MARK TWAIN’S CHRISTMAS LETTER Countless readers knew him as “Mark Twain,” but the famous American author and humorist was always “Mr. Clemens” to the Coe family. This June, Planting Fields Foundation acquired at auction one of many letters written by Clemens to W.R. Coe, the son-in-law of his closest friend, Henry Huttleston Rogers. H.H. Rogers, a powerful business tycoon sometimes referred to as a “robber baron,” and Samuel L. Clemens were an unlikely pair, but the two shared a legendary friendship. A mutual friend, Dr. Clarence Rice, introduced the two at Rogers’ Manhattan office on a less-than-auspicious occasion. Clemens faced financial disaster and Rice arranged the meeting to ask Rogers for help. Building a new home and investing heavily in business ventures that floundered in the economic Panic of 1893 left Clemens nearly penniless. To make matters worse, Clemens’ publisher Charles Webster declared bankruptcy and the author was unable to afford the copyrights to his own work. Rogers agreed to help and without lending him a dime, guided Clemens back to prosperity by holding back his creditors and offering sound financial advice. From this beginning grew mutual admiration and affection. Both men valued the traits of the other and shared a fondness for the “less civilized” good times of whiskey, cigars, billiards and practical joking. The intimate friendship shared by the two men extended to Rogers’ entire family. Clemens was a frequent visitor to the Rogers’ townhouse in New York City and their summer home in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. As the Rogers children grew and had families of their own, they also welcomed Clemens into their homes and shared a warm relationship with him. From 1905 to 1907, Clemens maintained a home at 21 Fifth Avenue. Rogers lived at 3 East 78th Street and his daughters Anne Benjamin, Cara Broughton and Mai Coe all had townhouses within a few blocks of each other. Mai always worried about fire when Clemens came to stay, as he had a habit of smoking Pittsburgh stogies in bed, but he was nevertheless a welcome guest in her home. Clemens was especially fond of the billiards table at their townhouse and W.R. often threw pool parties for him. Captions: Photo of Mark Twain: A photograph of Samuel Clemens inscribed, “To Henry H. Rogers From his oldest & best friend, Mark Twain. Nov. 21, 1900” Planting Fields Foundation Archive Calling Card: Samuel Clemens’ calling card left for Mai Coe on which he wrote, “Mrs. May - with love.” Planting Fields Foundation Archive Letter Text: X-mas Eve Dear Mr. Coe, I have sampled the Cabanas, & they are fit for the Gods (who will not get a darn one of them.) May you live long and continue to prosper, & Mrs. Coe the same. I started out, yesterday afternoon, to look in upon the four households and wish them a Merry Christmas, but I got belated & couldn’t make it; but I shall try again soon, & shall succeed, for you are my nearest & stedfastest [sic] & most valued friends, & I don’t like to let the chief holiday-week of the year get by without a good handshake & drink with you. I am planning this raid for New Year’s Day, & hope I will not be disappointed. With sincerest regard to you both, S.L. Clemens