July 6 Saturday – Ashcroft’s notes:
Breakfasted at Lord Avebury’s. Lord Kelvin, Sir Charles Lyell, and Sir Archibald Geikie were there. / Quarters at the hotel occupied by invasion of photographers and portrait-sketchers during more than two hours; sat 22 times for photographs and 4 times for crayons; too exhausting, will sit no more. 16 at Histed’s. Savage Club dinner in the evening; white suit; “fake” Ascot Cup presented; Brennan monorail car exhibited in action [MTB 1399; MTFWE 108 composit of both sources]. Note: John Lubbock (Lord Avebury). Lord Kelvin (William Thomson; 1824-1907); Lyell was likely the son of the famous Scottish geologist by the same name, who died in 1875. Sir Archibald Geikie (1835-1924) was also a Scottish geologist and writer, influential in his time.
Paine writes of the evening’s event—the Savage Club dinner:
The Savage Club would inevitably want to entertain him on its own account, and their dinner of July 6th was a handsome affair. He felt at home with the Savages, and put on white for the only time publicly in England. He made them one of his reminiscent speeches, recalling his association with them on his first visit to London, thirty-seven years before. Then he said:
That is a long time ago, and as I had come into a very strange land, and was with friends, as I could see, that has always remained in my mind as a peculiarly blessed evening, since it brought me into contact with men of my own kind and my own feelings. I am glad to be here, and to see you all, because it is very likely that I shall not see you again. I have been received, as you know, in the most delightfully generous way in England ever since I came here. It keeps me choked up all the time. Everybody is so generous, and they do seem to give you such a hearty welcome. Nobody in the world can appreciate it higher than I do.
The club gave him a surprise in the course of the evening. A note was sent to him accompanied by a parcel, which, when opened, proved to contain a gilded plaster replica of the Ascot Gold Cup. The note said:
Dere Mark, i return the Cup. You couldn’t keep your mouth shut about it. ‘Tis 2 pretty 2 melt, as you want me 2; next time I work a pinch ile have a pard who don’t make after-dinner speeches.
There was a postcript which said: “I changed the acorn atop for another nut with my knife.” The acorn was, in fact, replaced by a well-modeled head of Mark Twain [MTB 1399-1400].
The London Tribune, p. 9, ran “MARK TWAIN AT THE SAVAGE CLUB.” The Pall Mall Gazette , p.2, ran “Mark Twain’s Clothes”—both articles highlighted Mark Twain’s “famous white suit.” From the latter newspaper:
Feeling deliciously at home in a white suit, Mark Twain was able to discourse in his most genial strain to the members of the Savage Club on Saturday. He explained to them his science of clothes. As an ancient Briton he would not have been content with blue paint; he would have “bankrupted the rainbow,” but as a twentieth-century humourist he is content with white inside his own house or in places where he is sure that a little eccentricity will be kindly viewed. Well, he may dress as he pleases over here. He has charmed us all by his wit, and we would smile indulgently at his philosophy of clothes even if it had more of the variety of the rainbow….
Living Age ran an anonymous article, “Mark Twain,” p. 60-2. Tenney: “General praise: ‘Mark Twain will always be remembered first and foremost as a humorist; but it is only because his claims as a humorist are overwhelming that he had not been acclaimed as a serious student of character, a novelist, and a charming writer of whimsical historical romance.’ Praises many of MT’s books, even CY as ‘an extremely clever and imaginative tour de force’” [43].
Illustrated London News, ran an anonymous article “Social and Anecdotal” p.10, describing Sam’s friendly meeting with a porter [Tenney 43].
The Reader (London) ran an anonymous article, “Mark Twain,” p. 243. Tenney: “ ‘Mark Twain’s royal reception in England has been matter of universal congratulation. There is no more popular man in the world.’ Citing early newspaper accounts, argues that MT is both distinctly national and universal” [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Fifth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1981 p. 165].
John Bull (London) published a brief item, p.3. Tenney: “Criticizes the cheap wit of Oxford undergraduates in the galleries when MT received his honorary degree: ‘ “Get your hair cut, Mark”; “Can’t you spare some of that white hair to your bald-headed friend”; “Give ‘me socks, old man.”’ Another edifying example of the Oxford manner! However, it is quite on a level with the latest specimens of Twain’s humor’” [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Fifth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1981 p. 166]. Also in the same issue, “Open Letters and Post-Crds: To Mark Twain,” p. 12. Tenney: “Comments on MT’s many jokes during his final visit to England, noting that ‘116 of your jokes as recorded by the reporters had reference to the pageant you have arranged for your funeral….Foolery apart, my dear Mark, I am sorry to hear you talk like this.’ Wishes MT a happy life and speaks of pleasure in his books, ‘but…don’t write any more. Leave well alone’” [ibid].
The Outlook published an anonymous article, “Mark Twain at Oxford,” p 489. Tenney: “A very general account of MT’s receiving his honorary degree; apparently his comments quoted here were in the cable dispatches of the time” [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Third Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1979 p. 191].
Isabel Lyon’s journal (Halifax): Today we decided to go home by rail. I flew out to the R.R. agent and we are to leave tomorrow night at 8:40. So we went to the leather shop and Santa got some things for folks and she got a lovely old pewter jug or mug for me [MTP 81].
J.T. Herbert Baily wrote from London to ask if Sam “would communicate a line of approval of our efforts to appropriately unfold an old world story” for the Bury St. Edmunds Pageant [MTP].
Felix S. Berlyn wrote from Manchester to ask Sam for “a short contribution” for his “little journal” enclosed (not in file) [MTP].
Albert Chancellor wrote from Surrey to Ashcroft after receiving his letter and had “ordered a photograph to be taken to you for Mr. Clemens to…autograph” [MTP].
H.W. D. for Oxford Post Office wrote a note to an unidentified person (catalogued to Sam) about two telegrams from Tuxedo Park, N.Y. and Katonah, N.Y., with “3 /” owing [MTP].
T. Fletcher Fullard wrote from London for the Savages to invite Sam to a meeting that evening. He enclosed his card (in file), Excelsior College, Oxford [MTP].
John Henniker Heaton wrote from London, asking if Percy Spence, “a brilliant young artist” could “make a sketch” of Clemens. Could the artist see him for ten minutes? [MTP].
W.H. Helm wrote from London, expressing “a great delight…to see you & hear you again on the 29th , & to be able to shake hands with you, as you were going away.” He didn’t expect a reply [MTP].
Andrew Lang wrote from Kensington to Sam, sorry that he was out, and was fishing for non- existent trout. His hand is quite unsteady [MTP].
T. Harcourt Llewllyn wrote from Birmingham to welcome Clemens to England and to ask if he recalled a visit to Condover Hall, Shrewsbury “some years ago” [MTP]. Note: see Sept. 5-8, 1873; the Clemens family also stayed a week with Reginald Cholmondeley at Condover Hall from July 28, 1879. See Vol. I entries.
Robert P. Porter wrote from London to Ashcroft that he would see him Monday about 10 [MTP].
Mrs. Edmund Routledge sent an invitation card for a garden party on July 6, 4 to 7 [MTP]. Note: “Decline” written on card at top
The Savage Club sent Sam a photographed signed “Mark Twain,” a silver print bust portrait by Ernest H. Mills, in an elaborate mat with a profusion of printed signatures and a printed inscription “Mark Twain from his Brother Savages, July 6th 07” [MTP].
W.M. Treherne wrote from Mile End, London to Ashcroft, regretting Sam could not offer “one or two more” maxims, after seeing the one Treherne had previously sent; somewhat of a begging letter [MTP].
Carlotta Welles wrote from France to Ashcroft: “I didn’t expect any answer to that. It was meant for a joke. I heard him say that the liked that kind of thing to be brief, and to go straight to the point. I sent something which fulfilled these conditions. I thought it would please him, but evidently it worried him. I a,m sorry” [MTP].