Bill Nye was the pen name/stage name of Edgar Wilson Nye who was a
contemporary of Twain, who was handled on the lecture circuit by Major Pond
who also managed some of Twain's lecture tours.  There is additional historical
record of Twain and Nye interaction in addition to the Nye biographies.
However, the references to the "seance" invitation is unclear since the
definition had two distinct meanings.

Barb