October 26 Thursday – The New York Times, p.1 “These are for Ivins” reported Mark Twain and 26 other notable gentlement who had “signified their intention of working for the election of Mr. Ivins”—William M. Ivins, Sr. (1851-1915), Republican candidate for mayor. Ivins ran third in the mayoral election of 1905, behind George B. McClellan, Jr. and William Randolph Hearst. Note: the Times of Oct. 22, 1905 ran a feature article on Ivins, “A Man of Many Facets.” George B. McClellan, Jr. (1865-1940), NYC Mayor (1904-1909).
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Guest at the Round Table at 8 o’clock. / D.H. Bapst Blake / 178 Beacon Str.” [MTP TS 32]. Note: Dr. John Bapst Blake ( 1943) and Anne (Hasting) Blake (d. 1910). Dr. Blake, a surgeon and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and is listed in the Boston Blue Book for 1904, p. 664, as a director of the Tavern Club. Blake wrote a chapter in Athletics and out-door Sports for Women (1903) titled, “Cross-Country Walking,” extolling the virtues of walking. He also wrote several books on surgery. Likely Clemens and Blake shared this in common and may have had a discussion on walking or “tramping.”
Jerome K. Jerome wrote pretty illegibly on Hotel Touraine stationery, Boston to Sam about Sam’s talk at the Author’s Club on this day. Jerome’s train was an hour and ¾ late so failed to meet Clemens and was “so terribly disappointed” [MTP].
George B. Lauder, a fan of Mark Twain’s, wrote to Sam.
DEAR SIR,—I have had more or less of your works on my shelves for years, and believe I have practically a complete set now. This is nothing unusual, of course, but I presume it will seem to you unusual for any one to keep books constantly in sight which the owner regrets ever having read. Every time my glance rests on the books I do regret having read them, and do not hesitate to tell you so to your face, and care not who may know my feelings. You, who must be kept busy attending to your correspondence, will probably pay little or no attention to this small fraction of it, yet my reasons, I believe, are sound and are probably shared by more people than you are aware of.
Probably you will not read far enough through this to see who has signed it, but if you do, and care to know why I wish I had left your work unread, I will tell you as briefly as possible if you will ask me. / GEORGE B. LAUDER [MTB 1423]. Note: Paine writes of this letter: Clemens did not answer the letter, but put it in his pocket, perhaps intending to do so, and a few days later, in Boston, when a reporter called, he happened to remember it. The reporter asked permission to print the queer document, and it appeared in his Mark Twain interview next morning. A few days later [Nov. 6] the writer of it sent a second time… [ibid]. Note: See Nov.8 for Sam’s reply.
An unidentified person who signed only “One of your innumerable unknown friends” wrote a fan letter to Sam with a story about coming to America from France more than 12 years before with an Italian boy of sixteen, who had walked from Rome to Paris. They were both much influenced by HF [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Guest at the Round Table at 8 o’clock. / D.H. Bapst Blake / 178 Beacon Str.” [MTP TS 32]. Note: Dr. John Bapst Blake ( 1943) and Anne (Hasting) Blake (d. 1910). Dr. Blake, a surgeon and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and is listed in the Boston Blue Book for 1904, p. 664, as a director of the Tavern Club. Blake wrote a chapter in Athletics and out-door Sports for Women (1903) titled, “Cross-Country Walking,” extolling the virtues of walking. He also wrote several books on surgery. Likely Clemens and Blake shared this in common and may have had a discussion on walking or “tramping.”
Jerome K. Jerome wrote pretty illegibly on Hotel Touraine stationery, Boston to Sam about Sam’s talk at the Author’s Club on this day. Jerome’s train was an hour and ¾ late so failed to meet Clemens and was “so terribly disappointed” [MTP].
George B. Lauder, a fan of Mark Twain’s, wrote to Sam.
DEAR SIR,—I have had more or less of your works on my shelves for years, and believe I have practically a complete set now. This is nothing unusual, of course, but I presume it will seem to you unusual for any one to keep books constantly in sight which the owner regrets ever having read. Every time my glance rests on the books I do regret having read them, and do not hesitate to tell you so to your face, and care not who may know my feelings. You, who must be kept busy attending to your correspondence, will probably pay little or no attention to this small fraction of it, yet my reasons, I believe, are sound and are probably shared by more people than you are aware of.
Probably you will not read far enough through this to see who has signed it, but if you do, and care to know why I wish I had left your work unread, I will tell you as briefly as possible if you will ask me. / GEORGE B. LAUDER [MTB 1423]. Note: Paine writes of this letter: Clemens did not answer the letter, but put it in his pocket, perhaps intending to do so, and a few days later, in Boston, when a reporter called, he happened to remember it. The reporter asked permission to print the queer document, and it appeared in his Mark Twain interview next morning. A few days later [Nov. 6] the writer of it sent a second time… [ibid]. Note: See Nov.8 for Sam’s reply.
An unidentified person who signed only “One of your innumerable unknown friends” wrote a fan letter to Sam with a story about coming to America from France more than 12 years before with an Italian boy of sixteen, who had walked from Rome to Paris. They were both much influenced by HF [MTP].
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