December 16 Saturday – Sam conferred sometime this day with actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was scheduled to appear at the Casino Theatre on Dec. 18 in a benefit for Jewish victims in Russia (see Dec. 14 insert advertisement) [Dec. 17 inscription in JA]. Sam showed initial interest in offering a few words for the event in his Dec. 13 response to the Shuberts. His meeting with Bernhardt likely involved his attendance and address for the following afternoon’s benefit. It was a cause that found Clemens’ sympathies.
Relations with Sam’s old friend, now Senator from New York, Chauncey M. Depew, had become somewhat strained by Depew’s support for Theodore Roosevelt; Depew had bolstered Roosevelt in a New York Mayoral race, and in 1900 was a Roosevelt delegate at the Republican National Convention.
PLATT AND DEPEW SHOULD RESIGN
NEW YORK, N.Y., Dec. 16.—The New York Post published this day…a number of letters from prominent persons relating to the fitness of Senators Platt and Depew to represent New York State in the United States senate, and the question of both men resigning. The letters are replies to these three questions… …
- Do you believe that Thomas C. Platt and Chauncey M. Depew are fit representatives…?
- Do you think they should immediately resign their seats
- In case they do not retire voluntarily should the legislature pass a resolution asking them to r
Mark Twain thinks the senators unfit, believes they should resign and answers the third question by saying: “If I were a legislator I would offer the resolution but ‘not’ hopefully.” [Reprinted in: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Dec. 17, 1905, p.1].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Today over the telephone Mr. Pollock told me that Mr. Clemens is the first great man—hero—he has ever met, whose feet were not made of clay. Here are all the others: Marion Crawford, Hall Caine, Israel Zangwell [sic Zangwill] among them, but he left them all with a sense of disappointment. Not so with Mr. Clemens. Mr. Pollock has been uplifted by his talk.
This afternoon Mr. Clemens and Mr. Gilder drove up to call on Mr. Carnegie and Carl Schurz and others, but they didn’t accomplish the others for Mr. Carnegie and Mr. Schurz kept them. Mr. Clemens said at dinner that he had forgotten to tell Carl Schurz about the great value of his German newspaper that used to reach him away back in 1847, or 48. The paper was Die Anzeiger des Westens, and the little boy Clemens used to take it over to the German baker who lived near them, and he’s sell it to him for a big slab of gingerbread [MTP TS 114].
Isabel Lyon’s Journal # 2: “Miss Clara to sing at 2:30 to Mr. Charlton. / She was too ill to sing. / Radiator kept Jean awake, also kept Katie awake” [MTP TS 37]. Note: Loudon
Charlton, concert manager.
Thomas S. Barbour of the Congo Reform Assoc., Boston, wrote to Sam.
“Your telegram reached me yesterday and I at once telephoned Dr. Hall who has now written to Mr. Root, suggesting an interview for Thursday. In case this date is chosen I shall hope to see you Wednesday morning.” He enclosed a document they printed, and confided they’d invited Grover Cleveland to accept a position as Vice President [MTP].
Ellen Bowith wrote from St. Albans (Queens) NY to Sam being “the bearer of a letter of introduction” from John Y.W. MacAlister of London. When he had time she wanted to present it to him, and would be honored if he would come to her recital on Tuesday. She enclosed tickets [MTP].
Boyd Crumrine wrote from Washington, Penn. to Sam, enclosing a clipping from the Washington Observer of Nov. 27, 1905. Could he “go over the paper carefully and send us a statement of what you believe to be the facts concerning your ancestry…for the archives of our Society.” The Washington County Historical Society was the group in question [MTP]. Note: Sam’s reply is estimated to be ca. Dec. 18, allowing two days postal service.
Newspaper articles across the country on Sam’s 70 birthday celebration at Delmonico’s on Dec. 5 evoked responses from some old friends and sidekicks. Among these was William S. Grieg an old friend and typesetting partner for the St. Louis Evening News in the 1850s, who wrote to Sam and noted several persons Sam recalled and one he did not.
My dear friend, I have waited until the cyclone of congratulations good wishes and adulation from all the world (enough to turn the brain of any ordinary man) should have subsided a little before tendering you my hearty congratulations on your 70 birthday and my earnest wish that you may maintain your health and spirits enjoy many more birthdays.
I don’t suppose you remember me but you may remember, in 1856 I think [1853 or 4], working on the St Louis Evening News, of which Chas G. Ramsey was proprietor, foreman John Bailey champion typestringer and imbiber of the ardent, who used to come up missing about once a week, when Chas G. would lecture his thus “you can’t fool me, John Bailey, more’n two or three times more,” then there was yourself and your side partner Bob Ruggles (Larnon and Pythias) though I always associated Bob with Ichabode Crane. Amongst the others there was Garrit Marney, a little Frenchman who could swim like a frog, and who, on our afternoon visit to Bloody Island, was to look out for me as I could hardly swim and through whose neglect one day I nearly drowned.
You probably remember when we went to learn French from D Ricardo and after a short trial concluded it was too slow and that the American language was good enough for us
My name was W S. Grieg, but John Bailey christened me Grey and the name stuck to me for years, you used to say “Now Grey none of your sarcasm.” But what changes time has wrought. Bloody Island is no more, a large city spreads over the bottom lands where we gathered pecans and Hickories and hunted for quirrel, rabbit and quail, and of all the prints who trod the boards at that time very few remain, and the ups and downs and adventure “by food and field” of those few no doubt would fill volumes. I have had my share but now I am settled down amid my children and Grandchildren and haven’t been in a print I hope for 3 or 4 years, though I retain good health I treasure all your works except some of the latest I haven’t got, and now Sam if you will find time to write me a few lines in answer to this, to let me know you received it, I will be more than pleased, wishing you a merry Xmas and happy New Year, I am / an old Friend / W S. Grieg [MTP]. Note: See Sam’s reply on Dec. 19. Persons mentioned: Charles G. Ramsey, John Bailey, Bob Ruggles, Garrit Marney, Dr. Ricardo.
Bertram Harrison wrote from NYC to ask Sam what time he should send a carriage for him for the benefit at the Casino Theatre Monday afternoon; the time set for Sam’s talk was 5 p.m. [MTP].
H.A. Lorberg, publisher of Davis High School Library, Portsmouth, Ohio, wrote congratulations “a little late” for Sam’s 70 and also to wish a merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Lorberg requested a signed photograph to be placed in their library (a three-story Victorian edifice with mansard roof). He’d sent a large photo to Florence but did not receive it back, assuming it was “probably lost in mail” [MTP]. Note: Sam’s reply is estimated at 5 days, or ca. Dec. 21.
Herbert T. Stephens wrote on Kansas City Univ. letterhead to congratulate Sam on his 70th [MTP].
Andrew Carnegie inscribed a copy of his book James Watt (1905): “To one I am proud to / call friend / Mr. Clemens / Andrew Carnegie / Dec. 16 1905” [Gribben 131].
December 16 ca. – Sam directed Isabel Lyon to answer A. Rosenthal’s Dec. 11 [MTP]. Note: The MTP catalogs this as “on or after 11 Dec.” Five days estimated postal time from St. Louis is allowed here.