March and after – Alice Jane Chandler Webster (“Jean”) (1876-1916), daughter of the late Charles Luther Webster, and Sam’s great-niece, wrote When Patty Went to College, which was published in Mar. 1903 (see Gribben p. 753). Sam referred to this book in one of the notes slipped into Livy’s sickroom which dates it somewhat. Here is the note:
There, now, my darling, Clara was here a while ago & says I be’aved ’an’some & was a cherub. Praise from Sir Hubert! [ a popular expression]
March 1 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote two notes to Livy, the first is now dated by virtue of the reference to the baby born on Feb. 28 (“yesterday”) [MTP].
March 2 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Charles S. Fairchild, now in N.Y.C.
I have forgotten Dr. Hillier’s number in Wimpole street, but the London Directory will know. If by chance Hillier should be out of the Co., I hope he will give you an introduction to some good friend of his who is still in—or to Samuel Bergheim (Director.)
The news you give me of the Cashier is very splendid. It makes me feel very gay indeed.
March 3 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dr. & Mrs. Rice here. Dinner. / [Horiz. Line separator] / The morals of a God ought to be minutely perfect. I would not worship a God that made the fly” [NB 46 TS 11].
Mr. and Mrs. J. Doe wrote from Seattle, Wash. to Sam, complimenting him on the “Sitting in Darkness” article [MTP].
Frederick W. Peabody wrote from Boston to Sam. “Mr. John W. Reeder is now the President of the [Christian Science] church here and the head of directors is the same as in 1899” [MTP].
March 4 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.
“Church Manual of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston.”
I want a copy of this little book—right away, if possible—for 1902. (I have an old copy.)
Can’t you borrow it for a few days from some Hartford member? If not, can’t your friends in Boston manage to buy one? [MTP].
March 5 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Sloane, lunch / 109 E. 69 th” [NB 46 TS 11]. Note: likely Prof. William Milligan Sloane.
Martin Meyer wrote from Detroit, Mich. to Sam, enclosing copies from the Detroit Free Press and the Christian Science Church Manual. Meyer agreed with many of Sam’s criticisms of Mrs. Eddy; he was an ex-member of the church [MTP].
March 6 Friday – Sam’s notebook : “9 p.m. Mrs. Henry Draper’s. 271 Madison ave. / Dr. Rice, luncheon / 12.30 p.m.” [NB 46 TS 11]. Note: Anna Mary Palmer Draper, wealthy socialite; married Henry Draper (1837-1882) in 1867. Henry, a physician and amateur astronomer, best known now as a pioneer of astrophotography. Anna was his assistant when he became the first to photograph the Orion nebula. Henry’s father, John William Draper, prof.
March 7 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore
Mr. Clemens wishes me to say to you. “Do not forget to sell the property at some price, between now and the first of May. If it is not sold by that time it would be well to tear the house down, and let the ground stand, so reducing expenses—for in the last two months he has lost forty thousand dollars, for the lack of twenty five thousand in cash” [MTP].
March 8 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Get fountain pen Mrs. Bergheim / Belsize Court / Belsize Park / London N.W.” [NB 46 TS 11]. Note: Mrs. Samuel Bergheim, whose husband was Plasmon Co. Director.
March 9 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Lady Augusta Gregory, London.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
March 17 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Helen Keller, who had sent him an inscribed copy of her autobiography The Story of My Life (1903) on Mar. 10.
I must steal half a moment from my work to say how glad I am to have your book, & how highly I value it, both for its own sake & as a remembrancer of an affectionate friendship which has subsisted between us for nine years without a break, & without a single act of violence that I can call to mind.
March 18 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Laurence Hutton, now in Hot Springs, Ariz.
Mr. Rogers has lent me your letter of the 8th, & I am going to try to reach you with a line. You will be gone from Hot Springs, but maybe the P.O. will know your new address. By gracious I am very sorry you & Mrs. Hutton have gone so far to fare so ill, very very sorry. But let it rejoice you to know that we who have remained have not fared better—at least not all the time. …
March 19 Thursday – At Delmonico’s in N.Y.C. Sam attended a 1 p.m. luncheon given by George C. Riggs for Colonel Herbert J. Foster [NB 46 TS 12], where he signed a letter to Laurence Hutton taken down by J.D. Jerrold Kelley veteran of the U.S. Navy and author of The Ship’s Company and Other Sea People (1897) see Gribben 366. The group drank to Hutton’s health and return, and besides Sam and Kelley included: Herbert J.
March 20 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Lawrence J. Anhalt, theatrical manager and producer who was seeking an interview.
April – Mark Twain’s humorous article “Instructions in Art” first ran in
Metropolitan Magazine this month and in May, 1903. In part, with some of his drawings (inserts).
April, late or May early – Sam wrote a short essay, “Reflections on a Letter and a Book,” so titled later by Paine. The piece was a response to a letter and book sent him by Hilary Trent (aka R.M. Manley). Sam was often irritated by such requests to read literary works, and took this instance to wax ridicule on the selfishness of the human race [AMT 1: 181, 520n181.3].
May 16 Saturday – Sam went to Fairhaven, Mass. to visit H.H. Rogers, who was recovering from an appendectomy. The men played billiards, went on a ride, then after dinner Rogers took to his bed; Sam and William E. Benjamin (Rogers’ son-in-law) played more billiards till 11:30 p.m. [May 17 to Livy].
June 1, before – Sam wrote to Daniel Willard Fiske, asking help in finding a furnished villa near Florence, Italy. He divulged that he was also writing Mrs. Ross , (Janet D. Ross ) and that daughter Clara was also writing Miss Hall and Miss Blood to keep an eye out for a place “during the next 5 or 6 months.” Livy added a PS in the top margin: “Do you know of any very good physicians in Florence?”