IDear Sir: You wrote: If you have in your files, some documented events or information for the period through 1885, information not in the letters, standard works or financial documents at the MTP, I would appreciate your help and will cite/acknowledge you as erudite, truthful and totally American. I was at the Beinecke working on my "Mark Twain's excellent Day at Oxford" -- the day he received his honorary degree at Oxford. I came across a really charming item from a guest book which Mark Twain signed. I was not allowed to get a copy of it as it was "bound" and the Beinecke won't copy a bound volume. But here is what it said, and it was so cute, I thought ("cute" being a highly academic term, of course). I don't have a provenence on this, but I suppose you could obtain one from Kevin Repp at [log in to unmask] All the best on your work! Margaret Sibbitt, Hyannis, Nebraska 69350 _________ Scrap book with autographic comments in the hand of Samuel L. Clemens 1869 The scrapbook calls for "mental" photographic statements and even has a place for an actual photograph. [none is included in the book] This entry marked: Samuel L. Clemens , May 14, 1871 Color: Anything but dun Flower: The bright blooming Sirius the dog star which …(in a footnote he calls this constellation a "flower") Tree: Any that bears forbidden fruit Object in Nature: A dumb belle Hour in the day: The leisure hour Season of the year: the present Perfume: Cent per cent Gem? The jack of diamonds –when it’s trump Style of Beauty: the Subscriber's [some in the book state "blonde" for example] Names, Male and Female: M'aimes (Maimie) for a female and Jacus [sic] & Marius for males. Painters? Sign painters Musicians? Harper & Bros. Piece of Sculpture: The Greek slave with his hoe Poets? (He crosses out the "s"): Robert Browning, when he has a lucid interval Poetesses (He crosses out the "es"): Timothy Titcomb Prose Authors (He crosses out the s): Noah Webster LLD Character(he adds an "s) in Romance? The Napoleon Family >>>>in Hisotry? King Herod Book to take up for an hour: Vanderbilt's Pocket Book What book (not religious) would you part with last: The one I might be reading on railroad during the dvisas to season What epoch would you choose to have lived in? Before the present Erie –it was safer Where would you like to live? In the Moon – because there is no water there. What is your favorite amusement? Hunting the "tiger" or some kindred game What is your favorite occupation? "like dew on the gowan – lying." what trait of character do you most admire in a man? The noblest form of cannibalism – love for his fellow man. What trait of character do you most admire in women? Love for her fellow man What trait of character do you most detest in each: That "trait" which you put "or" to describe its possessor * (*Sound but obscure – i.e., "trait" –or.") If not yourself who would you rather be? The wandering Jew with a nice annuity What is your idea of happiness? Finding the buttons all on. What is your idea of misery? Breaking an egg in your pocket What is your bete noire? What is my which? What is your dream? Nigthmare as a general thing What do you most dread? Exposure What do you believe to be your distinguishing characteristics? Hunger If married, what do you believe to be the distinguishing characteristics of your better half? Opinion reserved What is the sublimest passion of which human nature is capable? Love your sweetheart's enemies What are the sweetest words in the world? Not guilty What are the saddest words? "Dust unto Dust" What is your aim in life? To endeavor to be absent when my time comes. What is your motto? Be virtuous and you will be eccentric. Yours, Margaret Sibbitt Independent Scholar Hyannis, Nebraska 69350 While at the MTP last week I came across a note in one of the financial files I was working on that listed a 100 page 19 cm Sam's unsigned cash book, dated 28 Nov 1856 to 2 Jan 1883, at the Berg Collection, NY Public Library. I confirmed its existence on the NYPL website, but there is no further information there given, and I have not see any citations elsewhere concerning this document. Since it may contain dates, places, expenditures, etc., I am very interested in it. I cannot, however, travel to NY prior to the planned November publication of volume 1 of _Mark Twain Day by Day_ 1835-1885. Has anyone seen this document or have some idea of its contents? MTP does not have a copy of it. Or, does anyone have access to the Berg Collection there and can view it for me? Thanks. Volume 1 is now at 1175 pages; the first section through 1856 plus a few pages from 1880 and the tentative index, works cited (already updated from what will appear) are being printed this week to appear in the _Mark Twain Journal_, thanks to Tom Tenney, who doesn't want me to refer to him as "Doctor Tenney." I believe this issue of the MTJ will be 81 pages. He chose to include the index and works cited to give readers some idea of the scope of this work. If you have in your files, some documented events or information for the period through 1885, information not in the letters, standard works or financial documents at the MTP, I would appreciate your help and will cite/acknowledge you as erudite, truthful and totally American. Thanks, David H Fears Mark Twain Day By Day