December 27 Wednesday – Hawkins writes that Sam overestimated the response to King Leopold’s Soliloquy “and was disappointed by the Catholic response to the pamphlet. He had hoped to start a conflict between Catholics and Protestants over the Congo misrule, with the notion that Protestants would come out in force against Leopold, since the notable Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore had defended Leopold.
Isabel Lyon’s Journal: The slowness of the Congo movement is troubling Mr. Clemens very much. There is no leadership to it, and he can do no more than he has done in giving to the cause “King Leopold’s Soliloquy.” A little attack from a Roman Catholic priest came this morning—“good enough as far as it goes” Mr. Clemens said, but one attack isn’t enough to stir up Romanism against Protestantism and seemingly the great fear of the press lies in the dread of irritating the Roman Church than in any fear of Leopold’s displeasure [MTP TS 116-117; Hawkins 161, 165 in part]. Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Dr. Quintard, 7:30” [MTP TS 38].
Paine writes on Clemens’ disengagement with the Congo Reform Assoc.:
Various plans and movements were undertaken for Congo reform, and Clemens worked and wrote letters and gave his voice and his influence and exhausted his rage, at last, as one after another of the half-organized and altogether futile undertakings showed no results. His interest did not die, but it became inactive. Eventually he declared: “I have said all I can say on that terrible subject. I am heart and soul in any movement that will rescue the Congo and hang Leopold, but I cannot write any more.”
His fires were likely to burn themselves out, they raged so fiercely. His final paragraph on the subject was a proposed epitaph for Leopold when time should have claimed him. It ran: Here under this gilded tomb lies rotting the body of one the smell of whose name will still offend the nostrils of men ages upon ages after all the Caesars and Washingtons & Napoleons shall have ceased to be praised or blamed & been forgotten—Leopold of Belgium [MTB 1231].
Frederick W. Spencer wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam, confessing that in June 1904 after performing as a fiddler for the Savage Club of London, he’d lied about knowing Mark Twain.
He expected to perform again for the club and wished “absolution for my transgression” by meeting and performing two original compositions for Sam, “The Old Soldiers Dream,” and “Arkansas Traveler.” [MTP]. On or just after this day Isabel V. Lyon made notes about their meeting, “Friday or Saturday at 8 or 7.45,” —Dec. 29 or 30.
“A terror—a conceited fool. He came & played—& when a Mr. Wheaton—a submarine inventor came too—Mr. Clemens finally got out of the room—& went to bed in a nervous misery—but first proper Jean brought him back & made him say Good night” [MTP].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam advising him that Mrs. Charles Henry Webb, wife of the late Charles Henry Webb, discovered a play Sam had written “probably out on the Pacific Coast,” and wanted to know if Sam wished to recover his lost play [MTP]. Note: listed as one of two for Dec. 26 but is Dec 27.
Allan McClane Hamilton wrote from NYC to solicit Sam’s aid in seeking a commuted sentence from the Governor for Albert T. Patrick, to be electrocuted Jan. 22, 1906 [MTP]. Note: Patrick was a lawyer convicted of the murder of his partner, William Marsh Rice, and sentenced at Sing Sing. The Governor pardoned Patrick.
Gertrude Natkin wrote to Sam.
My dear Mr. Clemens:
Yesterday a very happy little girl went home, thinking only of dear Mr. Clemens. I wish to thank you very much for being so kind. I really think you must have seen in my face that I was yearning to speak to you and it was kind of you to gratify my wish. I am very glad that I can go up and speak to you now (if ever I have that pleasure again) as I think we know each other. Trusting you will favor me with “little business” (grand treasure) which you said I should leave to you (and which I shall, as an obedient child) I am the little girl who loves you. / Gertrude Natkin [MTAq 8]. Note: On Dec. 26 Gertrude met Mark Twain with Isabel Lyon, “coming out of Carnegie Hall one day & exchanging views concerning the weather” [Feb.3, 1906 to Natkin].
Isabel Lyon’s Journal: The slowness of the Congo movement is troubling Mr. Clemens very much. There is no leadership to it, and he can do no more than he has done in giving to the cause “King Leopold’s Soliloquy.” A little attack from a Roman Catholic priest came this morning—“good enough as far as it goes” Mr. Clemens said, but one attack isn’t enough to stir up Romanism against Protestantism and seemingly the great fear of the press lies in the dread of irritating the Roman Church than in any fear of Leopold’s displeasure [MTP TS 116-117; Hawkins 161, 165 in part]. Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Dr. Quintard, 7:30” [MTP TS 38].
Paine writes on Clemens’ disengagement with the Congo Reform Assoc.:
Various plans and movements were undertaken for Congo reform, and Clemens worked and wrote letters and gave his voice and his influence and exhausted his rage, at last, as one after another of the half-organized and altogether futile undertakings showed no results. His interest did not die, but it became inactive. Eventually he declared: “I have said all I can say on that terrible subject. I am heart and soul in any movement that will rescue the Congo and hang Leopold, but I cannot write any more.”
His fires were likely to burn themselves out, they raged so fiercely. His final paragraph on the subject was a proposed epitaph for Leopold when time should have claimed him. It ran: Here under this gilded tomb lies rotting the body of one the smell of whose name will still offend the nostrils of men ages upon ages after all the Caesars and Washingtons & Napoleons shall have ceased to be praised or blamed & been forgotten—Leopold of Belgium [MTB 1231].
Frederick W. Spencer wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam, confessing that in June 1904 after performing as a fiddler for the Savage Club of London, he’d lied about knowing Mark Twain.
He expected to perform again for the club and wished “absolution for my transgression” by meeting and performing two original compositions for Sam, “The Old Soldiers Dream,” and “Arkansas Traveler.” [MTP]. On or just after this day Isabel V. Lyon made notes about their meeting, “Friday or Saturday at 8 or 7.45,” —Dec. 29 or 30.
“A terror—a conceited fool. He came & played—& when a Mr. Wheaton—a submarine inventor came too—Mr. Clemens finally got out of the room—& went to bed in a nervous misery—but first proper Jean brought him back & made him say Good night” [MTP].
Frederick A. Duneka wrote to Sam advising him that Mrs. Charles Henry Webb, wife of the late Charles Henry Webb, discovered a play Sam had written “probably out on the Pacific Coast,” and wanted to know if Sam wished to recover his lost play [MTP]. Note: listed as one of two for Dec. 26 but is Dec 27.
Allan McClane Hamilton wrote from NYC to solicit Sam’s aid in seeking a commuted sentence from the Governor for Albert T. Patrick, to be electrocuted Jan. 22, 1906 [MTP]. Note: Patrick was a lawyer convicted of the murder of his partner, William Marsh Rice, and sentenced at Sing Sing. The Governor pardoned Patrick.
Gertrude Natkin wrote to Sam.
My dear Mr. Clemens:
Yesterday a very happy little girl went home, thinking only of dear Mr. Clemens. I wish to thank you very much for being so kind. I really think you must have seen in my face that I was yearning to speak to you and it was kind of you to gratify my wish. I am very glad that I can go up and speak to you now (if ever I have that pleasure again) as I think we know each other. Trusting you will favor me with “little business” (grand treasure) which you said I should leave to you (and which I shall, as an obedient child) I am the little girl who loves you. / Gertrude Natkin [MTAq 8]. Note: On Dec. 26 Gertrude met Mark Twain with Isabel Lyon, “coming out of Carnegie Hall one day & exchanging views concerning the weather” [Feb.3, 1906 to Natkin].
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