This question comes from the project director of
Emma Lazarus Rediscovered: A 150th Anniversary Celebration:

Emma Lazarus wrote her famous sonnet, The New Colossus, for a
portfolio/album that was then auctioned off at the New York Academy of
Design's Art Loan Fund Exhibition on Dec 3, 1883.  Twain also wrote
something for the portfolio, but what exactly did he write???.

An article from the New York Times on Dec. 4, 1883 -- online at:

http://www.tarleton.edu/activities/pages/facultypages/schmidt/18831204.html

reprints a Twain letter that -- according to the NY Times "accompanied
his contribution."  The only other items the Twain letter mentions are
"enclosed (paid bank) checks."

Was the Twain letter to the Exhibition (as reprinted in the Times) the
*actual* contribution for the portfolio?  Or was there a separate
manuscript contributed in addition to his letter?  Does "enclosed
(paid bank) checks" refer to cancelled checks -- valued for their
autograph signature?

-----

On a separate note -- thanks to Bob Hirst for recognizing the 1873
Theriaki "Mark Twain in a Railroad Car" as a reprint from an
article titled "Mark Twain on his Travels" which appeared in the
Danville (Illinois) Weekly Commercial on 21 December 1871, and also in
the Jackson, California, Amador Dispatch on 30 December 1871.
Whether or not the piece was actually written by Twain remains
unanswered.

Thanks,
Barb