July 16 Tuesday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka.

Cooley writes of the time aboard ship and of a new acquaintance made with one of the younger of 129 passengers during the voyage, likely early on:

He was greatly impressed with his scarlet Oxford robe and academic hood and on the ship home strolled the decks displaying the new regalia, still glowing with the euphoria of London and Oxford. Thus embellished, Clemens met an eleven-year-old American girl named Dorothy Quick, who had been watching him for some time, fascinated by his robe and crop of snowy hair….Clemens and Dorothy talked about his writing and her desire to become a serious fiction writer when she grew up. … To honor their new friendship, Dorothy and Clemens vowed to wear white all the rest of the voyage. For her skillful play at shuffleboard, which Clemens called “horse billiards,” he gave her and inscribed copy of his recent book, Eve’s Diary.  

      One day a ship’s officer came to Dorothy and asked if he was addressing Mark Twain’s business manager. Dorothy nodded and was informed that Mr. Twain had announced he would not perform in the ship’s program, a benefit for the sailor’s fund, unless she gave her permission. The printed program for the event even announced him as “Mark Twain (by courtesy of Miss Dorothy Quick).” Their growing friendship moved so many of the ship’s passengers that a photo session was arranged. Dorothy stood between Clemens and Captain Layland, while dozens of passengers snapped their Kodaks. When the prints were developed by the ship’s photographer, there were many requests for the inseparable duo’s autographs. Once the arrived in New York, the process was repeated for newspaper photographers [MTAq 36-7]. Note: Dorothy Gertrude Quick (1896-1962). Dorothy was traveling with her mother, Emma Gertrude Quick, and her grandparents. In his A.D. of Apr. 1908, Sam claimed to have “discovered her the second day out” which would have been July 15 [MTAq 127]. The benefit program was traditionally held on the last night at sea, in this case July 21.

Isabel Lyon’s journal: “And still in New York, doing finishing touches. Santa is getting on wonderfully in Boston” [MTP 84].