March 7 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Robert K. Mackey, who was seeking autographs for his son’s set of Mark Twain books. Lyon wrote that if Mackey would leave the first volume Mr. Clemens would autograph it for him [MTP].
Sam also wrote to John F. Tremain of the Chemung County Society who had written on Dec. 9 conferring upon Mark Twain honorary membership in their society and inviting him to dine with them on Mar. 29. Sam thanked him for both but declined to attend due to other engagements [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: Susy’s Biography—John Hay incident—Giving the young girl the French novel—Susy and her father escort Livy to train, then go over Brooklyn Bridge—On the way to Vassar they discuss German profanity—Clemens tells of the sweet and profane German nurse—The arrival at Vassar and the dreary reception—Told by Susy—The reading, etc.—Clemens’ opinion of girls—He is to talk to the Barnard girls this afternoon [AMT 1: 392- 396].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote to invite Sam to dine at Delmonico’s on Tuesday, Mar. 13 at 7:30 p.m. since Col. Harvey and Major Leigh were sailing for Europe the following day [MTP].
In the afternoon, Sam was guided by a young woman to speak at Columbia University for the Barnard College Union reception. Fatout writes:
At a Barnard College reception, the girls swarmed around Mark Twain with a gratifying display of flattering affection. He enjoyed the society of young women. In MTA (2: 172), he says: “Girls are charming creatures. I shall have to be twice seventy years old before I change my mind about that. I am to talk to a crowd of them this afternoon, students of Barnard College… and I think I shall have just as pleasant a time as I had with the Vassar girls twenty-one years ago.” He did have a pleasant time, recording in a dictation next day his great satisfaction in being fussed over. Escorted to the platform by Miss Russell, president of Barnard, and Miss Hill, dean, he stood before a painted backdrop depicting a woodsy setting, and faced a house crowded with admiring femininity. Introduced as one whom all the girls loved, he spoke for an hour, and afterwards shook hands with everybody, his youthful listeners assuring him that his words would undoubtedly make them lead better lives [495]. Note: see Fatout 495-502 for full text of Clemens’ speech, which includes the watermelon tale. Also included in his talk was the story of a visitor to the Hartford home sometime after 1890, a story he’d told at the Players Club on Jan. 26, 1894. The story of Benjamin Ellis Martin (d. 1909), a Civil War surgeon and author had stopped to visit the Clemens family; Sam mistook him for an etchings salesman.
The tale was published in 2004 as “Courtesy to Unexpected Visitors” in Mark Twain’s Helpful Hints for Good Living p. 25-6 and notes p. 186.
After the reception Sam dined with Professor of Philosophy Herbert Gardiner Lord of Barnard College [Virginia TaylorMar. 8]
Edwina L. Levy wrote after listening to Sam:
I had the great pleasure of listening to Mark Twain this afternoon at Bernard College, and the still greater pleasure of meeting him after the lecture. Would you induce him to be kind enough to send me his autograph, that I may have a souvenir of one of the most delightful afternoons I have ever spent [MTP]. Note: photograph of Sam enclosed for signature.
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Jean, 9:20 I was alone
Tonight at 9:30 Mr. Clemens came slipping upstairs after his expedition to Barnard College & his even later with Prof. and Mrs. Lord. He had had a beautiful time. At half past 3 he slid away in a mobile with strong young Virginia Taylor & 2 other Barnardites, and this evening he told how he had had a beautiful time. He sat on my broad short divan here & told me how much he had enjoyed all those girls, and how responsive they had been. He told Mrs. Lord last Sunday that he wanted that mobile full of girls & it was about that—though there was a place for me too, his authorized chaperon, but I couldn’t go—I dared not leave Jean alone. But I bought of a street vendor 3 darling pots of primroses—1 for Jean, 2 for me and they are such a comfort. One is on the floor by my fireplace & the 2nd vol. of “Roughing It” dropped off the shelf as I was getting it, & knocked off a shaft of blossoms & 3 pretty leaves [MTP TS 42-43].
Sam also wrote to John F. Tremain of the Chemung County Society who had written on Dec. 9 conferring upon Mark Twain honorary membership in their society and inviting him to dine with them on Mar. 29. Sam thanked him for both but declined to attend due to other engagements [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: Susy’s Biography—John Hay incident—Giving the young girl the French novel—Susy and her father escort Livy to train, then go over Brooklyn Bridge—On the way to Vassar they discuss German profanity—Clemens tells of the sweet and profane German nurse—The arrival at Vassar and the dreary reception—Told by Susy—The reading, etc.—Clemens’ opinion of girls—He is to talk to the Barnard girls this afternoon [AMT 1: 392- 396].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote to invite Sam to dine at Delmonico’s on Tuesday, Mar. 13 at 7:30 p.m. since Col. Harvey and Major Leigh were sailing for Europe the following day [MTP].
In the afternoon, Sam was guided by a young woman to speak at Columbia University for the Barnard College Union reception. Fatout writes:
At a Barnard College reception, the girls swarmed around Mark Twain with a gratifying display of flattering affection. He enjoyed the society of young women. In MTA (2: 172), he says: “Girls are charming creatures. I shall have to be twice seventy years old before I change my mind about that. I am to talk to a crowd of them this afternoon, students of Barnard College… and I think I shall have just as pleasant a time as I had with the Vassar girls twenty-one years ago.” He did have a pleasant time, recording in a dictation next day his great satisfaction in being fussed over. Escorted to the platform by Miss Russell, president of Barnard, and Miss Hill, dean, he stood before a painted backdrop depicting a woodsy setting, and faced a house crowded with admiring femininity. Introduced as one whom all the girls loved, he spoke for an hour, and afterwards shook hands with everybody, his youthful listeners assuring him that his words would undoubtedly make them lead better lives [495]. Note: see Fatout 495-502 for full text of Clemens’ speech, which includes the watermelon tale. Also included in his talk was the story of a visitor to the Hartford home sometime after 1890, a story he’d told at the Players Club on Jan. 26, 1894. The story of Benjamin Ellis Martin (d. 1909), a Civil War surgeon and author had stopped to visit the Clemens family; Sam mistook him for an etchings salesman.
The tale was published in 2004 as “Courtesy to Unexpected Visitors” in Mark Twain’s Helpful Hints for Good Living p. 25-6 and notes p. 186.
After the reception Sam dined with Professor of Philosophy Herbert Gardiner Lord of Barnard College [Virginia TaylorMar. 8]
Edwina L. Levy wrote after listening to Sam:
I had the great pleasure of listening to Mark Twain this afternoon at Bernard College, and the still greater pleasure of meeting him after the lecture. Would you induce him to be kind enough to send me his autograph, that I may have a souvenir of one of the most delightful afternoons I have ever spent [MTP]. Note: photograph of Sam enclosed for signature.
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Jean, 9:20 I was alone
Tonight at 9:30 Mr. Clemens came slipping upstairs after his expedition to Barnard College & his even later with Prof. and Mrs. Lord. He had had a beautiful time. At half past 3 he slid away in a mobile with strong young Virginia Taylor & 2 other Barnardites, and this evening he told how he had had a beautiful time. He sat on my broad short divan here & told me how much he had enjoyed all those girls, and how responsive they had been. He told Mrs. Lord last Sunday that he wanted that mobile full of girls & it was about that—though there was a place for me too, his authorized chaperon, but I couldn’t go—I dared not leave Jean alone. But I bought of a street vendor 3 darling pots of primroses—1 for Jean, 2 for me and they are such a comfort. One is on the floor by my fireplace & the 2nd vol. of “Roughing It” dropped off the shelf as I was getting it, & knocked off a shaft of blossoms & 3 pretty leaves [MTP TS 42-43].
Entry Date
Links to Twain's Geography Entries