January 9 Wednesday – In the morning Sam, Joe Twichell and Isabel Lyon arrived back in New York [D. Hoffman 77]. Twain told the press, “Please don’t say I have been away for my health. I have plenty of health. Indeed, I’ll give some of it away to anybody who needs health” [New York Times, Jan. 10, 1907].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “We anchored at Pier 47 this morning, but were a long time doing it because we had to avoid a sunken ferryboat. The week has been one of unbroken peace” [MTP TS 7].
January 10 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
January 11 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y., after dictating and playing billiards, Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah.
Dear Jean, I do hope you are feeling happier, by this time, it wrung my heart to see you so disappointed, & I could not help thinking all the time how grieved your mother would have been to see you long for a thing—anything—& have to be denied it. [in a paragraph, Sam encouraged her to see the best in people; that she’d be happier that way]
January 12 Saturday – The New York Times, p. BR21 ran a short notice of Sam’s new book:
Mark Twain’s Latest.
January 13 Sunday – Mark Twain’s Plea for setting apart the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln ran on p.8 of the New York Times, “A Lincoln Memorial.”
Sam wrote to Jean Clemens on Jan. 14 of his dinner company for this evening:
January 14 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Isabel Lyon wrote a letter of introduction from Sam for Finley Peter Dunne to Lyman Beecher Stowe [MTP].
Sam also wrote a letter to daughter Jean. After relating the dinner company for the previous night (see Jan. 13 entry) he wrote:
Miss Lyon has gone to Redding with John Howells.
That lady did find me in the train, after my pleasant visit to you, but not until we were within 30 minutes of New York.
January 15 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam began a letter to Edith Draper in Lancashire, England that he enclosed a photo he signed on Jan. 17: “I will comply with pleasure, dear Mrs Edith. My secretary will choose a photo which will go handily in the mail & I will autograph it. / Indeed I shouldn’t regret it if I were an Englishman—& particularly a Lancashire man / Sincerely…” [MTP]. Note: Lyon remarked about this note on a sheet inserted into her journal: “Here is a proof of the sweet & courteous answer Mr.
January 16 Wednesday – Sam hosted a small party for Helen Keller; George Iles, and Mrs. James Sutherland were also present, Sam autographing his portrait for the latter [MTHHR 577; Jan. 17 from Iles; IVL TS 13 below].
January 17 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to daughter Jean, whose incoming is not extant:
Why yes, dear Jean, your character—as I saw—had indeed softened, but the other day, it seemed to have hardened (temporarily only, I think) toward Anna & the others, on account of what you regarded as unjust conduct toward you. But I did not seem to blame & reproach you, did I? I could not mean that; in my heart I have no reproaches for you, but only mournings for your unearned estate.
January 17-20 Sunday – In N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote instructions from Sam to write to an unidentified man: “Write Mauritius man & say it isn’t Mr. Clemens’ story but it couldn’t be any better if it bore his trademark” [MTP].
January 18 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Jan. 3 of Margaret Christensen.
“Dear Madam: /I thank you gratefully for your welcome letter, which has deeply touched me. Nothing could be more gratifying to me than to know that my dear lost wife’s beautiful character has spoken to you from the grave & that you have treasured the message” [MTP]. Note: From Brooklyn.
January 19 Saturday – The Hope-Jones Organ Co. was incorporated in Elmira, New York, with capital stock of $250,000 in 750 shares of 7% cumulative preferred shares and 1500 shares of common stock, all in $100 shares. The three directors: John Brand, J. Sloat Fassett, and Robert Hope-Jones. Jervis Langdon II was president and treasurer, and Hope-Jones vice- president. Jervis’ Uncle Sam Clemens subscribed to $5,000 worth, payable over time on “calls,” as did Edward E.
January 20 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
January 21 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote an aphorism to an unidentified person: “Consider the proportions of things: it is better to be a young june-bug than an old bird of Paradise. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Jan. 21/07” [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Dr. Herring came, says Bermuda is better in summer than in winter.
January 22 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
The King dined at the Coes & will stay the night.
January 23 Wednesday – At 5 p.m. at Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam fell up the front steps and skinned his “starboard shin” [Jan. 26 to Jean].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: More about Aldrich’s coat—label gone.
January 24 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. the back of a chair gave way with Sam in it. He fell backward striking his head, his feet in the air, his chin crushing his chest. He was not injured, though he wrote he couldn’t do that again without breaking his neck [Jan. 26 to Jean].
January 25 Friday – Sam played billiards with Peter Dunne (“Mr. Dooley”) [Jan. 26 to Jean]. Lyon wrote:
Isabel Lyon’s journal: The King said “I am just thirsting for blood & Mr. Dooley is going to furnish it!”—Billiards!—Mr. Dooley is coming for luncheon. But the King is walking up & down the billiard room with quick light eager steps—ready for dictation, but readier for the blood of Mr. Dooley [Peter Dunne].
January 26 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah, N.Y.
It is good news, Jean dear, that you are having healthful outdoor times, & especially good news that Dr. Hunt perceives that your condition is improved. It is very good news. Miss Lyon is sure you will like the carriage. From the description of it I am of the same opinion. George & the carriage & the horse will doubtless soon be on their way to you.
January 27 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
This morning I had no mail for the King so we had talk instead & he read me Mr. Dooley’s ideas about the Army Canteen which appears in today’s Times. He sat up in bed & rolled it out so deliciously, gurgling with delight. I wish Peter Dunne could have seen him. I wish Kipling would see him read those immortal Jungle Tales.
January 28 Monday – In his A.D. Sam referred to songs: “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” as he had in Ch. 11 of PW back in 1894 [Gribben 236]. He also referred to the Jan. 26 dinner, when Senator Clark of Montana “rose to the tune of … ‘God Save the King,’ frantically sawed and thumped by the fiddlers and the piano” during Union League Club speeches [263]. “The Star Spangled Banner” [370]. Note: Devoto selected this day’s dictation for inclusion in Mark Twain in Eruption (1940) p.70-77.
January 29 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to Miss Eleanor Robson, who was raising money for the support of Bret Harte’s daughter, Mrs. Jessamy Steele, who, Miss Robson wrote this day was “in dire need and in the Portland Me. Almshouse.”
January 30 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Tearing headache less than 3 weeks since last.
Yesterday the King gave permission to have his name used in the Eleanor Robson benefit for Bret Harte’s daughter, but today he has revoked it, for he sees through the whole thing as being mainly an advertisement for Eleanor Robson. He is so impulsive, & continually has to withdraw from propositions that he has gone into with enthusiasm [MTP TS 25].
January 31 Thursday – Life Magazine ran a cartoon of Mark Twain sitting “on a barrel of cigars and smoking, with text praising him in general terms for his good humor and his attacks on folly and vice” [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Sixth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Spring 1982 p. 10]. Note: compare this to the Dec. 21, 1905 cartoon in Life, celebrating his 70 birthday.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Chinatown and the beads. / The King’s watch is gone” [MTP TS 25].
January, late (before Feb. 1) – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Jan. 2 of Witter Bynner:
Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: It might have been.
Ah say not so! as life grows longer, leaner, thinner
We recognize, O God, it might have Bynner! [MTP].