Back to Riverdale DBD

February 13 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam responded to William Dean Howells’ dream by playing along and extending the joke.

I am infinitely sorry. I was lying awake at the time, & felt sure I heard voices; so sure, that I put on a dressing-gown & went down to inquire into the matter, but you were already gone. I encountered Sam coming up as I turned the lower corner of the house, & he said it was a stranger, who insisted on seeing me— “a stumpy little gray man with furtive ways & an evil face.”

February 14 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a Valentine’s Day note to Livy.

Feb. 14—being St. Valentine’s Day.

And so this is to my Valentine—my especial Valentine & darling & best beloved—with kisses therewith, many! I have read that ½ page. Mr. Bryant was wonderful to do those early risings & all that at 80. If ever I get to be 80, I mean to do them, too. Go to bed, Livy darling, & sleep well—I shall get up as early as I can, & go out & get fresh air.

February 15 Sunday – Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Rogers came to the Clemens home for a visit [Feb. 6 to E. Rogers]. Sam’s notebook: “The Rogers? Send cab, ? lunch” [NB 46 TS 11].

February 16 Monday – Sam wrote to Henry Elias Howland, former Supreme Court Justice, president of the University Club, popular and witty speaker, declining an unspecified invitation due to his wife’s health. [MTP; Bauman Rare Books, Jan. 23, 2009 online].

Sam sent his butler to the Oppenheimer Institute to take the cure for his problems with alcohol. He would return inebriated a week later with the bill for the Institute’s services [Nov. 1905 to Oppenheimer Inst.]

February 18 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Mrs. Edward M. McCook, in Old Point Comfort, Virginia, where Jean Clemens had been recuperating from her bout with pneumonia.

February 21 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Poultney Bigelow.

February 23 Monday – Sam’s butler (perhaps Claude) returned from the Oppenheimer Institute. From the UC Berkeley 1973 Christian Science footnotes:

February 24 Tuesday – Fatout lists a speech at the William Dean Howells dinner in Boston for Sam on this day, but gives no particulars and none were found [MT Speaking 672].

Sam’s notebook: “Submerged fame” [NB 46 TS 11].

Rogers dictated a letter to Sam.

I have your letters, and will make the appointment for the review of the article in the “Cosmopolitan.” I note what you say in regard to jury duty, and will endeavor to get you relieved.

February 25 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss on the bottom left corner of Rogers’ Feb. 24 letter: “I have this moment telephoned Mr. Duneka and asked him to send you an authorization to use the ‘Russian Passport’ in your forthcoming volume, and he said he would attend to it at once. Go ahead and put it in” [MTHHR 519n2]. Note: Bliss questioned whether he would be allowed to include “The Belated Russian Passport” in Vol. 23 of Mark Twain’s autograph edition of works.

February 26 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Paul Kester in Accotink, Va. acknowledging receipt of a MS for a play [MTP].

Hamlin Garland wrote from NY to Sam, that he’d paid the driver “amply” and that they enjoyed the visit to Sam’s house, “There was only one person lacking—Mrs. Clemens,” and he hoped that warmer weather might bring her relief [MTP].

February 27 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a good night note to Livy. “Feb. 27—p.m. The ashcats have gone their rooms; I have come to mine; the day is done, it is time for reading, smoking, reflection, sleep—with you for text & undertone, dear sweetheart, whom I love—& so, with a kiss, & another, & others, beside, Good night & pleasant dreams. / Y” [LLMT 342].

February 28 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

Consound it, Clara tells me the Rices are coming here to dinner Tuesday Evening March 3, an engagement 2 weeks old, & swears she told me of it at the time–which is mere sickroom veracity; she never told me till to-day.

I am sorry to miss going with you to see the General, & so is Mrs. Clemens.

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.