October 24 Thursday – The Bicentennial Celebration over, Clemens said farewell to the Chapins and other friends and returned home to Riverdale, N.Y.
Sam’s notebook: “Dodge dinner 7.30. Henry Guy Carleton comes in afternoon” [NB 44 TS 15]. Note: Henry Guy Carleton( 1856-1910), playwright and journalist, but best remembered as a humorist, his last play Colinette (1899) starred Julia Marlowe.
October 25 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Mr. Benthergsen of the N.Y. World, acknowledging receipt of a check for $288.76, which Sam wrote “squares up everything between the World and me and removes the last obstruction to the proper progress of the twentieth century….” [MTP:Kenneth W. Rendell catalogs, No. 134, Item 25]. Note: cable fees for sending the Nov. 1897 Reichsrath story ate up most of Sam’s fees; this squared the account.
Sam also wrote to Miss Meyer.
October 26 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Franklin G. Whitmore’s Oct. 25 request:
“Don’t do it again, Brer. Whenever you receive a book that requires an autograph, paste into it one of those I sent you, & start it along back. Nothing makes me so angry with an admirer as for him to pay me the compliment of putting me to a lot of trouble” [MTP].
October 27 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss, upset at the advertising conflicts between Harpers, the American Publishing Co., and the R.G. Newbegin Co.
October 28 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “This, or later, preside at Low Speech. Delafield dinner” [NB 44 TS 15]. Note: rally speech made on Oct. 29. Also, possibly Richard Delafield (1853-1930), banker and Merchant, resident of Tuxedo Park.
In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore. Only the envelope survives [MTP].
Thomas B. Reed, who had taken up the case of R.G. Newbegin Co. and W.I. Squire, wrote to Sam:
October 29 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Introduce Seth Low to audience at 350 Broadway, noon” [NB 44 TS 16].
Mark Twain spoke at a noonday rally for the Fusion ticket at the New York Life Building in support of mayoral candidate, Seth Low. The New York Times covered the event on p. 3, Oct. 30 edition:
MARK TWAIN AND SETH LOW SPEAK
———
The Humorist Compares Tammany to a Rotten Banana.
———
October 30 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook records a to-do list, some items crossed off as if completed:
3 seats orchestra, not further back than 6th row or 1st or second row of balcony to-morrow night
money.
Shaving soap.
Spectacles to Gildre
Miss Marborough
Bram Stoker 783 Mad. Av.
Mrs. Rogers
Post cards & envelopes.
Write Am. Exp. Portrait.
Harpers.
October 31 Thursday – Sam’s notebook entry of Oct. 30 gives the following evening for reservations of three seasts for “orchestra.” The venue was not determined [NB 44 TS 16].
The New York Tribune, p. 3, ran “Twain Would Be a Bill Poster!”—a similar article to the NY Times article (see under Oct. 30) [MTCI 410-11].
November – In Riverdale, N.Y., Sam wrote on a letter by his real estate broker, George W. Reeves, who had just sold the Hartford home: “He started in to bilk me, & did it” [MTP: Am. Art Assoc.-Anderson Galleries catalogs, Apr. 24-5, 1935 Item 58].
At the top of a circular from Harper & Brothers, Sam wrote an answer: “Ever so many thanks for the books. If I could get time I’d like to review the one on the raising of babies…” [MTP: Am. Art Assoc.-Anderson Galleries catalogs, Apr. 24-5, 1935 Item 58].
November 1 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Gerding. — Sam Moffett Lincoln Bank” [NB 44 TS 16]. Note: Charles Gerding, Jr. obtained a judgment against Isaac K. Funk of Funk & Wagnalls publishing. Funk had reorganized the Eastern Tennessee Land Co. in 1894, which had originally been formed in 1889 to establish a prohibition settlement. Charles Gerding, Sr. was at one time employed by the Co.
November 2 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Introduce a speaker?” [NB 44 TS 16]. Note: may refer to Nov. 7.
November 4 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Magnus Gross, declining an unspecified request: “for I am loaded to the Plimsoll mark, & mustn’t add an ounce to my cargo” [MTP]. Note: This may have been Magnus Gross, public school principal, in 1905 the President of the New York City Teachers’ Organization. The plimsoll line is the marking on a ship’s hull that shows how low or high the ship is resting in the water, in this case the high mark.
November 5 Tuesday – Election Day, New York City: The Fusion Ticket won Victory in the election, with Seth Low elected by a plurality of 33,000. William Travers Jerome was also elected District Attorney. This was a big defeat for Tammany Hall.
November 5 after – Sam’s notebook:
November 6 Wednesday – The Order of Acorns organized a victory parade after the Fusion ticket won a large victory in the Nov. 5 election. Mark Twain gave a speech at one point; the event was covered by the New York Times, Nov. 7, p.3:
“THE ACORNS” HOLD AN ELECTION JUBILEE
———
Mark Twain Delivers a Mock Eulogy on Tammany.
———
Then They Parade Up Broadway to
November 7 Thursday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam, asking for an interview. He addressed the letter to “S.L. Clemens, Litt.D,” honoring Sam’s new honorary doctor of letters degree from Yale.
November 9 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “The King’s birthday. Delmonico, 44th Street. I to arrive 9.30 or 9.45 / Mr. Bradley. Leave 8.45. Britons educated in British schools & colleges. Includes Canadians & other colonials” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: see below.
November 10 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Return—11.35—12.30. / Bram Stoker, lunch Irving, dinner, 7, Players—Riggs Last train, 10.45” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: entry suggests Sam stayed in town after the King’s Birthday celebration at Delmonico’s, had lunch and dinner, and took the last train back to Riverdale.
November 11 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Jos. Johnson—10-11. / What is the difference between an optimist of 50 & a fool? Do not know of any” [NB 44 TS 17].
November 12 Tuesday – W.B. Forster Bonall (Borrill?) for The Echo (London) wrote to Sam: “Would you mind if I interviewed you from a distance about humor?” He was trying to make his paper pay but admitted “it’s hard work” [MTP]. Note: “last name doubtful”
November 13 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Anti-Imp. League—501-Fifth Ave, cor. 42d—4 p.m. rooms of Mr. Forney” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: Sam attended a meeting of officers of the Anti-Imperialist League of New York. His participation is also mentioned in a news release about the meeting circulated later by Edward W. Ordway [Zwick email Oct. 20, 2007].
November 15 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Carey & portraits of Wash &c. / Why’nt you go to hell?—no Irish there/ A lie is an abomination [U] / Faith is believing what y’ know ain’t so. [U] / The callant died [?] / Pate de fois gras / May yr hon live till y’ collect it. [C] / The lost trunk—French [C] / What streets have you? [U] / We’ll see two cubs—/ He won’t let me go to par when he can get me at 30 off. [U] / Lightning bug & lightning / Josh” [NB 44 TS 17].
November 16 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Fuller.
“With the enfeebling big adjective squelched & the commendation strengthened by the substitution of a smaller one I think the remark will now do to print.
“Excuse brevity & haste—I am crowding a piece of work to a finish today” [MTP].
November 17 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Like dew on the gowan lying is you specialty. / Lord Rector of Glasgow—rectors are ecclesiastical only—if its a good salary I shall run for it. Ancient & Honorable Artillery” [NB 44 TS 18].
Theodore Weld Stanton (1851-1925) wrote from Paris on Harper’s letterhead
I landed here last week after a most delightful passage. I never in fact had a more pleasant one. We were nearly, within a half hour, making the shortest eastern passage.
November 18 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Embalm—bury—cremate, if these fail, try dissection. Extravagant enough in American form—in original Scotch form more so. Unconscious: chance juxtaposition of quaint or grotesque incongruous elements” [NB 44 TS 18].
November 19 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Conscious humor. Intentional juxtaposi can be wit in unconscious but not in conscious—the word indicates an intellectual effort. Man put 2 expediting stamps on letter he wanted it to go in a great hurry. Irish? No (Bub) | Goldsmith says: For thy sake I admit that a Scot may have humor—I’d almost said wit. | Does the text mean 1.