February 20 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave. Sam directed Isabel Lyon to write to William McCutchan Morrison, Congo missionary, in Lexington, Va.: “I thank him very much for his letter, and I hope that the agitation of the Congo question will bear fruit. I think the promise looks good in England” [MTP].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: About Rear-Admiral Charles Wilkes–And meeting Anson Burlingame in Honolulu [AMT 1: 367-369].
Sam inscribed a recent photograph of himself to Frank R. Lawrence: “Take note of this, Frank Lawrence, old friend of mine. To be good is noble, but to teach others how to be good is nobler—and no trouble.—S.L. Clemens.” [MTP; Kansas City Star, Feb. 20, p.1; also NY Times p.1]. Note: Lawrence was past president of the Lotos Club; see Nov. 11, 1893 entry.
In the afternoon Sam was the guest of honor at Columbia University. The New York Times, Feb. 21, p. 2; He took Jean along [IVL Feb. 20 TS 20]:
TWAIN THE GREATEST
———
In English Literature, Says Brander Matthews—A Columbia Tea for Him.
Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) was the guest of honor at a Columbia University tea held yesterday [Feb 20] afternoon in Earl Hall. More than 900 students greeted Mr. Clemens and Sir Caspar Purden-Clarke, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Edward Robinson, the Assistant Director, who were also guests.
At the close of the reception the students gathered outside Earl Hall and cheered Mr. Clemens to the echo. The tea was more generally attended than any other held this year.
Prof. Brander Matthews earlier in the day, while lecturing tto his class in American literatur, called Mr. Clemens the “greatest figure in English literature.” Prof. Matthews declared that there is no man even in England who can be compared to Mark Twain as a master of the language.
Sam also began a letter to Gertrude Natkin that he added a P.S. to on Feb. 21.
Isn’t it odd, you little witch! I was already thinking of calling you by that name [Marjorie] & now you have thought of it yourself. And I am very glad to share those other titles with you, dear, very glad indeed, notwithstanding they are pretty flattering for me, while they fit you to the shade of a shadow.
D . Van Dyke has not been able to get free of his preaching-engagements for next Sunday. Therefore he can’t lecture that afternoon. Also, it gives me my freedom, for I am now not obliged to do any introducing there, & I think I won’t; but if I change my mind I will write & tell you. I am become so tired & dull, these latter days, that I would like to go to bed & stay there the rest of the season. It is a dreadfully long winter; I wish it would quit, & try something else. It makes me sour & out of patience, & to-night I am sour beyond expression! But you— well, you never can be that, Marjorie Dear, it’s against your nature. / Good-night & bright dreams! [MTAq 14].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Tonight Mr. Clemens dined with Mr. & Mrs. Robert Collier. He & Jean went up to a reception at Earl Hall, Columbia University, this afternoon & saw some interesting people, but mostly not I think. They came home very tired & Mr. Clemens went at once to his bed to rest.
This morning Mr. Paine said such a beautiful thing about Mr. Clemens. “Oh, he’s the King— he’s the King, and it’s so glorious to know he is crowned.
I was so grateful to him for saying it.
Mr. Clemens has been telling us about an attractive lady, a Mrs. Lord, who was at the reception this afternoon. She was introduced to him, he liked her and asked her to come again as she passed on after a word with him and Sir Purdon Clarke. “And she did come again, she came five times and every time I was glad to see her” [MTP TS 32].
Virginia Taylor wrote from Barnard College, NYC to invite Sam to speak the “Barnard Union.” Her father, Charles T. Taylor “says you do not remember him, of course, but he met you through his friend, Henry Cuyler Bunner, whose books he illustrated. I did not have anything more tangible to place myself in your mind this afternoon at the Columbia University Tea, excepting Mrs. Richard Watson Gilder’s directions, which I delivered. / Barnard is young and needs your help” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the back of the letter: “Mar. 7 / telephone / Call at 3 / with an open / mobile.”
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: About Rear-Admiral Charles Wilkes–And meeting Anson Burlingame in Honolulu [AMT 1: 367-369].
Sam inscribed a recent photograph of himself to Frank R. Lawrence: “Take note of this, Frank Lawrence, old friend of mine. To be good is noble, but to teach others how to be good is nobler—and no trouble.—S.L. Clemens.” [MTP; Kansas City Star, Feb. 20, p.1; also NY Times p.1]. Note: Lawrence was past president of the Lotos Club; see Nov. 11, 1893 entry.
In the afternoon Sam was the guest of honor at Columbia University. The New York Times, Feb. 21, p. 2; He took Jean along [IVL Feb. 20 TS 20]:
TWAIN THE GREATEST
———
In English Literature, Says Brander Matthews—A Columbia Tea for Him.
Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) was the guest of honor at a Columbia University tea held yesterday [Feb 20] afternoon in Earl Hall. More than 900 students greeted Mr. Clemens and Sir Caspar Purden-Clarke, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Edward Robinson, the Assistant Director, who were also guests.
At the close of the reception the students gathered outside Earl Hall and cheered Mr. Clemens to the echo. The tea was more generally attended than any other held this year.
Prof. Brander Matthews earlier in the day, while lecturing tto his class in American literatur, called Mr. Clemens the “greatest figure in English literature.” Prof. Matthews declared that there is no man even in England who can be compared to Mark Twain as a master of the language.
Sam also began a letter to Gertrude Natkin that he added a P.S. to on Feb. 21.
Isn’t it odd, you little witch! I was already thinking of calling you by that name [Marjorie] & now you have thought of it yourself. And I am very glad to share those other titles with you, dear, very glad indeed, notwithstanding they are pretty flattering for me, while they fit you to the shade of a shadow.
D . Van Dyke has not been able to get free of his preaching-engagements for next Sunday. Therefore he can’t lecture that afternoon. Also, it gives me my freedom, for I am now not obliged to do any introducing there, & I think I won’t; but if I change my mind I will write & tell you. I am become so tired & dull, these latter days, that I would like to go to bed & stay there the rest of the season. It is a dreadfully long winter; I wish it would quit, & try something else. It makes me sour & out of patience, & to-night I am sour beyond expression! But you— well, you never can be that, Marjorie Dear, it’s against your nature. / Good-night & bright dreams! [MTAq 14].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Tonight Mr. Clemens dined with Mr. & Mrs. Robert Collier. He & Jean went up to a reception at Earl Hall, Columbia University, this afternoon & saw some interesting people, but mostly not I think. They came home very tired & Mr. Clemens went at once to his bed to rest.
This morning Mr. Paine said such a beautiful thing about Mr. Clemens. “Oh, he’s the King— he’s the King, and it’s so glorious to know he is crowned.
I was so grateful to him for saying it.
Mr. Clemens has been telling us about an attractive lady, a Mrs. Lord, who was at the reception this afternoon. She was introduced to him, he liked her and asked her to come again as she passed on after a word with him and Sir Purdon Clarke. “And she did come again, she came five times and every time I was glad to see her” [MTP TS 32].
Virginia Taylor wrote from Barnard College, NYC to invite Sam to speak the “Barnard Union.” Her father, Charles T. Taylor “says you do not remember him, of course, but he met you through his friend, Henry Cuyler Bunner, whose books he illustrated. I did not have anything more tangible to place myself in your mind this afternoon at the Columbia University Tea, excepting Mrs. Richard Watson Gilder’s directions, which I delivered. / Barnard is young and needs your help” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the back of the letter: “Mar. 7 / telephone / Call at 3 / with an open / mobile.”
Entry Date
Links to Twain's Geography Entries