To The Person Sitting in Darkness: Day By Day

December 6 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “St. Nicholas Society, Dinner Delmonico’s.(?)7 p.m.” [NB 43 TS 30].

December 6 Friday – Clara M. Harriott (Clara Morris) wrote from “The Pines” in Riverdale to Sam, mortified and disappointed that her door bell had not worked properly when he called. “I must either earn enough to buy a new one or I must hire a man to stand by and give instructions to those friends who are good enough to find me out” [MTP]. Note: the day Sam called is not given.

December 6 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Minnie Dawson, daughter or daughter-in-law of his old Hannibal schoolmaster, J.D. Dawson:

“I thank you very much for the pictures of the cemetery and the Brittingham Building. If the water melon had landed on John Meredith’s head instead of my brother Henry’s, I doubt if Henry would have shed any tears on that account” [MTP]. Note: see Apr. 14, 1847 and Jan. 13, 1885 entries, vol. I.

December 6 Sunday – The New York Times, p.4, “Mark Twain’s Wife Ill” squib announced what was really not news.

Theodosia Lawson Boone wrote to Sam, having received his “kind note” on Thursday morning. She could not visit the day suggested (not given) on account of illness of Mrs. Harrick, but would as soon as she recovered on “some other Thursday in the near future” [MTP].

December 7 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Christian B. Tauchnitz.

Indeed I will do you that “great favor” with very great pleasure, and shall hold those books in high regard as a remembrancer of the pleasant relations which have subsisted unbroken between us this long stretch of years [MTP: TS Curt Otto, Verlag Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1912, p.126]. Note:Tauchnitz’ incoming not extant. See entries in Vol. I & II.

December 7 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Col. Harvey. Metropolitan Club. 1.30 / Has Tarkington a wife?” [NB 44 TS 19]. Note: Booth Tarkington (1869-1946; born Newton Booth Tarkington in Indianapolis), would marry Laurel Fletcher in 1902. He was likely now so engaged (they divorced in 1911 and he remarried).

December 7 Sunday – Thomas B. Reed, Ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, died in Washington. In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam telegraphed condolence to Susan P. Reed (Mrs. Thomas B. Reed).

“There is none who knew him but is stricken with you & mourns with you. He could have achieved the age of the patriarchs if his friends could have been privileged to spare from their lives to lengthen his. I beg to lay the homage of my deepest & sincerest sympathy at your feet” [MTP].

December 7 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Miss Margaret Sherry (Livy’s trained nurse for the past 12 months & more) left for America to-day. We can never forget her, & shall always be grateful to her” [NB 46 TS 31].

December 8 Saturday – L.J. Bridgman’s article, “To Mark Twain,” ran in Harper’s Weekly. Tenney: “Source: Listed in The Twainian, II (March, 1940), 3 as ‘poem illustrated by author’; a search of this issue was unsuccessful, and the citation appears to be incorrect” [32]

December 8 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Winter at the Staten Island Academey, N.Y., for the Arthur Winter Memorial Library. Sam declined to give a reading there, explaining it was his new rule to never do so outside the City, and only to do so in private homes, with no advertising, and for a good cause. If Winter wanted to transfer the reading to a home in N.Y.C., he would reconsider [MTP].

December 8 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Get to Rices by 6.45. Julia Marlow[e]’s new play. Stay all night. Hot Scotch” [NB 45 TS 34]. Note: English-born actress Julia Marlowe, born Sarah Frances Frost (1865-1950), played the role of Charlotte Durand in

December 8 Tuesday – William Deason for Thomas Cook & Son wrote to Sam, asking for “a declaration from your medical attendant” in the matter of his claim for a refund of Miss Sherry’s unused ticket [MTP].

December 9 Sunday – [date in PDF box]

December 9 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam responded to Theodore Weld Stanton’s Nov. 11 and Nov. 17 letters: “Many thanks for your two letters. / Good, we’ll wait till May, & then—well, I hope with all my heart we’ll find him!” [MTP]. Note: Stanton was in France looking for Sam’s “Lost Napoleon” mountain.

Joe Twichell wrote a letter of thanks to Livy for the “altogether delightful time” for their weekend visit.

December 9 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Jean fainted again. Are these a result of the fall on the ice?” [NB 45 TS 34].

In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore.

“Mr. Clemens bids me send the enclosed check for one hundred dollars, to further say there is no special word except the very good one that Mrs.Clemens is getting on very nicely; each day sees a little improvement, which I know will make Mrs. Whitmore and you very happy” [MTP].

February 1 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Tell the story of (the woman whose young daughter was seduced by her second husband) Tut Reynolds. / Laffan, 8 to meet Mrs. Millet” [NB 44 TS 4].

February 1 Saturday – In Hartford Sam went to the bank for some necessary items in his safety deposit box. He likely called on Franklin G. Whitmore as well. After a 24 hour trip, he returned to New York and arrived back in Riverdale at 7:15 p.m. [Jan. 29, Feb. 2 to Whitmore; Jan. 31 to Rogers].

February 1 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).

Mrs. Clemens’s delight in those magnificent roses reached standard. I know it would when I saw them downstairs. I promised to thank you for them the first thing in the morning, & send you her love.

February 1 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Princess de Rohan / Villa Maria 5 p.m. / Rifredi / [Horiz. Line separator] / Telephone worked at 3 p.m., the first time since it first worked, New Year’s eve / [Horiz. Line separator] / Ordered suit for damages, through Mr. Cecchi & gave him my papers” [NB 47 TS 5]. Note: Clara’s note below reveals that Jean and Clara were likely accompanying their father to the Princess’ villa.

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.

February 10 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Elisabeth Marbury’s Feb. 8.

The reason I have been trying to get you on the telephone is this:

Do you know the PROPRIETOR of the theatre where “A Gentleman of France” was being matinèed last Saturday week? [Feb. 1]

February 10 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Paul Kester in Accotink, Va. Only the envelope survives, but the subject matter was undoubtedly the same as he put to Howells on Feb. 9 [MTP].

February 10 Wednesday – John W. Luce for Robinson, Luce Co., Boston wrote to Sam asking his permission to use two of his aphorisms: Cauliflower, a cabbage with a college education; and Mine: a hole in the ground owned by a liar. These for a book they were about to issue, The Foolish Dictionary [MTP].

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 11 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam added to the Feb. 5, 7 letter to Francis H. Skrine.