January 20 Saturday – Julia Delafield Longfellow wrote from N.Y.C. inviting Sam to dine with them “informally” and meet “a political friend, Colonel Flood” on Friday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. Sam answered on or just after Jan. 20:
“Look upon it as peculiarly uncommon [?] & uncalled for [one or two words illegible] of ill luck that I am obliged to be in Wash on that date” [MTP].
Just about everything Mark Twain did appeared in the New York newspapers. The Times and the Herald of Jan. 21 were among those which reported on his paying a tax for “fun”:
MARK TWAIN PAYS FOR FUN.
———
Has No Personal Property Here, but Stands a Tax on $5,000.
“Mark Twain” yesterday [Jan. 20] consented to pay taxes on $5,000 worth of personal property, despite the fact that he had just told the Tax Commissioners that he did not own any personal property here.
Mr. Clemens had received notice of assessment on $25,000 of personal property, and on a like sum as executor of the estate of Mrs. Clemens. He told President O’Donnel of the Tax Board that his wife’s estate had all been settled, and that therefore he did not owe the city anything on that estate, as it no longer existed. He also said that he did not own any personal property in this city subject to taxation.
“Just for the humor of the situation, however, I am willing to pay on $5,000 if the city needs the money,” he said. His consent for that sum was taken by President O’Donnel [Note: the Herald reported Sam paid a tax of $75].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
This morning Mr. Clemens started for the tax collectors’ office with Mr. Larkin. He had 3 notifications with him. Notifications running up in values to $75,000.00, but he liquidated that in the office of the Tax Commissioner and consented to pay the tax on $5,000.00. Mr. Clemens seems tired, he has had a lot of indigestion lately and he is under an added strain in preparing a speech for Monday evening. It’s the second speech, almost the third that he has had in mind for this same occasion, for first it was to be on the Congo, but that was abandoned [MTP TS 15].
Lawrence J. Anhalt wrote from McVicker’s Theatre, Chicago to announce the formation of an Illinois corporation with capital of one million dollars, The Economic League of America— its aims to “improve the conditions of worthy immigrants, and make them good citizens…” May Irwin, who was behind the organization, requested that Sam be among the advisory board [MTP]. Note: at top: “Pay no attention to this but preserve it / SLC”
M.A. Ommanney wrote to Sam after reading his article in the Dec. 1904 Harper’s on Joan of Arc. Did she reap what she sowed? Had any woman ever done so? [MTP].
“Look upon it as peculiarly uncommon [?] & uncalled for [one or two words illegible] of ill luck that I am obliged to be in Wash on that date” [MTP].
Just about everything Mark Twain did appeared in the New York newspapers. The Times and the Herald of Jan. 21 were among those which reported on his paying a tax for “fun”:
MARK TWAIN PAYS FOR FUN.
———
Has No Personal Property Here, but Stands a Tax on $5,000.
“Mark Twain” yesterday [Jan. 20] consented to pay taxes on $5,000 worth of personal property, despite the fact that he had just told the Tax Commissioners that he did not own any personal property here.
Mr. Clemens had received notice of assessment on $25,000 of personal property, and on a like sum as executor of the estate of Mrs. Clemens. He told President O’Donnel of the Tax Board that his wife’s estate had all been settled, and that therefore he did not owe the city anything on that estate, as it no longer existed. He also said that he did not own any personal property in this city subject to taxation.
“Just for the humor of the situation, however, I am willing to pay on $5,000 if the city needs the money,” he said. His consent for that sum was taken by President O’Donnel [Note: the Herald reported Sam paid a tax of $75].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
This morning Mr. Clemens started for the tax collectors’ office with Mr. Larkin. He had 3 notifications with him. Notifications running up in values to $75,000.00, but he liquidated that in the office of the Tax Commissioner and consented to pay the tax on $5,000.00. Mr. Clemens seems tired, he has had a lot of indigestion lately and he is under an added strain in preparing a speech for Monday evening. It’s the second speech, almost the third that he has had in mind for this same occasion, for first it was to be on the Congo, but that was abandoned [MTP TS 15].
Lawrence J. Anhalt wrote from McVicker’s Theatre, Chicago to announce the formation of an Illinois corporation with capital of one million dollars, The Economic League of America— its aims to “improve the conditions of worthy immigrants, and make them good citizens…” May Irwin, who was behind the organization, requested that Sam be among the advisory board [MTP]. Note: at top: “Pay no attention to this but preserve it / SLC”
M.A. Ommanney wrote to Sam after reading his article in the Dec. 1904 Harper’s on Joan of Arc. Did she reap what she sowed? Had any woman ever done so? [MTP].
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