March 5 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to C.H. Shelby in the Transit Bldg., N.Y.C. “Yes, I should like to try some of that water. I am not an enemy to water, now, the way I used to was, when I thought it was dangerous” [MTP].
Sam wrote a short note to Frank Bliss to settle some matters relating to the deal with Collier’s [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore (only the envelope survives) [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 5 Saturday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam began a letter to George B. Harvey that he added a few lines to on Mar. 6.
Won’t you run over here & give us a glimpse of you? And can’t you pull Howells along, too? Would God I could put you up, but in this majestic barrack with its inumerable rooms there is not a spare chamber which one self-respecting American would offer to another. But we’ll feed you, & drink you thereto, & be glad of the chance.
March 6 Wednesday – Charlotte R. Conover (Mrs. Frank Conover) of Dayton, Ohio wrote for the Young Woman’s League asking “something from the pen of Mark Twain” for their fund-raising bazar [MTP].
Walter Hines Page wrote to Sam on letterhead from Doubleday, Page & Co., Publishers with “The World’s Work” as a motto:
March 6 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “10 a.m. Benjamin—I meet him at our station” [NB 45 TS 5]. Note: likely William Evarts Benjamin, H.H. Rogers’ son-in-law, taking the train from the city for a visit.
Albert E. Davis, President of the North Side Board of Trade, read a letter of regret from Mark Twain at their eighth annual dinner in the Metropolis Theatre Hall. The New York Times, Mar. 7, p.2, “North Side Board of Trade,” printed the letter and speeches:
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 6 Sunday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam finished his Mar. 5 to George B. Harvey. “March 6. All night I had flittings through my head of the thought ‘the idea of that old rake fetching up in Bath, that place so full of ghosts of other Beaux—& now we add Beau Howells’” [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “I was out of bed 2 hours to-day, the first time in 12 or 15 days. Bronchitis” [NB 47 TS 7].
March 7 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Jessie A. Fowler, 10.30. Californian’s Tale. Sloan’s Thurs Eve. Club 9 p.m. Cromwell & Abby” [NB 44 TS 6].
March 7 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to John H. Johnston. “I thank you very much for the coat of arms. This one is new to me, & I am glad to have it” [MTP: www.Autographs.com, Oct. 7, 2001].
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 7 Monday – E.Y. Elliot wrote from San Francisco to ask for Sam’s autograph [MTP].
Dorothy Williams, “an earnest student of astrology,” wrote from Phila. Pa. to ask Sam if she might do his horoscope—what was the hour and day of his birth? “Answer to wit: Date, Nov. 30,/35 hour not known /Ans. Mar. 21, 1904” [MTP].
Ida White wrote from Brighton, England to thank Sam for his autograph received [MTP].
March 8 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Possible engagement” [NB 44 TS 7].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore. Once again a bill had been presented by Pratt & Whitney for a portion of the Chicago plant which took on the Paige typesetter. Sam ordered him to “resist the claim, through the Robinson boys or as good a law-firm” [MTP].
Sam also telegrammed Whitmore, message not extant but mentioned in Whitmore’s Mar. 9 to Sam.
March 8 before – C.A. Von Ramdohr sent Sam a printed page announcing the Society of Medical Jurisprudence was having its 20th Annual Dinner at the Hotel Savoy on Mar. 8 at 6:30 [MTP]. Note: Sam would attend and give a speech.
March 8 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to George B. Harvey of Harper & Brothers.
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 8 Tuesday – At the Villa Reale di Quarto near Florence Sam wrote to Susan Crane.
March 9 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Grand Opera House—8.15. 23d St & 8th Ave” [NB 44 TS 7]. Note: The Metropolitan Opera House advertised the Grand Opera Season 1900-1901. “TO-NIGHT, at 8, at Popular Prices. Double Bill.—I PAGLIACCI (in Italian.). Miss Fritzi Scheff; MM. Salignac, Pini-Corsi, and Scotti. To be followed by CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (in Italian.) Mmes. Gadski and Louise Homer; MM. Campanari and Cremonini. Conductor, Flon” [New York Times, 9 Mar. 1901, p. 16].
March 9 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to David Alexander Munro (1844-1910), assistant editor to George B. Harvey of the North American Review, and Greek scholar.
March 9 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Lady Augusta Gregory, London.
May 1 Wednesday – In the evening from 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Katharine I. Harrison that H.H. Rogers had approved of a purchase of Chicago & Alton preferred stock in the amount of $10,000. “Therefore,” he wrote, “I am prepared to send you the check at any moment you require it” [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Edward W. Ordway, secretary of the Anti-Imperialist League.
May 1 Thursday – Fatout lists a reading by Sam of unspecified works at Mrs. Bartholomew’s in N.Y.C. [MT Speaking 670]. Note: Fatout likely saw this NB entry, but discounted the last sentence:
May 1 Friday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
Though it isn’t quite down to your level, I don’t wonder you like my literature—it’s nearly all about you. But you’d better take a brace, and try to get up as high as “Putnam Place.” Now you’re sick, I ‘ve a great mind to have it out with [you] about Jane Austen. If you say much more I’ll come out and read “Pride and Prejudice” to you.
May 10 Friday – At Princeton University, Sam made a few remarks at the Harvard-Princeton debate [Fatout, MT Speaking 669].
May 10 Saturday – Sam wrote to Nathaniel Pasternak, his letter not extant but referred to in Pasternak’s reply of May 13.
Sam’s notebook entry lists ideas for the “50 years after” tale, never finished [NB 45 TS 12].
George W. Reeves for Hoyt & Co. wrote to Sam, enclosing a bill from the Title Co. for $289.50 for the clearing of title from Flora McDonald Casey to Olivia L. Clemens on the Tarrytown house [MTP]. 02.mpg
May 10 Sunday – In N.Y.C. William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.
May 10 Tuesday – Henry Morton Stanley, the great explorer and one of Sam’s oldest friends, died in London. They first met on Mar. 26, 1867 in St. Louis (see entry), with Stanley, then a reporter, taking in one of Mark Twain’s lectures. See May 11 for Sam’s note to the widow Stanley. As with any news that might disturb Livy, Sam withheld it from her.