jr.; Sam gives the same address for Mott as he did in his Dec. 9 entry, connecting Mott to Winston Churchill’s visit.

Sam lunched with William Dean Howells at the Century Club [MTHL 2: 725: NB 43 TS 31].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mrs. Elizabeth Evans.

December 17 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Possible dinner with Harvey. See Thursday / The whole family dinner Rogers—telephone or Thursday” [NB 43 TS 31].

Sam wrote a reply to Richard Watson Gilder (incoming not extant), about the price of an article:

Dear Gilder: / But won’t you offer a price yourself? And make it a final one, so’s we shan’t lose time dickering.

December 16 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Two tickets in card-case for Xn Science lecture by ex-Judge Clarkson (Omaha) Carnegie Hall 3 p.m.” [NB 43 TS 31]. Note: Joseph Clarkson gave a lecture to a packed hall in support of Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science, which he claimed had performed two million cases of healing [NY Times, Dec. 17, p. 7].

December 15 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “N.E. Dinner?” [NB 43 TS 31].

Harper’s Weekly featured a cover portrait of Mark Twain by the renowned English artist William Nicholson. No text was given. See insert.

December 14 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving Bacheller.

December 13 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote one line on a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz, a N.Y. attorney he considered hiring: “What would it cost?—definitely” [MTP]. Note: Sam wanted to bring suit against Chicago publisher Butler Brothers for issuing an unauthorized edition of the “Library of Wit and Humor by Mark Twain.”

Sam’s notebook: “Aldrich, Boston?” [NB 43 TS 31].

December 12 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Edmund Clarence Stedman.

“It is most kind of President Dodge, but I am most likely to stay at home, for I am dead, dead, dead tired of talking & feeding. I have crept out of all my engagements except one tonight & one in the middle of January…” [MTP].