March 15 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam wrote an aphorism to Florence Watson- Cadieu, secretary of the Whidden Memorial Hospital Guild, Everett, Mass. “On the whole it is better to deserve honors and not have them, than have them & not deserve them. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain” [MTP].
Sam hosted a dinner for the Rogerses and Dr. Edward Quintard [Hill 124].
Clemens’ A.D. for this day: March 5, 1906: Clemens talks to the West Side YMCA in the Majestic Theatre—Lyon meets one of the Christian young men at the door—Patrick McAleer’s funeral—Luncheon next day at Hartford Club—Clemens meets eleven of his old friends—They tell many stories: Rev. Dr. George H. McKnight and the Jersey funeral— Twichell’s story on board the Kanawha, about Richard Croker’s father—The Mary Ann story —Decoration Day and the fiery Major and Twichell’s interrupted prayer [AMT 1: 409-417, 621]. Note: See last page of source for a listing of his “eleven old friends.”
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Mr. Charlton came to hear Santa C. sing, & has said that she is not yet ready for public appearances, not yet ripe.
Tonight Mr. & Mrs. Rogers & Dr. Quintard dined here. But before they came I had been called up by John D. Rockefeller hoping for a possible talk [with] Mr. Clemens before his famous Bible Class. Mr. Clemens is an honorary member of it & upon young John’s invitation to attend he wrote a delightful letter to be read—or not—at that meeting. A letter on Joseph. But John D. & Mr. Clemens do not agree theologically on the Joseph subject, so Mr. Clemens said he is going to speak on lying, perhaps. At dinner tonight Mr. Clemens said that I had been sparking over the phone with young John D. Secty the talk going on John D. Bible Classes, Lying & Joseph; the first speculator. Here has been a lot of talk with Mr. Dearborn about the Carnegie Hall talk. They can’t fix upon a date for April 5 Gen. Grant can’t be present & April 10th comes in Holy Week. I was afraid of that so I telephoned over to Rev. Percy Grant& he said that a talk from Mr. Clemens couldn’t damage Holy Week, so it has been decided that way. When I told Mr. Clemens about the decision after lunch, he told about giving a lecture in Ceylon on Good Friday, he didn’t know it was Good Friday, so he didn’t know why he had such a solemn lot of people, nor why the Almighty started a great thunder storm. The lecture was in a corrugated thin iron building & the sound of the rain on the roof drowned out all sound of his voice. The days are overflowing with the joys of the dear “swindle” of life. Such a darling swindle just now.
[on a separate piece of paper:] At fifteen minutes past midnight Santa stole up to my room. She couldn’t sleep, poor dear, for Charlton’s verdict was one to keep her awake, so she sat in a dear curled up heap on my couch and talked over things and people until now it is past 2. I have with me the memory of her darlingness and especially as she stole down stairs into the black, black hall, with 2 little bottles of bromide powder in her dear little hand. A heavy snow has fallen. Almost the first of the year—almost—for the winter has been like a November [MTP TS 50-52].
W.T. Hall wrote on Dothan Eagle (Ala.) letterhead to Sam, enclosing a clipping from the Atlanta Evening News, “which is of interest to me , and I suppose to you.” Hall was a fan who hadn’t asked for an autograph in his life [MTP]. Note: the clipping is in the file see below:
MARK TWAIN FOR SENATOR.
Somebody, or rather some one, has suggested Mark Twain run for senator from New York, to succeed DePew or Platt, provided one of them can be prized off the roost.
It wouldn’t do.
New York has tried one funny man in the senate and—now look at him!
Mark Twain was shaving when a Herald reporter asked him about the suggestion. Here is what the great humorist said:
“If such an offer as that were made to me it would be the most gigantic compliment I ever received. I would not consider myself, however, a worthy successor to Dr. Depew or Mr. Platt, as I am in no way qualified for the post. A senator needs to know the political history of the country, past and present, as well as its commercial, industrial and financial affairs. Of these things I am blissfully ignorant.
“Even if I were qualified, the duties of a senator would be distasteful to me. My own particular workis the greatest source of pleasure I have, and for that reason I do not consider it as work at all. I regard myself as the most lazy human being on earth. I have absolutely no industry in me whatever, and to ‘make good’ as a senator one must be in love with the job and be industrious. If a man is to succeed in any occupation the work to him must be a labor of love. It has always been so with me and my work, and I think I can justly say, without vanity, that my career has been, to a fair degree, a success.
“For five days every week I am busy writing or dictating, and I’m in a modified paradise the while. Saturdays and Sundays I take off, and during these two holidays, as I call them, I’m in a modified hades.”
We are glad Mark Twain refuses to take to politics, but he his mistaken in regard to his disqualifying attributes. He would not have to know anything in order to serve in the senate, and as for being the laziest man on earth, we fail to see how that would interfere with his efficiency in politics. We want Mark Twain to stay where he is—in bed, dictating when he feels like it and getting up when he gets good and ready. The old man is very precious and we mustn’t waste him.
Frederick D. Grant wrote from Governor’s Island, NY to Sam regretting he would be unable to attend Sam’s Apr. 5 lecture at Carnegie Hall for the benefit of the Fulton Monument Assoc. He suggested that Apr. 10 would be the night for entertainment on the Island and he hoped Sam would attend [MTP].
Calvin H. Higbie wrote from Greenville, Calif. to Sam advising him that “two or three parties” had been after him to write his recollections of early Nevada with Twain. He’d “been jotting down incidents that came to mind for several years” and could not recall the date Sam came to Aurora and the first trip sam made over the Sierra’s to Calif. Being sick the past few years, his “finances are getting pretty low,” which is the main reason he wanted to write something [MTP]. Note: Higbie enclosed a letter from George Miner, Sunday Editor of the NY Herald, asking for Higbie’s account.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. wrote to Sam that he would call on him on Thursday at eight, and anticipated “real interest” for Sam to talk to his Young Men’s Bible Class [MTP].
John F. Tremain, secretary for the Chemung County Society, wrote asking if, since Sam was unable to attend their Mar. 29 dinner, could he send “some little message of cheer and encouragement—wishing the society success, which we may read at the dinner”? [MTP]. Note: Lyon answered ca. Mar 17: “Mr. Clemens doesn’t get time to write anything. Very sorry but have to make this reply in all cases” [MTP].
March 15 ca. – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam replied to the Mar. 13 from Reginald Kauffman: “I think it is a very entertaining letter & I thank you for sending me a copy of it—” [MTP].