April 3 Wednesday – In Elmira, N.Y. Sam attended a recital of the unique Robert Hope- Jones organ in Park Church. Jerome & Wisbey write:
It was on April 3, 1907…that this instrument was put through its melodic paces for probably the most critical audience that could be assembled—a group of New York’s leading organists. They came to Elmira in a special car on the Lackawanna….
The 1907 recital was the idea of Jervis Langdon [II] who had an interest in the Hope-Jones concern as well as an interest in the affairs of this church. It was his theory…that if someone of note added tone to the occasion, it might help peddle an organ or two…. The someone he had in mind was his Uncle Sam Clemens, also a Hope-Jones stockholder, along with J. Sloat Fassett, Charles J. Langdon, John B. Stanchfield—to mention a few. Mr. Langdon was right, both about the drawing power of the famous Beecher organ and the magnetism of his distinguished Uncle Sam.
And so, Uncle Sam came to Elmira on April 2 and the newspapers announced that Mark Twain was in town and interviewed him and printed his picture…. [Rev.] Max Eastman, who was in the audience, has described how Mark Twain, handsome of face, his white hair like a halo, made his way in his loping gait to this platform…to convulse the organists with a typical Mark Twain speech.
Here’s what he said as reported in The Advertiser…and as recalled by Max Eastman…. The springboard for the speech was a statement in Jervis Langdon’s introduction that his love of music had been inspired in early childhood by hearing Mark Twain sing an old song, “Darby & …. Joan.”
“Well now, Jervis,” began Mark Twain, “I must emphatically deny that statement, for I never sang ‘Darby & Joan.’ Certainly I never sang it.
“Now, isn’t imagination a precious thing? It peoples the earth with all manner of wonders, strange beasts and birds, angels, cherubim and seraphim. And it has to be exercised. No child should be permitted to grow up without exercise for the imagination. It enriches life for him. It makes things wonderful and beautiful. It awakens an interest in church organs and all sorts of things. You can see what it has for Jervis just to sit on my knee and exercise his imagination. And so, now, looking back, I’m glad…I didn’t sing.
….
“I must express my astonishment at Jervis,” went on Mark Twain, “for taking advantage of this occasion and of you organists to advertise his new company. And I am astonished at my old friend, Mr. Brockway.
“Here he is boldly offering for sale the sites that he has got around here for country residences. Look at Mr. Brockway. You can’t find a more benevolent, more kindly face anywhere around. This is plainly the effect of opposition. He has associated with criminals all his life, and look at what it’s done for him. If I had associated with criminals I might have such a face, too, but I’ve always been associated with Christians.
“Now if you know of any man in your locality in need of an occupation, just send them down to Mr. Brockway and he’ll fit them out with any trade or business from burglary clear over to political life [79-81]. Note: Zebulon R. Brockway, Elmira Mayor. Sam did not come to Elmira on the special Lackawanna car, but arrived the day before, Apr. 2. Sam had been persuaded to purchase $5,000 worth of stock in the Hope-Jones Organ factory [Ensor, MT & Hope-Jones 6].
Ensor writes:
“By some accounts, Clemens left the church immediately after his talk and returned to the Langdon House, thus missing the rest of the day’s activities, including lunch at the City Club, the playing of the organ by several visitors, and a hurried visit to the Hope-Jones factory before the return trip to New York City. After all, Jervis Langdon had not asked that he stay the entire day—only ‘an hour or two.’ Clemens was on hand, though, for a photograph [see insert] taken in front of the north entrance to the church, in which he, Jervis Langdon, Robert Hope-Jones, Reverend Samuel Eastman, Mayor Brockway, and the visiting organists appear” [MT & Hope- Jones 12]. Note: John Daulby Peake was the organist of the Park Church. It’s unlikely that Sam went to Quarry Farm; more likely that Sue Crane went into Charley Langdon’s house for the visit.
The Elmira Advertiser, Apr. 4, p.5, ran an “interview” of sorts, “Cub Reporter Has Interview with Mark Twain: Humorist Asks Himself One Question”:
For an hour last evening [Apr. 3] the youngest reporter on the Advertiser, first by hints, then by pleadings, and finally by a direct demand sought an assignment to interview Mark Twain.
“What do you wish to ask Mr. Clemens?” inquired the city editor.
“Oh, I don’t know; I’ll think of something on the way up to General Langdon’s,” answered the scribe. “Wherever Mark Twain goes, they always interview him, don’t they?” and to this argument there was no convincing defense.
So away started the reporter, smiling joyfully at his success in securing the assignment.
“Ask him what he thinks of the new forward movement in Elmira,” finally directed the city editor.
“Ask him what progress is being made with the movement toward the monument to Adam,” yelled a man at another desk.
“Ask him to write an article on ‘How Best to Keep Elmira Going Ahead,’” came another voice from an inner corner of the office.
“Ask Mr. Clemens if he wore his white suit from New York to Elmira,” said the telegraph editor, as the reporter, filled with the importance of his mission, finally fled from the office.
But to obtain the much desired interview was found to be quite another matter. Resting after the fatigue of the day, Mr. Clemens was found in the handsome library of General Langdon’s Main Street home. Members of the family and Mr. Clemens had just finished dinner and the humorist was now smoking.
To the Advertiser’s representative it was explained that Mr. Clemens positively could not be interviewed.
“I have really nothing to say,” said the well-known former Elmiran. Then seeing the look of disappointment spreading over the face of his inquisitor, the hero of many a good story appeared to relent.
“Will you really be badly disappointed if you can’t get something from me?” asked the
veteran author, kindly.
“Yes, I will,” came the answer stoutly, but with an uncontrollable quaver.
“Well, then, I’ll tell you what we’ll do. I have not been ‘interviewed’ in a long time. In fact, I stopped being interviewed some time ago, but you just ask any questions you wish and answer them for yourself, and we’ll see how you manage it. But wait—ask me what I think of the new forward movement in Elmira, and I’ll tell you that I think it is one of the most gratifying things I have known of in a long time. I am delighted to observe the greatly changed aspect of things here, and I can to some extent, appreciate the effort it has cost. I think Elmira is the ideal location for our big new organ industry as well as for all the other new concerns you are endeavoring to bring here. I appreciate the honors that all wish to do me, but really, I would rather have my time to myself while here. I am just making a family visit and want to have all my time undisturbed.” [Scharnhorst 581-2]. Note: See Ensor for a more complete account of this event and of Mark Twain’s participation.
Sam inscribed in a copy of CS to an unidentified person: “A true copy-test: / Mark Twain / April 3/07.” [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal (in New York): I went to the opera tonight “Martha” with Mr. Wark. It was a delight to hear the old fashioned music again; and part of it was almost farcical, but that made it the lovelier—the more enjoyable [MTP TS 48]. Note: Charles E. Wark, Clara’s accompaniest.
Mark G. McElhinney wrote from Ottawa, Canada to Sam, “asking for nothing except the privilege of telling you how keenly I have enjoyed your writings, more especially your great satires” [MTP]. Note: See Apr. 16 for Sam’s instructions to Lyon for reply.
Joseph Folle wrote on Office of the Missouri Governor letterhead to Sam, again “anxious” to secure him as a speaker for the Daughters of the Confederacy in St. Louis [MTP].
James A. Renwick wrote receipt for April rent to Sam for $291.67 [MTP].