March 21 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Jean to Lakewood.
C.C. & I went to see Otis Skinner in The Duel & a finer bit of unconscious sarcasm of stage traditions I’ve never seen. We were stunned into silence by Fay Davis’s inability to make one good or natural thing, but that inability was the saving of the play from hopeless mediocrity, & the placing of it was among the finest productions of the winter for old fashioned acting. It was glorious & we were convulsed, where everyone else was overcome by emotion—to tears [MTP TS 55].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: Mental telegraphy—Letter from Jock Brown—Search for Dr. John Brown’s letters a failure—Joe Twichell and his wife, Harmony, have an adventure in Scotland—Twichell’s picture of a military execution—Letter relating to foundation of the Players Club—The mismanagement which caused Clemens to be expelled from the Club—He is now an honorary member [AMT 1: 429-432].
Dr. Moses Allen Starr wrote from 5 W. 54 St., N.Y. to Sam, confiding that Dr. G.W. Kirch had retained a lawyer, Mr. Shedd, in “regard to the settlement” of his bill for services in Florence to Livy. Starr suggested a compromise as a way to avoid “annoying publicity…about Mrs. Clemens illness and death” which he felt “would be so despicable” to Sam. The claim was for $400 and Starr suggested $250 [MTP]. Note: Isabel Lyon wrote on Starr’s letter: “Answer sent at Mr. Larkin’s suggestion.” See Mar. 22 notes for Starr.
Grover Cleveland wrote from Florida to Sam.
My dear Mr Clemens:
Whatever people may say, for the purposes of fine diction, about the compensations of age and all that sort of thing, the air of sixty nine is generally a little chilly; and the warmth of friendly kindness makes one more comfortable.
Mind you I find no fault with the atmosphere; and I do not complain of the stiffness of joints that increases as I go. But after all it does set one off at an easier pace if some good friend at each of these last mile posts, shouts charity out: “Go it old man! You ain’t winded a bit. You’ll get there!”
So from the bottom of my heart I thank you for your generous letter of congratulation. / Faithfully Yours / Grover Cleveland [MTP].
William A. Frisbie wrote on Minneapolis Journal letterhead to ask Sam if he would come to Minneapolis as a Journal staff member for the G.A.R. encampment the week of Aug. 13. They would publish 500 words from Sam daily as observation. Digs at the home of the Journal’s publisher, Mr. Swift or digs at the Minneapolis Club were offered [MTP]. Note: Sam answered ca. Mar. 23.
Jean Clemens left to take a brief stay at “Lakewood,” a sanitarium. She would return on Mar. 27, and remain with her family and under Isabel Lyon’s care until fall [Hill 121].
Gertrude Natkin wrote another affectionate letter to Sam, confessing how much she loved him and that she’d nearly been caught writing to him during French class. The thought of him “confined” to his room “on this the first day of Spring” made her “down hearted” [MTAq 22- 3].
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. wrote to Sam.
I am in receipt of your note, also of the telephone communication through your secretary yesterday. I sincerely regret to learn of your illness and am glad to learn from your note that you are already better. / It will be a great disappointment to all those assembled on Thursday night, as well as to myself, not to have the pleasure of seeing and hearing you [MTP].
Jean to Lakewood.
C.C. & I went to see Otis Skinner in The Duel & a finer bit of unconscious sarcasm of stage traditions I’ve never seen. We were stunned into silence by Fay Davis’s inability to make one good or natural thing, but that inability was the saving of the play from hopeless mediocrity, & the placing of it was among the finest productions of the winter for old fashioned acting. It was glorious & we were convulsed, where everyone else was overcome by emotion—to tears [MTP TS 55].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: Mental telegraphy—Letter from Jock Brown—Search for Dr. John Brown’s letters a failure—Joe Twichell and his wife, Harmony, have an adventure in Scotland—Twichell’s picture of a military execution—Letter relating to foundation of the Players Club—The mismanagement which caused Clemens to be expelled from the Club—He is now an honorary member [AMT 1: 429-432].
Dr. Moses Allen Starr wrote from 5 W. 54 St., N.Y. to Sam, confiding that Dr. G.W. Kirch had retained a lawyer, Mr. Shedd, in “regard to the settlement” of his bill for services in Florence to Livy. Starr suggested a compromise as a way to avoid “annoying publicity…about Mrs. Clemens illness and death” which he felt “would be so despicable” to Sam. The claim was for $400 and Starr suggested $250 [MTP]. Note: Isabel Lyon wrote on Starr’s letter: “Answer sent at Mr. Larkin’s suggestion.” See Mar. 22 notes for Starr.
Grover Cleveland wrote from Florida to Sam.
My dear Mr Clemens:
Whatever people may say, for the purposes of fine diction, about the compensations of age and all that sort of thing, the air of sixty nine is generally a little chilly; and the warmth of friendly kindness makes one more comfortable.
Mind you I find no fault with the atmosphere; and I do not complain of the stiffness of joints that increases as I go. But after all it does set one off at an easier pace if some good friend at each of these last mile posts, shouts charity out: “Go it old man! You ain’t winded a bit. You’ll get there!”
So from the bottom of my heart I thank you for your generous letter of congratulation. / Faithfully Yours / Grover Cleveland [MTP].
William A. Frisbie wrote on Minneapolis Journal letterhead to ask Sam if he would come to Minneapolis as a Journal staff member for the G.A.R. encampment the week of Aug. 13. They would publish 500 words from Sam daily as observation. Digs at the home of the Journal’s publisher, Mr. Swift or digs at the Minneapolis Club were offered [MTP]. Note: Sam answered ca. Mar. 23.
Jean Clemens left to take a brief stay at “Lakewood,” a sanitarium. She would return on Mar. 27, and remain with her family and under Isabel Lyon’s care until fall [Hill 121].
Gertrude Natkin wrote another affectionate letter to Sam, confessing how much she loved him and that she’d nearly been caught writing to him during French class. The thought of him “confined” to his room “on this the first day of Spring” made her “down hearted” [MTAq 22- 3].
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. wrote to Sam.
I am in receipt of your note, also of the telephone communication through your secretary yesterday. I sincerely regret to learn of your illness and am glad to learn from your note that you are already better. / It will be a great disappointment to all those assembled on Thursday night, as well as to myself, not to have the pleasure of seeing and hearing you [MTP].
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