Riverdale-on-the-Hudson DBD

December 30 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Thomas Bailey Aldrich, wishing they could come to Boston but “must put the temptation by; that seductive holiday is not for slaves.” Sam related the blissful state of his work—he was having “a noble good time,” with all his days his own, taking “no engagement outside the city & not more than 2 per month in it.”

December 31 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “The Players—Midnight Speech. Joe Jefferson to introduce me & flatter the Club, I to respond & refute” [NB 44 TS 19].

In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Chester Sanders Lord for the Lotos Club.

December 4 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Horace N. Allen (1858-1932), American Minister in Seoul, Korea (1897-1905).

I am very glad to have that historical digest, & I thank you for sending it. I hope your boys have successfully resisted all of Tom & Huck’s efforts to dismoralize them, & that they are stronger for the resistance.

December 5 Thursday – Charles E. Flandrau of the defunct St. Paul Roller Mill Co. sent a form letter to Sam asking for a proxy for a Jan. 4, 1902 meeting about the final disposition of two pieces of real property which had not yet sold [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote a note on the letter on Dec. 12 and sent it to H.H. Rogers.

Joseph Issacs wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam that he’d rec’d Sam’s check this day and would ship “segars and 2 pipes you ordered next week” [MTP].

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 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 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 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.

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

February 12 Wednesday – George Iles inscribed a copy of Voices of Doubt and Trust (1897) by Volney Streamer (1850-1915), for Sam: “Samuel L. Clemens, from George Iles, / with the highest esteem /and regard. / New York, Feb. 12, 1902” [Gribben 673]. Note: Iles visited Sam on Feb. 17, and may have delivered this with him then.

Sam’s notebook: “Wm. E. Dodge, 262 Mad. Ave dinner & all night” [NB 45 TS 4].

February 13 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam finished his Feb. 5, 7, 11 to Francis H. Skrine.

Feb. 13. It is so good of you & Mrs. Skrine to offer us your house, & we thank you cordially & wish we could take you up, but we are barred. I suppose we shall summer on the coast of Maine. It looks like it; we are inquiring after a dwelling-house at York Harbor.

February 14 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Muriel M. Pears in Scotland.

Feb. 14. If you don’t come pretty soon, I shall begin to be afraid you are not coming this year at all. At the end of this month I am going yachting in the southern waters until the middle of April. If you come while I am gone, you must telephone the house, so that you can be met at the station & properly cared for [MTP].

February 15 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.

I suppose Newbegin asked for a day or two because he wants to find out who the new client is, & trade with him instead of with us. I guess he will find out without much trouble; therefore you better get that option right away.

I think the new applicant will want to sell single volumes rather than sets. That obstructing Harper contract will bar that, as far as the Harper books are concerned, & the new applicant will back out.

February 16 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frederick A. Duneka asking for “a travel-book or two,” on the West Indies, preparing for his next yachting trip with H.H. Rogers. He also requested A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom by Andrew D. White (1901). Clemens also referred to a book he was writing:

February 17 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Geo. Iles & Mr. Montgomery, artist, coming, 4.15 p.m.” [NB 45 TS 4].

Elisabeth Marbury sent Sam another statement for two weeks of the PW play and a check for $22 for his royalties [MTP].

February 18 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Robert Bridges, declining an invitation as he was to “go yachting in the southern seas” at month’s end [MTP].

Fatout lists Sam reading unspecified stories at a Boys Club in N.Y.C. [MT Speaking 670], undoubtedly from this entry in Sam’s notebook: “4.30 p.m. At The Boy’s Club. Corey Fund meeting. (Letter from Wm. H. McElroy, 135 W. 95th.) / Must try to get there. / Dinner to Julie Langdon, my niece” [NB 45 TS 4].

February 19 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Rev. L.M. Powers of the Universalist Church in Haverhill, Mass., a collector who had requested autographed copies of books:

You make it so pleasant for me to say yes, & so easy, that I can’t say no although my conscience demands it. I do smoke, though not to excess, there not being hours enough in the 24 for that.

February – Sometime after Sam’s 24 hour stay with Joe Twichell, he wrote his reactions to the loaned copy of Freedom of Will :

February 2 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to ask Franklin G. Whitmore if his Players Club dues had been paid while he was in Europe [MTP].

The New York Times, p. 11, “Notes of the Stage” announced that the Children’s Theatre was preparing to open at Carnegie Lyceum on Feb. 8 with a matinee of Mark Twain’s story in the Christmas Harper’s, of the little girl and the Lord General.

February 21 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Gilder, 13 East 8th—pm” [NB 45 TS 4]. Note: the “pm” suggests Sam had an evening appointment with Richard Watson Gilder. A dinner engagement usually included a time.

Elisabeth Marbury sent a statement and a royalty check to Sam for the PW play, week ending Feb. 8: $9.84 [MTP].

February 22 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Hélène Elisabeth Picard’s Feb. 5, and told her of his Juggernaut Club and her election for the “Member for France.”

Dear Miss Hélène:

February 23 ca. – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to an unidentified person [MTP].

February 24 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote again to Rev. L.M. Powers of Haverhill, Mass.

Thank you very much. I have ordered 500 Porto Rico cigars—$4.50 per 100—a breed which I have been experimenting with.

I enclose the Express receipt, which was not delivered to me until this morning. Those express people will bear watching, & I lately had reason to be glad I had a receipt to confront them with when they had done some mislaying [MTP]. Note: see Feb. 19 to Powers.