January 16 Tuesday – Mark Twain attended a big automobile show at Madison Square Garden, and of course the New York Times of Jan. 16, p. 8 covered the show and his appearance:
MARK TWAIN AT THE SHOW.
———
Laments That He Cannot Dictate as Fast as Motor Salesmen Talk.
Mark Twain was an interested visitor at the Automobile Show in Madison Square Garden yesterday afternoon. He was the guest of Sales Manager R. D. Chapin at the Oldsmobile booth. As the popular writer walked slowly down the broad aisles, commenting upon the splendid machines on exhibition, he was followed by a curious crowd. Mr. Clemens, however, did not purchase a motor car, but he promised to come again and take a ride in one of the demonstrating machines to-morrow.
“I dictate each day about four thousand words,” he said, “and I find it a hard day’s work. If I could talk as rapidly, however, as some of these automobile salesmen do, I could dictate a great many more words and consequently make more money.”
In N.Y.C. Sam replied to Mrs. Grace Kiddes Ford’s Jan. 15, offering a gracious decline to a “kind invitation” but he was “already booked for that night”[MTP]. Note: the night in question was Jan. 18. No evidence was found for what was “already booked.”
Clemens’ A.D. for this day revealed his thoughts about the “perfect” way to write an autobiography, that is, to talk about “The thing uppermost in a person’s mind” at the time. He related a story about John Malone, who joined an actors’ troupe in Oregon which starred Edwin Booth, and how Malone missed a train that allowed John McCullogh, a fellow actor, to become established on the stage. Sam championed Malone to membership in the Players Club; Joe Twichell arrived and later brought news of Malone’s death. “So there is another surprise, you see. While Twichell and I were talking about John Malone he was passing from this life. His disappointments are ended. At least he is not ‘left out.’ It was a long wait, but the best of all fortunes is his at last” [AMT 1: 283-287].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
John Malone is dead. Mr. Clemens had me telephone Volney Streamer at the Players that if they are short of pall bearers, he will be one. Yesterday Mr. Clemens was talking with Mr. Twichell about John Malone and now he is dead. Mr. Clemens name having been given as a patron of the Russian Players movement, this morning a Russian woman came begging for an interview, for she must have help. It was terrible for at times she was desperate or appealing, seemingly desperate. She insisted upon seeing Mr. Clemens, sure that he could and would help her. I worked with her an hour and finally she left, but as I took her to the door she had tears in her eyes.
At 6 o’clock Mr. Henderson came wanting to have Mr. Clemens read the birthday speech onto phonograph cylinders, Mr. Clemens to own the cylinders and Henderson to get nothing out of it. Forty-five minutes we talked, & I couldn’t make that man make one clear statement [MTP TS 12-13]. Note: John Malone, actor and historian of The Players, died on Jan. 15. Sam was a pallbearer at Malone’s funeral on Jan.18. See entry.
Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam:
Miss Lyon wrote me this morning about closing your account with the Guaranty Trust Company,. You only receive 1- ½ to 2% interest and if you think it wise I will close the account …and send the money to the Knickerbocker Trust Company.
I enclose herewith check for $34,700 for 500 shares of Utah Consolidated Mining Company stock as per statement attached [MTP]. Note: The Knickerbocker Trust would suffer a run on the bank on Oct. 22, 1907; Sam’s $51,000 would be at risk.
Sam replied to Harrison: “Leave that egg in another basket & leave the basket where it is” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to John Y. MacAlister in London, summarizing the latest happenings in the American branch of the Plasmon Co. Ralph W. Ashcroft was on his way from downtown to Sam’s and would be told to write MacAlister to give the particulars. “He is competent, & I’m not,” Sam wrote.
That gang stacked the cards on me & on the London Co., but I think they dealt us the hand they meant for themselves. Ashcroft will know how the matter stands, & can tell you.
That young lady & her sister called. I was in bed (as now & always pretty much) but Miss Lyon saw them. I hope they are going with us to Gilder’s house Friday night, where the bright people congregate. I never go there, because it is at night, but I will go with them, if they would like it [MTP]. Note: the “young lady & her sister” have not been identified.
Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote to Sam.
Mr. Baldwin was asked yesterday by Mr. Hammond’s lawyer to state, in writing, that we would not oppose the dissolution of the Plasmon Co.
In case the Company was dissolved, its assets would be sold to pay the creditors. The only creditors are Hammond, Butters and ourselves. The principal asset is $10,000. on deposit with you, the Company having sold its patents, factory building, etc. …we would get about half of the $10,000…” [MTP].
A. de Monthizin wrote to Lyon, sending a complimentary copy of a Mark Twain lithograph [MTP].
MARK TWAIN AT THE SHOW.
———
Laments That He Cannot Dictate as Fast as Motor Salesmen Talk.
Mark Twain was an interested visitor at the Automobile Show in Madison Square Garden yesterday afternoon. He was the guest of Sales Manager R. D. Chapin at the Oldsmobile booth. As the popular writer walked slowly down the broad aisles, commenting upon the splendid machines on exhibition, he was followed by a curious crowd. Mr. Clemens, however, did not purchase a motor car, but he promised to come again and take a ride in one of the demonstrating machines to-morrow.
“I dictate each day about four thousand words,” he said, “and I find it a hard day’s work. If I could talk as rapidly, however, as some of these automobile salesmen do, I could dictate a great many more words and consequently make more money.”
In N.Y.C. Sam replied to Mrs. Grace Kiddes Ford’s Jan. 15, offering a gracious decline to a “kind invitation” but he was “already booked for that night”[MTP]. Note: the night in question was Jan. 18. No evidence was found for what was “already booked.”
Clemens’ A.D. for this day revealed his thoughts about the “perfect” way to write an autobiography, that is, to talk about “The thing uppermost in a person’s mind” at the time. He related a story about John Malone, who joined an actors’ troupe in Oregon which starred Edwin Booth, and how Malone missed a train that allowed John McCullogh, a fellow actor, to become established on the stage. Sam championed Malone to membership in the Players Club; Joe Twichell arrived and later brought news of Malone’s death. “So there is another surprise, you see. While Twichell and I were talking about John Malone he was passing from this life. His disappointments are ended. At least he is not ‘left out.’ It was a long wait, but the best of all fortunes is his at last” [AMT 1: 283-287].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
John Malone is dead. Mr. Clemens had me telephone Volney Streamer at the Players that if they are short of pall bearers, he will be one. Yesterday Mr. Clemens was talking with Mr. Twichell about John Malone and now he is dead. Mr. Clemens name having been given as a patron of the Russian Players movement, this morning a Russian woman came begging for an interview, for she must have help. It was terrible for at times she was desperate or appealing, seemingly desperate. She insisted upon seeing Mr. Clemens, sure that he could and would help her. I worked with her an hour and finally she left, but as I took her to the door she had tears in her eyes.
At 6 o’clock Mr. Henderson came wanting to have Mr. Clemens read the birthday speech onto phonograph cylinders, Mr. Clemens to own the cylinders and Henderson to get nothing out of it. Forty-five minutes we talked, & I couldn’t make that man make one clear statement [MTP TS 12-13]. Note: John Malone, actor and historian of The Players, died on Jan. 15. Sam was a pallbearer at Malone’s funeral on Jan.18. See entry.
Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam:
Miss Lyon wrote me this morning about closing your account with the Guaranty Trust Company,. You only receive 1- ½ to 2% interest and if you think it wise I will close the account …and send the money to the Knickerbocker Trust Company.
I enclose herewith check for $34,700 for 500 shares of Utah Consolidated Mining Company stock as per statement attached [MTP]. Note: The Knickerbocker Trust would suffer a run on the bank on Oct. 22, 1907; Sam’s $51,000 would be at risk.
Sam replied to Harrison: “Leave that egg in another basket & leave the basket where it is” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to John Y. MacAlister in London, summarizing the latest happenings in the American branch of the Plasmon Co. Ralph W. Ashcroft was on his way from downtown to Sam’s and would be told to write MacAlister to give the particulars. “He is competent, & I’m not,” Sam wrote.
That gang stacked the cards on me & on the London Co., but I think they dealt us the hand they meant for themselves. Ashcroft will know how the matter stands, & can tell you.
That young lady & her sister called. I was in bed (as now & always pretty much) but Miss Lyon saw them. I hope they are going with us to Gilder’s house Friday night, where the bright people congregate. I never go there, because it is at night, but I will go with them, if they would like it [MTP]. Note: the “young lady & her sister” have not been identified.
Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote to Sam.
Mr. Baldwin was asked yesterday by Mr. Hammond’s lawyer to state, in writing, that we would not oppose the dissolution of the Plasmon Co.
In case the Company was dissolved, its assets would be sold to pay the creditors. The only creditors are Hammond, Butters and ourselves. The principal asset is $10,000. on deposit with you, the Company having sold its patents, factory building, etc. …we would get about half of the $10,000…” [MTP].
A. de Monthizin wrote to Lyon, sending a complimentary copy of a Mark Twain lithograph [MTP].
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