09/02/2026 01:43

---

Chapter III of Mark Twain'snovel, The American Claimant, contains a scene between Colonel Sellersand Washington Hawkins which presents the extravagance of the Colonel'smaterialization scheme. Amongthem was the sale, at the Nast auction, of the Mark Twain letters,already mentioned. It seems only a few weeks since I saw Susy last--yet that was 1895 & this is 1899. Perhaps one ought to give a little idea of the character of hisentertainment.

CCLXVIA WINTER IN BERMUDAEdmund Clarence Stedman died suddenly at his desk, January 18, 1908, andClemens, in response to telegrams, sent this message:I do not wish to talk about it. I wanted to answer it, he said; but I destroyed it. It isn't a question of price, he said; that would be for the owner toset if I could find him. Clemens had intended to return early in July, but so much was happeningthat he postponed his sailing until the 13th.