June 24 Monday – At Brown’s Hotel in London Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Marie Corelli.
“Mark Twain thanks you for having saved him from the crime of high treason to literature & he will accordingly visit the tomb & house of the Bard of Avon & take luncheon with you—if it will be convenient to you—a Saturday June 29th which is the only possible date” [MTP].
Sam lunched with “old friends” Sir Norman and Lady Lockyer, then later took tea with T.P. O’Connor at the House of Commons [MTB 1389].
The London Daily Mail, p.5, June 25, reported Sam’s visit to the House of Commons:
MARK TWAIN’S INDIGNATION.
Mark Twain, in conversation with a “Daily Mail” representative yesterday afternoon [June 24], affected righteous indignation because someone had sent him, without comment of any kind, the poster of an evening newspaper bearing the words:
MARK TWAIN ARRIVES!
ASCOT GOLD CUP STOLEN!
Yesterday evening, he visited the Houses of Parliament, took tea with Mr. T.P. O’Connor, M.P., Mr. Henniker-Heaton, M.P., and other members, and subsequently visited the lobbies, where he held an informal reception, being introduced to a large number of members, including Mr. Lloyd-George and Mr. Churchill. He also had a chat with the Prime Minister in his private room.
The London Tribune, June 25, p. 6, also reported the visit to Parliament.
MARK TWAIN’S VISIT.
———
Mark Twain visited the Lobby of the House of Commons yesterday under the friendly guidance of Mr. T.P. O’Connor. Members crowded up to be presented to the famous humorist, and for half an hour he was kept busy talking to them.
The conversation was a treat tribute to Mr. Clemens’s mental agility. Every member who came up had seen him somewhere before, and they were all anxious to recall the celebrated incidents of that meeting. Mark Twain, having been in Royal company recently, remembered them all—even to a cold he caught somewhere in India ten—or twenty—years ago. The idea of the visit was tea on the Terrace, but being Midsummer Day, it was too wintry for that, so tea was taken somewhere else—beside a fire.
Mark Twain has accepted an invitation to a banquet in his honour at Liverpool Town Hall on July 10th.
See insert: Sam at House of Commons
Fatout lists a talk with the Legion of Frontiersmen, London [MT Speaking 676]. Note: he gives no particulars. See June 22 invite from Charles Rosher of the group.
Isabel Lyon’s journal (NY): This day emerged out of darkness, wonderful, wonderful darkness and brought renewed heat,—a terrible sense of loneliness and Will’s departure and Santa’s pretty listlessness, and neuritis in my left neck and arm and shoulderblade, and tea and then all wrapped up I read from Wuthering Heights to Santa as she lay on the long sage green couch. The pain got worse and I went to bed so stiff necked as not to be able to walk without misery [MTP 75-76].
Edward L. Adams sent Sam a two-page poem on American Consular Service letterhead, Stockholm, Sweden [MTP].
Phillip L. Agnew and S.A. Andrew each wrote letters to Ashcroft about engagements, photographs, etc. [MTP].
Oliver Bainbridge wrote asking for “a few moments” with Clemens in connection with his “volumes of great men and great women of the world in connection with my work on education.” At the top of his letter he pasted a Washington D.C. Times snippet about his being “cordially received” by the President, no date [MTP].
H. Walter Barnett, London photographer, wrote he was sending “a set of finished portraits” from Sam’s sitting “some days ago.” He repeated he was anxious to have Sam sit in his Academic robes, and he would come to Oxford [MTP].
Sydney Brooks wrote on Brown’s Hotel stationery, “I wonder if I might beg from you a couple of your new photographs,” one for himself and one for Harper’s Weekly [MTP].
Louise Copeland wrote a “lengthy epistle” from London full of experiences and a £300,000 claim from a Vendenheim or Fentenheim family in S. Carolina during the Civil War. Copeland claimed Sam was close to the family and asked him to see Mrs. Vendenheim [MTP].
A.J. Hopewell of the National Bank of England sent a book of 25 checks for Sam to draw on £100 [MTP].
Cliff Keane wrote from London in a long, roundabout request to see Clemens [MTP].
W.H. Langhorne wrote to thank Sam for his note, and sent his book with compliments. He would be “pleased” to know of the American descendants of any Langhornes whom Sam was named for [MTP].
John Y.W. MacAlister wrote Sam on The Library letterhead heading his invitation “Congo atrocities:” He continued, “The Club that is doing so much to arouse public attention to this business realise what a help it would give, if, while you are here, you would say some things about it” [MTP].
Clarence W. McIlvaine, vice-president of Harper’s London office wrote to pay his respects and offering any help Sam might need. He hoped to lunch with Clemens, and mentioned that years before his mother had met Sam and Livy while visiting a friend in Hartford, Miss Taintor [MTP].
George W. Morrison wrote from London: “My dear ‘Mark Twain’: / On my first visit to England you made me famous. / Why have you not looked me up on this trip—as I am still ‘Sir Boss’ as shown in your” CY “who posed for Dan Beard for all the illustrations of your book in 1887-88 in his studio, Judge Building, 5th Ave & 16th St. New York.” He also told of meeting Sam in Hartford when he was a boy [MTP].
Donald Murray for National Liberal Arts Club, London sent Sam a printed notice of being elected a Temporary Member with all privileges of the Club [MTP].
Mr. Ofenheim wrote to from London to Ashcroft: “I am much obliged to you for your kind note. I do not wish to take up too much of Mr Clemens’ time and only wish to shake hands with him.” What day after 5 p.m. could he find Sam at his hotel? [MTP].
Eden Phillpotts wrote from London to thank Sam for his note, which was now his heirloom [MTP].
Marian Robinson wrote from Herts, England to Sam to send “only a few lines of welcome,” and mentioned a mutual friend, Mrs. Paget of Ashley Place [MTP].
R.H. Slacke wrote “May I voice the feeling of the British people, congratulating you on your arrival again in the old country…and trusting it may be many years before that grand funeral comes off” [MTP].
John Whitehead wrote from Surrey enclosing his “one and only effort in Literature” for Sam to keep, an essay on great soldiers and sailors [MTP].
Captain H. Wiatt wrote from Acton, London. asking for permission to dramatize American Claimant [MTP] Note: Ashcroft wrote on the letter: “Miss Elizabeth Marbury The Empire Theatre Bldg”
Evelyn Suart wrote from London thanking Sam for “the charming composition you have written in my book” [MTP].