September 8 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “There is a row about the red ms. trunk with Mrs. Paine who insulted the King and Benares and me over the telephone” [MTP: IVL TS 64].

James Ross Clemens ended his visit at the Redding house [new guestbook]. Sam’s guestbook shows another two-day stay by a Member of the Aquarium, or Angelfish.

Name Address Date Remarks

Marjorie S. Breckenridge, M.A. From down the glen. September 6-8

Clara Clemens —————————- We had not given up 21 Fifth Ave., New York that house as yet.

Note: the entry here for Clara comes between the Sept. 6-8 and the next of Sept. 12. In his Sept. 3 to Quick he gives Sept. 10 as the date of her expected return. Clara actually returned on Sept. 9, however. See entry. She thought it inconceivable that her father would give up the NY house.

James S. Clarkson wrote on Custom House, Surveyor’s Office letterhead, NY to Clemens.

I have your letter of the fifth, and have instructed J.M. Bishop, Deputy Surveyor, to meet your daughter and her friends at Quarantine, down the bay, and to pay them every attention and help which will make their arrival home pleasant and agreeable… / We have a common tie dating back to the days when you were in a printing office at Keokuk and I in a printing office at Des Moines… [MTP].

Thomas Commerford Martin for Electrical World wrote to Lyon about the desired recording of Mark Twain’s voice. Thomas A. Edison, now in Yellowstone, and Martin felt Edison would like to make the recording himself [MTP]. Note: sadly, this was never done; or if it was, the recording was lost, as all were.

The New York Times, Sept. 8, p. 8, “New York Loses Mark Twain.”

NEW YORK LOSES MARK TWAIN

———

Physician Leases Fifth Avenue House and Author Will Live in Connecticut.

 With the leasing of 21 Fifth Avenue for a term of years to a physician that address ceases to be the town house of Mark Twain. Mr. Clemens will spend his time principally at his Italian villa at Redding, Conn., in the future. His physicians have pointed out to him the strain of life in town during the Winter, which in his case involved attendance at many dinners given in his honor.

Even with the usual indulgence in the famous Mark Twain nap between the roast and the coffee there was still an element of weariness left for the author. Then, too, he was liable to interruption in his work, though not so liable as less known writers, since he was well guarded, some of his near relatives being unable to see him without an appointment.

At the present time the only furniture remaining in the Fifth Avenue house is a small table for the card of visitors, some chairs, a rug on the drawing room floor, and a few pictures on the walls. The author’s daughter, Miss Clemens, is due to arrive on the Caronia on Thursday. She has been traveling abroad with friends. With the party is Charles Wark [“Will”] of New York, whose engagement to Miss Clemens has been rumored. Mr. Clemens will come to town from Redding to-day to be on hand when the Caronia comes in. With the aid of the few furnishings left in the house Miss Clemens will give a reception at the old house on the evening of her arrival. It has been suggested that her engagement will be announced at that time.

The Fifth Avenue house has been leased by Dr. Robert J. Kahn for five years. It will be somewhat altered. Mr. Clemens’s billiard room will become the physician’s consulting room, while the top floor, where Mr. Clemens had his study and library, will be given over to servants.