February 26 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to George B. Harvey.

From a competent source I have an offer for the Newbegin contract (which I now control) of $250,000 guaranty for 5 years: $100,000 to be cash in advance to cover the first two years. Naturally I wish the offer had come from you. I cannot know if you would care to duplicate it, but you will tell me as to that; & it will be a favor to me if you will tell me as quickly as you conveniently can [MTP]. Note: See Feb. 15.

Sam’s notebook: “Staats Zeitung. dinner to the Pirnce / Waldorf-Astor—8.30 Shall take the 7.27 & arr. 7.55” [NB 45 TS 4]. Note: see also Feb. 25 entry.

In the evening Clemens went to the Waldorf-Astoria, where a banquet was given to the U.S. press by the New York Staats-Zeitung in honor of Prince Henry of Prussia. The event was the largest gathering of newspaper makers in the history of America, feeding some 1,200. Sam did not give a speech but was noted in the N.Y. Times, Feb. 27, p.1 article, “Press of Which Honors Prince Henry”:

There was no formal closing of the dinner, and the Toastmaster slipped out with the guest. One of those who followed them out was Mark Twain, who had been chatting with Prince Henry just a minute before. He was still talking, and the Prince was looking back over his shoulder as they passed out of view.