January 17 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Julia Langdon Loomis.
Julie dear, I wrote you a day or 2 ago, but I don’t remember what I said because I was sober at the time. But this not is to say—to-wit: The next Doe-Luncheon will happen at the above address on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. You are hereby invited. Don’t fail to come, dear.
[in left margin] Not one declined before! [MTP].
Sam also wrote to the Other Depositors of the Knickerbocker Trust Co..
To the Other Depositors.
The time is very short. It expires to-morrow. Mr. Grover Cleveland, a depositor, has approved the Satterlee plan for resumption, & it seems to me that that ought to satisfy every depositor that that plan is safe & wise. If we accept it we shall lose no part of our money; if we do not accept it the Knickerbocker will be delivered over to a permanent receivership. I have already tried a permanent receivership once, & did not like the results. It costs more to keep a permanent receiver than it does to keep a harem. Anybody who has had experience in these matters will endorse this statement. In the long run—in the very long run—we got some of our money, but not enough of it to keep a harem with. All the depositors said so, & were disappointed, & there was much regret. If we accept the Satterlee plan, & do it immediately, it will be well for us; if we refuse, we invite & insure a shrinkage which the patients will not find enjoyable. I have not been invited to say those things, still it has seemed worth while to say them. / Very respectfully / Mark Twain[MTP].
Sam also wrote to Dorothy Quick in Plainfield, N.J.
Oh you dear child, I am so sorry for you, and also so sorry for myself! It is such a disappointment. I have been sick abed with a cold all day, but I was resolved to be up & dressed & ready for you tomorrow morning. We’ve got a box for a matinée tomorrow, and— well, we’ve got to bear these disappointments, so I may as well get at it; it’s the best way & the only way.
Dear heart you must come next Saturday, if you are perfectly well & strong by that time; but if you aren’t, we’ll put it off still another week.
Ashcroft was here last night, & we played hearts till two or three hours after midnight—with the beautiful cards you gave me. I captured all their chips, & more besides.
With lots & lots of love, / SLC [MTP; MTAq 97-8].
Sam also sent Kate Douglas Wiggin (aka Riggs) an invitation for the next “Doe Luncheon” on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. “Please don’t fail to come” [MTP].
Sam did not attend the Booker T. Washington Meeting to sit on the platform as invited by Washington on Jan. 8. As recently as Jan. 16, H.H. Rogers asked if Sam was going would he like to share a box. Ralph Ashcroft came again to Stormfield to play billiards with Clemens.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: All day the King was in bed but the whiskey had helped the cold and he is better. Mrs. Toy came in at 5:15 to talk with the King about the children’s theatre, which has been closed on Sundays by the Blue Laws, & then Paine came in for dinner & billiards. Billiard! I watched the game until 11. Early the King began to feel chilly in his little white silk coat, & I got a white serge coat for him, & at 11 I came up stairs to go to bed and read D. Deronda until sleep came. At 2:30 I wakened to hear the billiard bang and went down to find the King playing in a drunken haze. He was trying to drown out the chill, and couldn’t move without reeling. It was a great thing to see. P. was furious with me & told me to clear out, but I sat down & said I’d stay until the King started for bed. P. didn’t like me—but I didn’t care. It was wonderful to see the King pick up a ball and fondle it, & then try to hit it with his cue & be unable to touch it; but he swore splendidly. AB left the room & I gently took the King’s cue away & led him up to his room. He staggered & hit his head against one of the little angels on his bed post, & grabbed his dear head with a volley of oaths. Then I left the room but waited to hear his shoes drop [MTP: IVL TS 9-10]. Note: Hill quotes part of this (with his own edits).
Edith Anderson Logan wrote from NYC to Sam. “Will you do me the honour to dine with me on Thursday Evening January 23rd at Eight o’clock? / General & Mrs. F.D. Grant are to be with me & it would add greatly to our pleasure if you would…” [MTP].
Emma Gertrude Quick sent a telegram to Sam. “Dorothy sick with bad cold sorry cannot come this week / Mrs Quick” [MTP].