Vol 3 Section 0655

in Boston. During the speech, he noted that Cervantes ended the literature of chivalry with the satire in Don Quixote and suggested that “a new Cervantes” should arise to destroy militarism by making it equally laughable.

“There is an opportunity today for a new Cervantes to perform a far greater exploit than has ever been ascribed to the Spanish author. A new Don Quixote might, nay, could, make the profession of war impossible by opening our eyes to the irresistible comicality of it. Mr. Dooley has done excellent work in this direction. Mark Twain has given us some evidence of his insight into the truth. Will not one of these gentlemen, or some other genius yet to be discovered, turn his winged shafts squarely against the war and the war-maker?”

After the speech, two officers of the New England Anti- Imperialist League who were in the audience suggested to Crosby that he write the book himself. He agreed, and completed Captain Jinks, Hero, before the end of the year. It was the first of only two anti -imperialist novels published during the Philippine-American War. Dan Beard illustrated the novel, and in December of 1901 he asked his friend Mark Twain to review it [email from Zwick Oct. 20, 2007].

Note: See also Jan. 13. For more, see Jim Zwick’s article, “‘Prodically Endowed with Sympathy for the Cause’: Mark Twain’s Involvement with the Anti-Imperialist League” Mark Twain Journal 32.1 (Spring 1994): 2-25. Ernest Crosby was also a poet and crusading vegetarian. Gribben lists one book in Sam’s library by Crosby, Swords and Ploughshares (1902) [166].

Sam received and responded to John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s Dec. 10 invitation, the response is not extant but referred to in his Dec. 12 to Rogers.

December 12 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two notes to H.H. Rogers. The first concerned

Rockefeller’s Dec. 10 invitation to read or speak on Dec. 27:

I found a note from Mr. Rockefeller when I got back home yesterday, and I answered accepting his invitation and saying I would read or talk, whichever he might prefer—I named “Two Little Tales” as the reading.

If he should choose the reading, here’s ammunition for comment!—a text to glaringly illustrate the futility of trying to write anything that a born idiot can be made to understand.

The Madam says—but as I told you yesterday, we can’t word it, we can only feel it. You are just too dear and lovely for anything!

After his signature he added a PS that if he read, Rogers “must be there,” but if he talked, to stay home and not waste his time. He then wrote: “An’ ye’ll plaze me if ye’ll send the idiot’s letters back. I’ll always inthrojuce them whin I publicly read the ‘Two Little Tales’” [MTHHR 477]. Note: “Two Little Tales” ran in the Nov. 1901 Century. It is about the futility of writing a stranger asking for anything, and proposes a better method of unknown people gaining a desired action from powerful people.

Sam wrote a second note to Rogers at the top of a Dec. 5 form letter by Charles E. Flandrau, president of the St. Paul Roller Mill Co. to its stockholders:

For 20 years I have owned $5,000 of this stock. It has paid one dividend; that was 19 years ago.

I know no one connected with the concern now. Shall I send a proxy? And shall I make it to this President—Flandrau? / SLC [MTHHR 477]. Note: source n2 cites two dividends: 2% on Mar. 30, 1891, and 1&1/2 % on Nov. 7, 1891 (see both in Vol. II). Sam added to this note on Dec. 13; see entry.

Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam:

SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.