February 15 Friday – Sam and Livy were still in New York at the Murray Hill Hotel [Feb. 14 to Whitmore].
Orion Clemens wrote to Sam (two Feb. 11 Jean Clemens letters enclosed) on his new “Attorney at Law” letterhead. He wrote about going to Tennessee on the land matter — he thought there was an effort to have the land “put up at a sheriff’s auction… and thus cut us out.” Also, more delusions of Ma’s [MTP].
February 16 Saturday – The Clemenses attended a matinee performance of Wagner’s opera, Tannhäuser at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York [MTNJ 3: 449n138]. Sam may have attended a Yale alumni dinner at Delmonico’s in the evening [Feb. 14 to Whitmore].
February 17 Sunday – Sam and Livy returned home to Hartford [Feb. 14 to Whitmore; MTNJ 3: 449n138].
February 18 Monday – Frederick J. Hall wrote to Sam that sales of Mrs. Custer’s book, Tenting on the Plains had improved [MTLTP 252n3]. Hall felt they’d have to sell about 3,000 sets of the LAL in order to pay for the manufacture of the whole eleven volumes [MTP].
February 19 Tuesday – Thomas W. Knox wrote to Sam (enclosed in Webster & Co.’s Feb. 19) and repeating his Feb. 18 letter about wanting to see him [MTP].
Webster & Co. wrote to Sam: “Yesterday turned out to be a red letter day. More orders came in after you left. We thought you would be glad to know that we sold in all 1053 volumes yesterday, amounting at the discount price to $1537.60” [MTP].
February 20 Wednesday – International copyright legislation again failed in Congress. In Hartford, Sam sent his thanks to President Grover Cleveland for his support in the effort. Sam responded to Cleveland’s letter of Feb. 15.
February 21 Thursday – In Hartford Sam wrote a one-liner to Richard Watson Gilder of the Century, declining an invitation due to “an engagement away up North on that date” [MTP].
Orion Clemens finished his letter began Feb. 20 [MTP].
February 22 Friday – Thomas W. Knox for Lotos Club wrote to Sam that the matter he’d been trying to see Sam about was to urge him to accept the Club presidency for the coming year [MTP].
February 23 Saturday – Dana Estes, acting as secretary for the International Copyright Association, Boston, wrote Sam urging him to appear at the Mar. 7 benefit at the Boston Museum for the copyright cause. Estes declared, “your co-operation is deemed absolutely essential to the success of the Reading” [MTP].
February 24 Sunday – In Hartford Sam responded to Feb. 18 & 19 letters from Thomas W. Knox, saying that if the office of Building Inspector for Hartford was offered it would be the only office he would take, but,
…not any other office that is namable, not even a kingship…I do thank you, each and every one, but I couldn’t dream of accepting, old friend [MTP].
February 25 Monday – In New York City, Sam gave a dinner speech for Trinity College Alumni, “The College President.” Hartford Daily Courant published Sam’s remarks (Feb. 26, 1889, p.3.) The speech was in honor of Twain’s friend Dr. George Williamson Smith, a clergyman and President of Trinity College in Hartford. See MTNJ 3: 452n151.
February 26 Tuesday – After Edward H. House objected to P&P being dramatized by Abby Sage Richardson, Sam wrote him:
February 27 Wednesday – At 3 p.m. Sam gave a dinner speech at the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford for the Hartford Art Society. Unfortunately, the program, which closed at 5 p.m., was not recorded [MTNJ 3: 447n133]. Note: this has been erroneously reported as the Athenaeum Club in Boston.
February 28 Thursday – Sam gave a short speech introducing poet James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916) and humorist Edgar Wilson “Bill” Nye (1850-1896) at the Tremont Temple in Boston. The pair toured together in 1886 and 1889. Nye founded the Laramie, Wyoming Boomerang in 1881. Fatout writes,
March – Daniel Carter Beard illustrated a story called “Wu Chih Tien, the Celestial Princess” in the March issue of Cosmopolitan. Sam saw the issue and became interested in hiring Beard to illustrate CY [MTLTP 254n1]. Sam also noted negatively the story, “Over the Cossack Steppes,” by David Ker, calling it “flatulence” [Gribben 160; MTNJ 3: 457].
From Sam’s notebook:
March 1 Friday – Due to the “St. Botolph [Club] reception, after the Authors’ Readings” the night before, Sam was forced to stay over, though he’d planned to return afterward [To Nye & Riley Mar. 4] Likely then he returned home from Boston on this day. His return may have been in the evening for he did not answer a waiting letter from Edward House until the following day, Mar. 2.
March 2 Saturday – William Dean Howells’ daughter Winifred Howells died after taking emergency treatments from Dr. S. Weir Mitchell at his clinic in Philadelphia. The treatments involved force-feeding and forced exercise for what was then seen as a catch-all category of female frailty called “neurasthenia.” At one point the young woman sank to 59 lbs. The immediate cause of death at the country retreat in Merchantville, was given as heart failure.
March 3 Sunday – Frank Fuller wrote to Sam’s recent note (now lost, but referred to in notebook entry) announcing he would stop by on his next trip to New York. Fuller wrote, “All right, old boy! Come on, next time or the time after, only come, & no indefinite postponements.” Fuller invited Sam to opening night of a Charles Barnard comedy, The County Fair on Mar. 5.
March 4 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Edgar W. “Bill” Nye and James W. Riley about the Feb. 28 event where he introduced them:
March 5 Tuesday – In Hartford, Sam wrote a one-liner to Frank Fuller on his prior promise (see Mar. 3) to stop on his next trip to New York City. He couldn’t do it on the next trip because of appointments, but he would the trip after [MTP].
March 6 Wednesday – Sam took a 12:05 p.m. train to Springfield, Mass. and then continued on to Pittsfield, where he got there shortly after 4 p.m. [MTNJ 3: 455]. He wrote in his notebook, probably on the train:
March 7 Thursday – In Boston, Mass. Sam participated in an afternoon Authors’ Readings for the cause of international copyright. Alexander P. Browne had invited him on Feb. 12, allowing him to name his own date, and Dana Estes had followed up on Feb. 23. Since Sam was due to speak in Pittsfield on Mar. 6, the following day made things more convenient.
March 8 Friday – Sam likely returned to Hartford the day after the banquet at Young’s Hotel in Boston. Sam’s notebook:
Offered Badlam a one-hundredth interest in the American business for $25,000 provided he takes me up before Apl. 15; also offered him the same share (this offer begins June 15) provided he takes me up before July 15.)
Hearst, Walters [MTNJ 3: 460&n177-8].
March 9 Saturday – Sam inscribed a copy of HF to an unidentified person: Truly Yours S.L. Clemens Mark Twain. March 9/89. [MTP]. Sam’s notebook:
Mar 9/89. / No more experiments. Definite work alone left to do.
4 months, sure, that is July 10.
No new devices — or inventions.
March 10 Sunday – This was the day of deadlines — first for Abby Sage Richardson to come up with written proof she had procured Elsie Leslie for her P&P dramatization; second for Charley Langdon, his wife and his mother to agree to invest in the Paige typesetter. No one made this deadline.