March 10 Monday – The Hearst newspapers New York American and Journal and San Francisco Examiner and New York Evening Journal ran a story with Mark Twain’s reaction to a recent interview with Mrs. John Jacob Astor, before she sailed the morning of Mar. 8
[NY Times Mar. 8, 1902, p.7 “What isDoing in Society”]. She was quoted:
March 10 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore: “Mr.
Clemens bids me send at once the check for $16000 that you ask for” [MTP].
Sam’s notebook : “Jordan L. Mott 6 p.m. dinner at 7. nigger show. 17 E 47th” [NB 46 TS 11]. Note: Jordan Lawrence Mott, Jr.; see Dec. 9, 1900 entry for more on Mott. See Mar. 11 for note to Livy about this engagement with the Motts.
March 10 Thursday – Miss G.S. Godkin wrote from Florence, sorry to hear that Sam was “ailing with the bronchitis.” She and her cousin would like to call next Thursday, his reception day, if he was well. She enclosed an article written by her brother in the NY Evening Post sent by her sister-in-law (not in the file) [MTP].
March 11 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Mr. Mitchell, 7.30 24 W.10th” [NB 44 TS 7].
At 1410 W. 10th, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, enclosing Whitmore’s Mar. 9.
March 11 Tuesday – Livy’s diary: “Mr Norman Hapgood lunched with us. Mr. Rondegger called” [MTP: DV161].
William Evarts Benjamin wrote from the Hotel Brighton, Atlantic City to Sam.
March 11 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to John Hay, Secretary of State.
The next time you are coming to New York please let me know a day or two beforehand—and appoint a meeting-hour & place.
It is something I have been commissioned to say to you, & it is of large importance to you.
Since it is political, you will quite understand by that that I have no axe to grind, we mugwumps being forbidden by our political religion to carry axes [MTP].
March 11 Friday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto, Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Frederick A. Duneka.
Mr. Clemens has been in bed for several weeks with bronchitis, and is going to write you himself when he is well. In the meantime he wishes me to say that he misread the Italian article about Joan of Arc. And that she has been canonized, as you will see by the enclosed clipping.
March 12 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dora Wh[eeler] Keith ? Aldine dinner—see 19th Feb.” [NB 44 TS 7]. Note: on Feb. 19 Sam entered and then lined through: “Aldine dinner in honor of Howells, new Pres. Of Natl Institute Arts Letters,” reflecting perhaps a postponement or an error.
Fatout lists a speech by Mark Twain at a dinner honoring William Dean Howells. No particulars are given but the above NB entry confirms [MT Speaking 668].
March 12 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook:
March 12 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Sue Crane.
Dear Assu: / Livy has just been instructing me to pay you what Vix was owing you when he died, for his keep his funeral, which she thinks is $100, & I am to add $5 & ask you to buy flowers with it for the 19th, for our dear child’s grave, if you will be so good. I will try & not forget to put the check in this letter.
March 12 Saturday – H.E. Fisher for the Conklin Pen Co. wrote to Sam:
March 13 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “2 p.m., U.S. Court Rooms, Jno. Shields, examiner, Post office” [NB 44 TS 7].
Sam Clemens testified before US Commissioner John Shields on a lawsuit brought by Rudyard Kipling against R.F. Fenno, publishers. The New York Times, Mar. 14, p.3, headlined that Mark Twain was a witness and smoked and testified.
MARK TWAIN A WITNESS
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Summoned in Rudyard Kipling’s Suit Against Publishers.
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March 13 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Home. Noon. Leaving for the South. Shall consult Tom Reed & see if an action can be brought against Hearst [for the NY Journal abuses]. Left Jersey City 2.10 / Basket fruit from Mrs. Broughton & violets from Harry’s wife” [NB 45 TS 5]. Note: the Kanawha likely stopped at Jersey City to pick up Laurence Hutton. The party consisted of Laurence Hutton, H.H. Rogers, Clemens, Clarence C. Rice, Colonel Augustus G. Paine, Thomas B.
March 13 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Harper & Brothers.
Concerning the copyright of my works. With a view of having it clearly understood, please take notice that my preference is that you should copyright in my name always.
In regard to the Double Barrelled Detective story, and the Hadleyburg, copyrighted in your name and which you have assigned to me, I will be glad if you will have same recorded at Washington [MTP].
March 14 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Frances A. Ramsay, stenographer, hoping she could come the next day at 2 or 2:30 p.m., as he had an “accumulation of letters” [MTP].
March 14 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Charlston, S.C. about 8 a.m. / Lighted at the Ponce de Leon” [NB 45 TS 5].
Sam’s ship log: “Nighted at the Ponce de Leon” [MTP]. Note: the “Lighted” in the NB may be a typo.
Livy’s diary: “Susy Twichell & her friend Mrs lunched with us; Florence Gay dined with us & spent the night” [MTP: DV161].
The men left the Kanawha at Charleston, and took the Florida Special train, where Sam wrote to Livy,
March 14 Saturday – Sam’s notebook : “Delenda est Chicago—(must be blotted out.) APH / Sailor (?) that used to tell us about his murders & piracies, & do fool sailor-talk & incorrect—from books” [NB 46 TS 12].
March 14 Monday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto, Isabel Lyon wrote for Sam to Frederick A. Duneka:
“Mr. Clemens wishes me to add a postscript to his letter saying that if there would better be a change in the title of ‘You’re a damfool Mary’—and he gathers that you desire one—the change which he would prefer is this; use the word Jackass instead of Damfool in both title & closing remark” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to William Dean Howells.
March 15 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Stenographer, 2 or 2.30. 7.30-engaged” [NB 44 TS 7].
March 15 Saturday – At the Hotel Ponce de Leon in St. Augustine, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy.
Dearheart, we came to the hotel to dine & wait for the evening train; but concluded to stay all night, for which I was glad, as I was very tired. I was in bed & asleep by 8 o’clock, but the others went to some kind of a show, & Hutton did not get to bed till after midnight—& the show wasn’t worth it.
March 15 Sunday – Celia B. Whitehead wrote from Denver, Colo. to Sam, asking in melodramatic language where she might send the enclosed MS (not extant, probably returned) for publication. The MS had been rejected by The Outlook—why did he think that was? [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the letter, “Why should she suppose I had time for such drudgery?”
March 15 Tuesday – Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam, suggesting that the “Italian with Grammar” article could appear in Harper’s Weekly. As per Sam’s of Mar. 2, Duneka had not yet heard from Mr. Elliott of the Washington Magazine, “and—I don’t want to hear from him,” he wrote [MTP].
March 16 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Male teachers of N.Y.? 6.30. I better go at 8.15. / Irving Bacheller there. Hotel Albert. Van E. Kilpatrick. Carriage will call for me at 8.15. General topic, Training of a citizen” [NB 44 TS 7].
The whirl of speaking engagements continued with Mark Twain talking at the Hotel Albert for the monthly supper of the Male Teachers’ Association of N.Y.C. The New York Times, Mar. 17, p.2, reported:
MARK TWAIN ON TRAINING THAT PAYS
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March 16 Sunday – At the Royal Poinciana in Palm Beach, Fla. Sam wrote to Livy.
Livy darling, the whole multitude in this vast hotel wear Panama hats—& there isn’t one among them that is as fine as the one I left in Riverdale. I did not remember that I had such a thing until Rice inquired after it. He has lent me a nice soft hat to use until I can buy a straw.
March 16 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “APH / Mrs. J.L. Mott / 7 p.m. / 17 E 47th. 6.16 train / Life consists of thinking. The matters thought of & the manner of treatment determine the character of the resulting life” [NB 46 TS 12]. Note: this entry suggests Sam wrote a subject for a talk at the evening gathering at the Mott residence. See prior Mott entries, esp. Dec. 9, 1900.