February 18 Tuesday – Sam’s A.D. of Feb. 19 discloses his activities for the day and evening:
Yesterday I spent two pleasant and exciting hours witnessing a Ben Johnson masque performed at the Plaza hotel by about twenty young and attractive creatures of the two sexes, and it was wonder for rich and beautiful costumes, for excellent singing, and for acting which I had not seen approached before by amateurs. I dined out in the evening at the Doubledays’; and went from there to the Guinnesses, in Washington Square. By eleven a great throng had gathered.
There was fine instrumental music and fine singing. The illustrious Caruso was present. I had not seen him before, off the operatic stage. It was a highly fashionable company, but I went in white clothes, because that is my custom, and because everybody approves it. That bright and engaging and untamed young Virginian, a distant cousin of mine, Mrs. William Waldorf Astor, who is over from England on a visit to her people, was there, and at midnight she dragged me into the middle of the room and commanded the music to strike up and then she required me to dance with her. I was willing; I had never danced, but I always knew I could do it if I wanted to. Our performance brought down the house, as the phrase goes, and I privately thought it was rather unusually good myself—and I knew there was a sufficiency of life and activity in it, for one thing. We got an immense encore and responded to it, adding several fresh and hitherto unattempted and finely artistic variations. I promised to visit her inEngland next summer, and spend a few weeks at Cliveden. I probably can’t go, but I would greatly like to see that wonderful place. Shortly after midnight I came away with Prince Troubetskoy and Peter Dunne (“Mr. Dooley”); many were departing, but many were arriving to take their places.
It is as I said, I am not leaving for Bermuda to build up my health, for there is nothing the matter with it; I am going because a change of scene and climate is absolutely necessary for H. H. Rogers, and he won’t go unless I go too. I have divested myself of engagements until the 16th of April [MTP].
Notes: Mrs. William Waldorf Astor (1879-1964), wife of 2nd Viscount Astor, born Nancy Witcher Langhorne (insert photo). Sam’s reference to the lady as “a distant cousin” is likely fanciful, as the Langhornes of Virginia were reported only to be friends of Sam’s parents; Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), perhaps the greatest opera tenor of all time; Caruso made about 290 commercial recordings from 1902 to 1920. All of these recordings, which span most of his stage career, are available today on CDs and as digital downloads, while we have not a single recording of Mark Twain, either singing or talking. Tolstoy, Rodin, Anatole France, and George Bernard Shaw sat for Troubetskoy.
Clemens acquired another case of Queen Anne whisky. On this particular listing he put “1 case $20” but did not put a price on other entries [L-A MS]. Note: see June 8, 1907 for the full list of acquisition dates of whisky, intended as ammunition against Isabel Lyon.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: A turmoil—for many things must be adjusted before I can leave with the King. After a racking day the King & I dined with the Doubledays. That queenly create Neltje Blanchan Doubleday, talked to me again bout Kipling, & said that he never puts a poem down on paper until he has gone over & over it in his head, & eliminated every superfluous word. When they were visiting him last summer in Sussex & motored about with him, his head was full of delightful verses that went in time to the rhythm of the mobile wheels & he would recite them as they sped along. The King put me down at the house & he went on to Mrs. Guinness’s where he stayed until past midnight [MTP: IVL TS 24-25]. Note: Bridget W. Guinness (Mrs. Benjamin S. Guinness) of Washington Square.
Edward John Bing wrote from Budapest, Hungary to thank Sam for his letter. Bing enclosed his photograph (in the file; Bing is estimated at 10 or 11 years old) [MTP].
W.J. Hughes wrote from Minneapolis, Minn. to Sam, thnking the description of all the good things Sam had to eat as a boy in Hannibal “struck me just right” as he also was a boy there from age ten [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Feb. 21, ‘08”
John Larkin wrote to advise Sam that his taxable personal property was assessed at $5,000 and the tax on it was $79.77 [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Check sent to Mr. Larkin Feb. 20, ‘08”
A.W. Lines for Eastern High School (Detroit) wrote to ask Sam for “a few lines” from Sam’s “ample pen” for their first literary quarterly [MTP]. Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Feb. 20, ‘08”
Dorothy Quick wrote to thank Sam for his “lovely valentine” and the “lovely belt” he brought her from Bermuda. She’d read in the papers about Clara’s musicale. Dorothy still eschewed periods in her letters [MTP].