November 1 Wednesday – Back at the Pearmain’s house, 388 Beacon Street in Boston, Mass., Sam wrote to daughters Clara and Jean.
Dear Children, No, it’s for Jean to do, because she knows the Pearmains, & Clara doesn’t. Write Mrs. Pearmain a letter, Jean, & thank her for this house’s hospitalities to me. I have known many hosts in my time, but the Pearmains are the only perfect hosts I have known.
Dear heart, I couldn’t be any more at home at home, nor be any more master of my desires, not any more or better watched over & cared for or every wish anticipated than has been the case in this house. I can’t find words to express to this pair of Pearmains the comfort & peace & pleasure they have given me under their roof. So you must do it for me.
The last vestige of my dyspepsia has disappeared. I drink strong coffee with plenty of tea; I mix all deadly things together & devour them, & nothing happens. I was expecting to leave for New York right on your heels, but I am full of Miss Lawton’s case now, so I can’t quite tell when I am coming. With lots of love to the both of you, / Father [Skinner Auctioneers, Sale 2167, Lot 17 May 20, 2009]. Note: Sumner B. Pearmain and Alice Whittemore (Upton) Pearman.
See prior entries.
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
“Today we left for New York and arrived at 9:30. As we drove up to the house—Jean and the servants and I—the light in Santa C.’s room went down. In a minute her sweet black figure appeared in the doorway. I had not seen her for more than a year” [MTP TS 109]. Note: Trombley writes of Clara and Lyon butting heads over Lyon’s living arrangements:
The Friction between Clara and Isabel that had been simmering over the course of the summer now reached a slow boil with the two of them living in the same space. When Isabel arrived at 21 Fifth Avenue in the fall of 1905 [Nov. 1 to be exact], five days before Twain, Clara immediately told her that she could no longer live with the family. Most likely the two argued, with Clara insisting upon the living-out arrangement that her mother had enforced and Isabel countering that Twain always wanted her instantly available. In a victory for Clara, Isabel began looking for accommodations the next day [Nov. 2]. Isabel chose not to write about their exchange and the next six days in her daily reminder were left uncharacteristically blank. Isabel’s’ search for housing was immediately terminated upon Twain’s arrival. This contesting between father and daughter over where Isabel would live was a difficult situation for Isabel, of course [MTOW 84]. Note: there is no direct evidence of an argument. It’s also possible that Clara simply made a request and Lyon attempted to accommodate her. Biographers often make such assumptions or conclusions, however reasonable this one might be, it cannot be proven. Clara often exhibited a desire to be free from her father’s control and influence, but often showed she felt obligations to serve him—a seeming conflict of sorts.
Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote on Koy-Lo Co. letterhead to Miss Lyon that he’d sent the Plasmon and cocoa to the house, and to tell Sam when he returned that Vernon was in town.
…I have drafted a plan of reorganization of Plasmon that Vernon is ‘fathering’ and which will be satisfactory to all parties. I am remaining ‘modestly’ in the background, as I am to Hammond what a red rag is to a bull. Mr. Lauterbach phoned me to see him to-day, which I did, and he approved the plan. So does Baldwin, Davis, and others. The only bitter part of the pill, to Wheeler and Hammond, is that they must recognize as legal the election of Sept. 1 , 1904, which the U.S. District Court has decided was legal. That is the only thing we’ve been fighting about, all along. I will tell Mr. Clemens all about it when I see him [MTP].
George W. Lyon, in Lidgerwood, N.D., wrote on colorful Fred Raymond’s Successful Theatrical Enterprises letterhead (Sycamore, Ill.) to ask Sam if he would “let out on royalty, the right to the name of Tom Sawyer” [MTP]. Note: written on the note: “Write to agent” – meaning Elisabeth Marbury.
James A. Renwick wrote from NYC to acknowledge Sam’s payment of $291.64 for Nov. rent on 21 Fifth Ave [MTP].
Frederic E. Sondern billed Sam $5 for Oct. 4 “Blood examination” for “Miss Clemens” rendered to Dr. Quintard [MTP].
Dear Children, No, it’s for Jean to do, because she knows the Pearmains, & Clara doesn’t. Write Mrs. Pearmain a letter, Jean, & thank her for this house’s hospitalities to me. I have known many hosts in my time, but the Pearmains are the only perfect hosts I have known.
Dear heart, I couldn’t be any more at home at home, nor be any more master of my desires, not any more or better watched over & cared for or every wish anticipated than has been the case in this house. I can’t find words to express to this pair of Pearmains the comfort & peace & pleasure they have given me under their roof. So you must do it for me.
The last vestige of my dyspepsia has disappeared. I drink strong coffee with plenty of tea; I mix all deadly things together & devour them, & nothing happens. I was expecting to leave for New York right on your heels, but I am full of Miss Lawton’s case now, so I can’t quite tell when I am coming. With lots of love to the both of you, / Father [Skinner Auctioneers, Sale 2167, Lot 17 May 20, 2009]. Note: Sumner B. Pearmain and Alice Whittemore (Upton) Pearman.
See prior entries.
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
“Today we left for New York and arrived at 9:30. As we drove up to the house—Jean and the servants and I—the light in Santa C.’s room went down. In a minute her sweet black figure appeared in the doorway. I had not seen her for more than a year” [MTP TS 109]. Note: Trombley writes of Clara and Lyon butting heads over Lyon’s living arrangements:
The Friction between Clara and Isabel that had been simmering over the course of the summer now reached a slow boil with the two of them living in the same space. When Isabel arrived at 21 Fifth Avenue in the fall of 1905 [Nov. 1 to be exact], five days before Twain, Clara immediately told her that she could no longer live with the family. Most likely the two argued, with Clara insisting upon the living-out arrangement that her mother had enforced and Isabel countering that Twain always wanted her instantly available. In a victory for Clara, Isabel began looking for accommodations the next day [Nov. 2]. Isabel chose not to write about their exchange and the next six days in her daily reminder were left uncharacteristically blank. Isabel’s’ search for housing was immediately terminated upon Twain’s arrival. This contesting between father and daughter over where Isabel would live was a difficult situation for Isabel, of course [MTOW 84]. Note: there is no direct evidence of an argument. It’s also possible that Clara simply made a request and Lyon attempted to accommodate her. Biographers often make such assumptions or conclusions, however reasonable this one might be, it cannot be proven. Clara often exhibited a desire to be free from her father’s control and influence, but often showed she felt obligations to serve him—a seeming conflict of sorts.
Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote on Koy-Lo Co. letterhead to Miss Lyon that he’d sent the Plasmon and cocoa to the house, and to tell Sam when he returned that Vernon was in town.
…I have drafted a plan of reorganization of Plasmon that Vernon is ‘fathering’ and which will be satisfactory to all parties. I am remaining ‘modestly’ in the background, as I am to Hammond what a red rag is to a bull. Mr. Lauterbach phoned me to see him to-day, which I did, and he approved the plan. So does Baldwin, Davis, and others. The only bitter part of the pill, to Wheeler and Hammond, is that they must recognize as legal the election of Sept. 1 , 1904, which the U.S. District Court has decided was legal. That is the only thing we’ve been fighting about, all along. I will tell Mr. Clemens all about it when I see him [MTP].
George W. Lyon, in Lidgerwood, N.D., wrote on colorful Fred Raymond’s Successful Theatrical Enterprises letterhead (Sycamore, Ill.) to ask Sam if he would “let out on royalty, the right to the name of Tom Sawyer” [MTP]. Note: written on the note: “Write to agent” – meaning Elisabeth Marbury.
James A. Renwick wrote from NYC to acknowledge Sam’s payment of $291.64 for Nov. rent on 21 Fifth Ave [MTP].
Frederic E. Sondern billed Sam $5 for Oct. 4 “Blood examination” for “Miss Clemens” rendered to Dr. Quintard [MTP].
Entry Date
Links to Twain's Geography Entries