February 6 Thursday – In the evening, the S.S. Bermudian arrived in N.Y.C. with Sam and Ashcroft [Feb. 8 to Nunnally].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “The Bermudian is just slipping up along side the dock” (here at 8:15) and “the gang plank will be laid in minute” the man at the telephone at Pier 47 tells me.
And now the King is home, with pink cheeks & a beautiful “spring in his hind legs,” & full of health again & happiness too. For he found a ten-year old, Margaret Blackmer, who was his little companion constantly during his stay in Bermuda. The King found her alone at the breakfast table the morning after he got there, and the friendship began. They hired a donkey named Maude, with a tinier black master called Reginald, & with a Miss Wallace to couple up with Ashcroft, they’d go for long walks. After a while the King & Margaret would climb into the cart, while Ashcroft & Miss Wallace would push it along for Maude was a lazy beastie. Up and down the long rooms the King and I walked while he told me the sweet story of his doings there. Dear God who made the rocks, the seas & the skies & the King, it is so wonderful to have him home again for it’s a hell of a place without him.
Major Leigh & Mr. Chandler went down to the boat to meet the King, for I couldn’t go and it seemed fittingest that some nice man creature would be there. So the King tumbled into the house just as Santa & Will were leaving to go to the Scribners’ where Santa & Mark Rogers sang. Ashcroft came up & spent the night, but before bed time we 3 sat down stairs & talked over everything we could think of about the trip [MTP: IVL TS 17-18].
The New York Times, p. 7, reported that Clara Clemens and Francis Rogers sang for guests at a musicale given by Mrs. Arthur H. Scribner at her NYC home. Isabel Lyon called him Mark Rogers. Sam had just arrived from Bermuda so did not attend.
John Mead Howells wrote twice to Sam. The first enclosed “a list of the rooms and halls on the ground floor and Miss Clemens’ room on the second floor,” with square footage and other details. The Living room was 846 square feet with 9 foot ceilings. The second letter enclosed a certificate billing for $2,071.54 for William Webb Sunderland, being the sixth payment on the contract [MTP].
Manley D. Hudson for the Harvard Missouri Club wrote from Cambridge, Mass. to invite Sam to address the club sometime during the current school year [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Feb. 10, ‘08”
Rennetts C. Miller for the Int’l Reform Bureau, Hartford wrote to Sam. Miller had been a student for many years of Oliver Wendell Holmes and planned a book on him; what was Sam’s favorite poem of Holmes? [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Feb. 10, ‘08”
Wiley J. Patrick wrote in a shaky hand from Bowling Green, Mo. to ask Sam what he knew of Col. John Ralls of New London or Rev. John Johnson [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Feb. 10, ‘08”
C. Ryder for Ryder & Protheroe, druggist wrote from Emporia, Kans. to thank Sam for the Captain Stormfield story; Ryder was a Unitarian and stated his views [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Feb. 10, ‘08”
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur H. Scribner sent an engraved invitation for a musicale featuring Clara
Clemens and Francis Rogers, Thursday evening Feb. 6 at 39 E. 67th Street, NYC [MTP].
February 6 on or after – Sam replied to John W. Crawford’s Jan. 30, by writing on Crawford’s letter:
Dear Captain:
It is a sorrow to me that you got away so soon. I arrived the very night that you escaped westward.
The next time you are coming, I beg you to give me a few days’ notice, so that I can be clear of engagements. / Sincerely Yours [MTP]. Note: Crawford is mentioned by Sam in a Spokane, Wash. News article on Aug. 7, 1895 which lists Crawford as a Western Humorist. From this note, it’s clear that Sam regretted not seeing Crawford. Sam did not return from Bermuda until the evening of Feb. 6, so this reply could not have been made until then. See Crawford’s incomings.