April 25 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a postcard to The American Plasmon Co. giving them the times he was due to be in three places in N.Y.C. on the following day: Hoyt & Co., 15 W. 42nd at 10:45 a.m.; the Plasmon Co. at 11:15 a.m., and William Dean Howells’ at noon [MTP]. Note: The William H. Hoyt Co. at that address had advertised “Mark Twain’s Home for Sale” on Apr. 19 in the Hartford Courant [Meltzer 243].
April 24 Thursday – Sam traveled to Philadelphia, to attend the funeral for Frank R. Stockton the following day. Sam’s notebook gives evidence: “Stockton’s funeral. Phila. Gilder goes at 10 a.m., the others at 11. I the latter” [NB 45 TS 11].
April 23 Wednesday – Sam wrote to E.E. Olcott of the Hudson River Day Line, accepting dinner on board the new steamer Albany, date sometime in late May to be arranged. Sam’s is not extant but referred to in Olcott’s Apr. 26 acceptance.
April 22 Tuesday – In the morning Clara Clemens left for Paris with a chaperone on the German liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. It had been arranged for her to take some singing lessons there, and also to meet Ossip Gabrilowitsch . Though fraught with foreboding about leaving her mother, her future husband had assured her in a letter of Apr. 6 that such “single haunting ideas” were childish and that nothing would happen. Clara would reach Paris about May 1 [My Husband Gabrilowitsch 24-25; NY Times, Apr.
April 21 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a postcard replying to William Dean Howells’ Apr.
“I forgot to say I made immediate note of that luncheon, & shall be at your house & ready to go with you at 1 p.m on the said date” [MTP]. Note: the lunch date was for Apr. 26.
Sam also wrote a chastening letter to Nathaniel S. Olds, of the Rochester Post-Express.
April 20 Sunday – Sam returned from Princeton, N.J. to Riverdale. In the evening he substituted for someone who was to introduce the actress Clara Morris (Mrs. Frederick C. Harriott) (1848-1925) at Wallack’s Theatre. Morris was called a genius and a great “emotional actress.” Her career was brief but she was a memorable star. The New York Times reported the event on Apr. 21, p.2, “Clara Morris Tells of Stage Life Trials”:
April 19 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Chatto & Windus’ Apr. 10
“The above is all right & satisfactory. Sell to Tauchnitz, if he wants it—& Robert Lutz. Harpers ought to have given you earlier notice.
In a hurry to catch a train, …” [MTP].
Insert: Hartford Courant for Apr. 19, 1902 (note: no price given)
April 18 Friday – In N.Y.C. William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
“Come here at one o’clock Saturday the 26th, and go with me to lunch with a lot of good fellows, who want you more than they know. I would not ask you if I did not believe you would have a good talk and a good time” [MTHL 2: 741]. Note: Sam agreed on Apr. 21.
Livy’s diary: “Mr Norman Hapgood here for luncheon. Mrs Hutchins Hapgood here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
April 17 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote on Thomas B. Reed’s note to H.H. Rogers [MTP].
April 16 Wednesday – Sam wrote a PS to his “A Defence of General Funston” article, which ran in the May issue of the N.A.R.