February 19 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Aldine dinner in honor of Howells, new Pres. Of Natl Institute Arts & Letters” [NB 44 TS 6].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to nephew Samuel E. Moffett: “Please attend to him, Sam & tell him I am too ignorant of the matter & too busy” [MTP]. Note: the remainder of the letter is torn off; this may relate to the Montgomery request for family matter recently referred to Moffett.

February 18 Monday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam sent his decline-to-lecture form letter (see Feb. entry) to Wallace E. Mason, attorney and principal of the High School in Leominster, Mass. Note: (pronounced by natives and the editor’s daughter who lives there, as “Lemon stah”—displaying a native eschewing for the letter ‘R’) [MTP].

February 17 Sunday – Edwin L. Godkin wrote compliments of Twain’s “Sitting in Darkness” article [MTP].

Charles Erskine Scott Wood of Portland, Ore. wrote complimenting the “Sitting in Darkness” article— “it’s a great work. It’s effective, do it some more.” He would be in N.Y. around Mar. 8; was there a chance of seeing him? [MTP]. Note: Wood was a partner in the law firm of Williams, Wood & Linthicum.

February 16 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Dine—7.30 Leigh Hunt, Holland House” [NB 44 TS 6]. Note: Leigh S.J. Hunt. See Jan. 1.

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Paschal H. Coggins (Sidney Marlow), who wrote on Feb. 13.

February 15 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Doubleday, 7 pm 111 E. 16th” [NB 44 TS 6].

Sam was unable to attend the Feb. 14 annual Sheriff’s Jury dinner at the Hotel Savoy, and so wrote a letter declining shortly before. The New York Tribune ran Twain’s letter on p.6:

SHERIFF’S JURORS DINE.

————

MARK TWAIN’S LETTER OF DECLINATION

AROUSES LAUGHTER.

February 14 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “E.P. Clarke, 10.30. Yankee at Arthur / Paschal [sic Pascal] Institute 576 Lexington Ave—N.W. cor. of 51st. Say 9 p.m. Dine at Mr. Rogers” [NB 44 TS 6]. Note: See NB entry of Mar. 29, 1901 for same address and a Boys’ debate he attended and named the President of the group, Margaret Pascal. A Sept. 25, 1901 NY Times article, p.5, “Pascal Institute Plans” indentifies officers and also the involvement of Miss Grace Dodge.

February 13 Wednesday – [date in a PDF box]

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to retired General Oliver O. Howard’s Feb. 12 letter. “You are a busy man, and I thank you cordially for taking the time to say those pleasant and welcome words” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to the editor of the N.Y. Tribune . (This letter ran Feb. 15 in the paper on p. 3. Many other letters to the editor were printed about Twain’s “Sitting in Darkness” article.

February 12 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Harvey, 7.00. He will send carriage for me” [NB 44 TS 6].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Albert Simmons.

“I wish I could be of service to you, in which case I should gladly avail myself of the opportunity, but I am unable for the reason that I have not written anything about the club, at any time so far as I remember” [MTP: Swann Galleries catalogs, Sept.14, 2000, Item 249]. Note: Simmons and the club are not identified.

February 11 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Carnegie Hall, Lincoln’s birthday. School of citizenship & patriotism” [NB 44 TS 6].

The New York Times, Feb. 13, p.1, reported on this evening’s tribute to Lincoln and Sam’s speech at Carnegie Hall.

BLUE AND GRAY PAY TRIBUTE TO LINCOLN

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Celebration at Carnegie Hall in Aid of Memorial University.

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HOW TWAIN SAVED THE UNION

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February 10 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Maybe the Welchs from Hartford” [NB 44 TS 6].

Charles Johnston of Flushing, N.Y. wrote compliments of Twain’s “Sitting in Darkness” article; he mentioned the pleasure of meeting him at Mrs. Boudinot Keiths’ Studio a few weeks ago [MTP]. Note: Mrs. Boudinot Keith was Dora Wheeler Keith, daughter of Candace Wheeler and longtime friend of the Clemenses.