December 7 Monday – Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Murray Butler sent their calling card for Sam “to meet Lord & Lady Northcliffe & Signor Ferrero,” Tues. Dec. 15 4 to 6 p.m. [MTP]. Note: “Ans Dec 7 MLH”
Columbia University sent an engraved invitation to “exercises in Commemoration of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the birth of John Milton” on Dec. 9 [MTP]. Note: “Ans Dec 9 MLH”
Marjorie Dawson for Marjorie Dawson’s Doll-land Co. wrote from NYC to Sam, sending “some tickets and circulars to Doll-land” [MTP]. Note: “Ans Dec 7 MLH”
Neltje de G. Doubleday (Mrs. Frank N. Doubleday) wrote to ask Sam what he liked in the article in “Country Life” and to indicate where he wanted changes. Her scrawl is terrible and mostly illegible [MTP].
Daniel Frohman for the Lyceum Theatre, NYC wrote to Sam.
My sister tells me you have caused some inquiries to be made regarding Mrs. Frohman [Margaret Illington Frohman]. A month ago she went West and her mail was not given to her promptly because the doctor wanted her to be free from all thought of things. She improved so rapidly that she came back home for a couple of weeks for consultation and advice, etc., and Saturday she left for Southern California where she will live with an uncle in a nice comfortable place for one or two months until she gets her nerves in order. Her condition is not serious but her nerves gave out. She never recovered entirely from the horse-back accident she had over a year ago, and, added to the character of the part she played for a year, and the amount of emotion and intense effort she put into it, she collapsed. Now she is to give up acting entirely. She never cared much for the stage, but I wanted to keep her on because I felt she had a great career. But as it makes her happier not to do so, she will, on her return, become a domesticated Hausfrau. You will doubtless hear from her from her distant home, and see her on her return [MTP].
Notes: Margaret Illington (born Maude Light 1879-1934) took the stage name of Illington which combined “Illinois” and “Bloomington” in honor of her birthplace. She married the 28 years older Daniel Frohman in 1903. Clemens added Margaret to his Aquarium roster, though she was 29 years old. She divorced Frohman in Nov. 1909 in Reno, Nevada, and married Edward J. Bowes (creator of the radio show “Amateur Hour”), a rich real estate developer of Tacoma, Wash. only a few days later. Sam would write her on Jan. 26, 1910. See entry.
Howard P. Merrill for Springfield (Mass.) Calhoun Club wrote to ask Sam his terms to come and deliver a talk [MTP]. Note: “Ans Dec 11 MLH”
Nellie F. Monson wrote to ask for Clemens’ autograph [MTP]. Note: “Autogr. Sent Dec 7 MLH”
North Carolina Society of NY sent an engraved invitation to their annual dinner, Dec. 7 to meet their guest of honor, William Howard Taft, at the Hotel Astor [MTP].
John E. Ridenour for the Book Shop, Kansas City, Mo wrote to Sam with birthday wishes and to ask for an autograph [MTP]. Note: “Autogr. Sent Dec 7 MLH”
James B. Sutherland wrote from Toronto, Canada to enclose $1.15 to Sam for the Redding Library, hoping that it would come back endorsed by Clemens. The last time Sutherland heard Sam talk was at the Princess Hotel in Bermuda [MTP].
December 7-10 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote a postcard to Nettie Brockley.
Indeed yes, dear Miss Brockley, & I thank you for thinking of it; for an attention from a school girl gratifies me more than the like from any other source. I am 73 & grandchildless; & so one might expect the whole left hand compartment of my heart to be empty & cavernous & desolate; but it isn’t because I fill it up with schoolgirls [MTP].