February 16 Tuesday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Archibald Henderson, professor at UNC, Chapel Hill.
Dear Dr Henderson:
Mr. Clemens’ comment was: “Mightily interesting and very ingenious.” And he was deep/y touched with your reference to Mrs Clemens.
February 16 Wednesday — Matthias Hollenbeck Arnot, Elmira financier and friend of Clemens, died at age 78 in Elmira, N.Y, reportedly worth fifty million dollars. He took none of it with him [NY Times, Feb. 16, 1910]. Note: Arnot was a principal backer of Sam’s Paige Typesetter. See Vol. II.
Sam came down with a head cold that lasted four days [Feb. 20 to Leary].
Daughter Clara wrote to Sam. The letter is not extant but replied to in Sam’s Mar, 6 [MTP].
February 17 Wednesday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Frances Nunnally.
February 17 Thursday - In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam began a letter to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn. that he finished Feb, 18, which was in Helen Allen’s hand.
Dear Paine:
Let us not give up the tobacco forgery lightly. Even if Ashcroft could prove he was my authorized agent, he was still not authorized to use his authority to injure me & to steal £25 from me.
February 18 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margery H. Clinton in N.Y.C.
Very dear Plumber:
(who doesn’t know how to plumb);
February 18 Friday - In Hamilton, Bermuda, Helen S. Allen finished Sam’s Feb. 17 to Albert B. Paine.
February 19 Friday — John N. Ryan for Equitable Life Assurance, NYC wrote to ask Sam for “something from you” for the Year Book for the Pleiades Club, NYC [MTP].
A.H. Tomlinson wrote from Swathmore, Penn. to Sam. He’d sent a copy of “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg” and asked that Sam sign it with a few words and place the date on it [MTP].
February – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Laura H. Frazer, childhood sweetheart.
Dear Laura,
Who of this list, have passed away? You will not be able to tell me in all cases, but tell me those you know about.
February — Sam’s contribution to the essays, “The Turning Point of My Life,” ran in this issue of Harper’s Bazar. This was a series of notable men who contributed individual essays on the theme. Hill writes of Twain’s contribution:
February 2 Tuesday — John W. Davis for NY Education Dept. wrote to ask Sam to use an excerpt from TA for a reader he was preparing for use in public schools [MTP].
James Ephraim McGirt, “a New Negro Poet” wrote from Phila. to ask Sam for “an expression...in regards to the merits of” his work. A flyer with McGirt’s photo is in the file [MTP].
February 2 Wednesday — Maude Jordan wrote from London to remind Sam of her letter and photos send for autograph and had not heard back [MTP]. Note: ABP: “Mr. Clemens is not in America & is not expected before May—”
Florence Rice Knox wrote “In the Suez Canal” (most certainly on a vessel) to offer condolences [MTP].
Los Angeles Saddle Club per J.H. Coker wrote to ask for Sam’s likeness to frame for their library wall [MTP].
February 20 Saturday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Margaret Blackmer.
Attention, you dear little tyke!
You will have a long vacation at Easter; can’t you & your mother spend it with us? I do hope so. When Ashcroft-Benares goes to New York Tuesday, I want him to catch your mother on the telephone & discuss the matter with her. / With lots of love [MTP; MTAg 251].
February 20 Sunday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Katy Leary.
Dear Katie: / I enclose page 1 of a letter just received from Mrs. Ossip. It troubles me because she seems to have gotten the impression (the superstition), that your authority as housekeeper is not supreme. But it is supreme, There is no housekeeper but you. No one but you has anything to do with the housekeeping. No one but you can hire or discharge a house-servant, or give to a house-servant an order not proper for a guest to give.
February 21 Sunday — In Redding, Conn., Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to prof. Archibald Henderson, University of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill. “Dear Dr Henderson: / We spell it: ‘UMPAWAUG’—not ‘Umpawag, as you had it” [MTP]. Note: Umpawaug, named after Indians who deeded land in 1686; a district, and road in Redding, Conn. Also a cemetery, across the road from the original Mark Twain Library, which began in a chapel.
February 21 Monday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Julia Langdon Loomis (Mrs. Edward E. Loomis)
Julie dear, bless your heart it was a pleasure to serve Jervis, not a trouble. Think what he & Edward are doing for me & mine, I don’t forget it, & I am very grateful for it.
February 22 Tuesday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam added to his Feb. 21 to daughter Clara,
February 23 Tuesday — Isabel Lyon left Stormfield to recover from her breakdown at her mother’s house in Hartford. She was there ten days. Hill writes of Clara Clemens’ arrival and of the ensuing controversy of suspicion:
February 23 Wednesday-In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam finished his Feb, 21 and 22 to daughter Clara, 117 W. 69 St. NYC c/o Miss Gordon.
February 24 Wednesday — Elizabeth P. Brown wrote from NYC to Sam.
I shall put yesterday down as one of the days in which something really happened for it was last evening that your letter came.
Irene was a dear to suggest your writing—and you—what shall 1 say about you for doing as she suggested?
Anyway, I thank you very much indeed. [She regretted not being able to speak to him the day he called at her school. She thought Irene Gerken] “a most bewitching little miss” MTP]. Note IVL: “From Irene's teacher, Miss Brown”
February 24 Thursday - W.T. Mossman, music hall manager, Pittsburg wrote to Sam, “humorously complaining of the quality of printing in the Twain books, while lengthily recounting details of Twain’s life” [MTP: ]. Fricelli Assoc. auction, catalog #7, Brooklyn].
February 25 Thursday - In Redding. Conn. Sam wrote to John Albert Macy.
Dear Mr. Macy: / Thank you for Greenwood’s book. I have read it most carefully, and have stolen meat enough from it to stuff yards and yards of sausage-gut in my vast Autobiography and make it look like my own. And really the gut is mine. My, but I have enjoyed that book!
With love to you all,
Clemens,
February 25 Friday — In Hamilton, Bermuda Sam wrote to Albert B. Paine in Redding, Conn.
Dear Paine.
Perhaps I have no business to be dictating, and I have refrained all day, because my bronchitis makes it troublecome for me to talk.
I have nothing to say that would not keep over another steamer, but I must bark enough to assure you that I am not in the least degree troubled about those stocks.
February 26 Friday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Jean now at the Unkeway Farm in Babylon, Long Island, N.Y.
You dear Jean, I was glad to hear from you. I have a photograph of your house, & I think it is most attractive. For your sake I hope it is as pleasant as it looks.
That poor old Geronimo! I am glad his grand old patriot heart is at peace, no more to know wrong & insult at the hands of the Christian savage.
February 27 Saturday — Pieter Bausch wrote from Amsterdam, Holland to thank Sam for his letter and for the $50 sent. A photo of a somber Mr. & Mrs. Bausch is in the file [MTP]. Note: “P. Bausch / Interesting (Photo)”; Sam paid Bausch in order to use his letter in his Autobiography. Bausch kept writing until he became a pest and Sam would not answer. Bausch then wrote to Harpers.
February 27 Sunday - Amelia C. Householder wrote from Maple Glen, Penn. to offer condolences and hoped for a reply [MTP].