May 22 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote condolences to George de Forest Brush, after hearing of his loss from daughter Jean.
May 23 Saturday – Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam, advising him not to satisfy the request of Rossiter Johnson, who wanted “permission to include in his forthcoming set of books the synopsis of 2 or 3 of” Sam’s books, and to stick to “that policy which you have followed so consistently in refusing permission for your works & name to be associated with other publications…” [MTP].
Robert W. Breckons wrote on U.S. Attorney’s Office, Honolulu, to ask Sam to put his autograph on enclosed postcard for Breckons’ eight year old daughter [MTP].
May 24 Sunday – Clara Clemens’ cabled from England that she had arrived safely. The cable arrived in the morning at 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. [May 24 to Sturgis] Sam then sent a telegram to daughter Jean, c/o Dr. Harlands: “Clara has arrived safely. Much love to you. Father” [MTP]. Note: Clara Clemens had arrived in England for her singing tour of Paris and London.
Sam also replied to the May 21 from Dorothy Sturgis:
Dear Dorothy—
May 25 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer at Miss Tewksbury’s School in Irvington, N.Y.
Dear Margaret—
May 26 Tuesday – Sam went to Deal Beach, N.J. to spend a week with Col. George Brinton Harvey. During this stay he spent time with Harvey’s daughter Dorothy Harvey (1894-1937), who he added as an Angelfish in his club [June 2 to Allen]. Note: Dorothy was the only child of George and Alma Parker Harvey.
May 27 Wednesday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].
Howells & Stokes wrote to Isabel Lyon (though catalogued to Clemens) about newspapers inquiring for photos of the new Redding house [MTP].
Phillip F. Cunliffe Owen wrote from Staten Island, NY to thank Sam for his appearance at the British dinner at Delmonico’s, and especially for his eulogy of Queen Victoria. Owen added he’d written to Whitelaw Reid about Clara Clemens’ presence in England [MTP].
May 28 Thursday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].
May 29 Friday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].
Sam wrote to Carlotta Welles.
Friday night.
May 30 Saturday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen].
Sarah A. Blanchard wrote to ask Sam if he would lecture before the Dorchester, Mass.
Women’s Club next season [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Answd June 2, ’08; Sincere thanks for compliment of invitation”
Dorothy Quick wrote to Sam.
My Dear Mr Clemens
May 31 Sunday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 toAllen].
Louise Paine wrote to Sam.
Your lovely picure came out safely and is very popular. Every one who sees it says that it is such a beautiful picture, and that you are such a handsome man. You really should be hiding somewhere to hear the nice things that are said about you.
Summer – Sometime during the summer of 1908, Clemens drafted his Constitution for the Angelfish. It follows:
THE AQUARIUM
Issued By THE ADMIRAL
INNOCENCE AT HOME REDDING, CONN. SUMMER-TIME 1908
Qualifications for Membership
Sincerity, good disposition, intelligence, & school-girl age.
Secrets of the Order
Members of the Aquarium are forbidden to divulge its affairs to any but their parents & guardians.
June – Sam’s notebook contained a roster of his Angelfish:
The Acquarium, (June 1908)
June 1 Monday – Sam was the guest of Col. George Brinton Harvey in Deal, N.J. [June 2 to Allen; June 2 to Sturgis].
Henry Hersch Hart wrote from San Francisco, Calif. to ask for Clemens’ autograph on a note [MTP]. Note: IVL: “Answd June 9, ’08 / Would be so glad to but demands are great”
Lucia Hull wrote from Newport, R.I. to thank Sam for his “awfully sweet letter.” She vowed to keep the letter and someday when her grandchildren were in financial straits she would sell it for a fortune [MTP].
June 2 Tuesday – Sam left the Harvey residence in Deal, N.J. and returned home to New York at noon. Before leaving, he settled on the name “Innocence at Home” for the new home in Redding [June 3 to Clara].
At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dorothy Sturgis.
I am just back this moment, & find yours of May 27. I have been down in Jersey eight days, visiting around among my angel-fishes of that region, & have had a very good time indeed.
June 3 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Clara.
Well, Clärchen dear, I have your dear letter from ship board saying what fine shape you are in: also there are cablegrams whereby we know you sang twice last Saturday; & now I am waiting for particulars by mail. It seems a good while to wait, too.
June 4 Thursday – Frederick A. Duneka for Harper & Brothers wrote offering a rather humorous reply to Twain’s of the previous day:
June 5 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean, at Eastern Point in Gloucester, Mass.
Dear Jean, consound the well-intending dog! And certainly he had good intentions, & a heroic spirit. The great big majority of our race are away below him in this regard, & not worthy to untie his shoe-latchets.
Miss Lyon is slaving away at the new house, getting it ready. She will make an admirable job of it if she survives.
June 6 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frances Nunnally.
You are a very dear & sweet Francesca to answer so promptly, & you so heavy-laden with work, you poor little chap! But soon you’ll be at sea, & that will be fine & restful. I wish I could go with you.
June 7 Sunday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Ebenezer J. Hill, postmaster, N.Y. A draft plus a signed letter survive.
June 8 Monday – Clara Clemens’ 34th birthday. Clara was in London on tour.
William Fitz-Simon wrote from Tuxedo Park, NY to Sam.
June 9 Tuesday – Malcolm D. Graham wrote from Hamilton, Bermuda to Sam. “I am indeed glad to have traded the owner of the shell, and am returning it to you by the mail under registered cover & trust it will duly reach you.” He also discussed Bermuda’s weather [MTP]. Note: the “identification” shell was from Helen Blackmer; See May 25 to Graham.
June 10 Wednesday – Dorothy Sturgis wrote from Woodstock, Vt. on Woodstock Inn stationery:
My dear Mr. Clemens.
June 11 Thursday – Dorothy Quick wrote to Sam.
My dear Mr Clemens
I received your letter just before I left I’m so sorry you could not have come out to commencement but I must confess I felt very much disappointed I wanted to show you my school and all my friends. Claire took the rabbits I think I can trust her
June 12 Friday – Charles Hinckley Baker (b. 1864) wrote to Sam, sending his new book Life and Character of William Taylor Baker, President of the World’s Columbian Exposition and of the Chicago Board of Trade, by His Son (1908). Baker inscribed the book: “To Mr. Samuel L. Clemens / ‘Mark Twain’ / with the compliments and good / wishes of the author / Charles H. Baker / June 12th 1908.” Sam wrote on the front pastedown endpaper, “A valuable book, & capably constructed. A tribute from a son to his father which does honor to both. SLC June/08” [Gribben 40; MTP].
June 13 Saturday – G.E. Stechert & Co., books, NYC wrote to Sam.