April 12 Thursday – In the evening Sam and William Dean Howells visited Maxim Gorky. New York newspapers followed Gorky’s every move, including a p. 2 article from the Apr. 13 Times, “MAXIM GORKY VISITS THE TOMB OF GRANT,” which included the following passage on Mark Twain and W.D. Howells:
Mark Twain and W. D. Howells called upon Gorky at his apartments in the Hotel Belleclaire last evening. They remained with him for about half an hour discussing literature, and invited him to attend a literary dinner about a fortnight from now. Gorky accepted the invitation.
Some waiting reporters waylaid Mr. Clemens and Mr. Howells in the hotel lobby after their call. When Mr. Clemens was asked regarding the purpose of their visit he made signals of distress to Mr. Howells, who was some distance away, and said:
“Come here, Howells. You don’t look as if you had any information. You are a good man; come back here and tell them all about it, and be sure to make it a private talk so as to get it in the papers.”
Mr. Howells modestly averred that the idea of the dinner had originated with Mr. Clemens.
“Yes,” said Mark Twain, “we are going to offer Gorky the literary hospitality of the country. He is big enough for the honor. It is going to be a dinner with only authors and literary men present. We want to do it in proper style, and will have authors not only from New York, but from Chicago, and we may have some literary geniuses from Indiana, where I believe they breed ‘em.”
Sam also made his second appearance at the international billiard championship at Madison Square Garden. Willie Hoppe defeated Albert G. Cutler. The New York Times, p. 7, quoted Sam, coming as he said:
“To see the boy David get away with one of the billiard Goliaths.” He was accompanied by Albert Bigelow Paine. They came in while Cutler was in he middle of his fifth turn at the table. There was a spontaneous outburst of applause, and Twain smiled and bowed his white head to all parts of the house before taking his seat. Then he began a running fire of comment upon the play, applauding good shots of both competitors without partiality.
At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Calvin H. Higbie, who had been seeking Sam’s help with a manuscript. Yes, the MS should be typewritten; exposure in some Western newspapers shouldn’t hurt Higbie’s chances for publication: “If they don’t mention it, it is not ‘our affair to remind them of it’” [MTP].
In N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to an unidentified person or persons.
M . Clemens suggests that it would be a wise arrangement if certain nice publishers & nice authors were to band together to entertain foreign literary men when the visit these shores. H. G. Wells has just been over here—is here in fact—& M . Howells gave a delightful luncheon for him but all the expense fell on M . Howells & M . Clemens feels that that ought not to be— especially when there are those who would gladly share it— [MTP].
Sam also wrote an aphorism on a small card for an unidentified person: “Let us save the to- morrows for work. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / April 12/06” [MTP].
Sam also inscribed the same above aphorism in a copy of HF to an unidentified person [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Today Mr. Clemens had me go with him to the barber’s near at hand to have his hair trimmed. I always go with him now, & early in the week I ordered his summer clothes & shirts—such pretty shirts. This after noon after Norman Hapgood & Robert Collier left, Mr. Clemens went up to the Hotel Regent where Mr. Howells is staying & together they called on Gorky. Mr. Clemens didn’t come home until after seven & then he was so tired—so tired he couldn’t eat any dinner, more than 6 olives, & up to his bed he went. I slipped into the room to find him reading Tacitus & oh, so tired & so dear & so beautiful [MTP TS 66].
Joe Twichell wrote a short note to Sam. “This is to advise you that Harmony and I expect to arrive at your door at a little after 4 oclock Saturday P.M.” [MTP].
Josiah Flint Willard wrote from NYC to Sam. “You have been a most distinguished ‘Tramp Abroad,’ and as a tramp at last at home, after a long hospital experience in Berlin, I wonder whether you would be good enough to introduce me to Gorky. My intentions upon Gospodinn Gorky are not mercenary, although I have been a tramp in Russia.” [MTP].
Mark Twain and W. D. Howells called upon Gorky at his apartments in the Hotel Belleclaire last evening. They remained with him for about half an hour discussing literature, and invited him to attend a literary dinner about a fortnight from now. Gorky accepted the invitation.
Some waiting reporters waylaid Mr. Clemens and Mr. Howells in the hotel lobby after their call. When Mr. Clemens was asked regarding the purpose of their visit he made signals of distress to Mr. Howells, who was some distance away, and said:
“Come here, Howells. You don’t look as if you had any information. You are a good man; come back here and tell them all about it, and be sure to make it a private talk so as to get it in the papers.”
Mr. Howells modestly averred that the idea of the dinner had originated with Mr. Clemens.
“Yes,” said Mark Twain, “we are going to offer Gorky the literary hospitality of the country. He is big enough for the honor. It is going to be a dinner with only authors and literary men present. We want to do it in proper style, and will have authors not only from New York, but from Chicago, and we may have some literary geniuses from Indiana, where I believe they breed ‘em.”
Sam also made his second appearance at the international billiard championship at Madison Square Garden. Willie Hoppe defeated Albert G. Cutler. The New York Times, p. 7, quoted Sam, coming as he said:
“To see the boy David get away with one of the billiard Goliaths.” He was accompanied by Albert Bigelow Paine. They came in while Cutler was in he middle of his fifth turn at the table. There was a spontaneous outburst of applause, and Twain smiled and bowed his white head to all parts of the house before taking his seat. Then he began a running fire of comment upon the play, applauding good shots of both competitors without partiality.
At 21 Fifth Ave. in N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to Calvin H. Higbie, who had been seeking Sam’s help with a manuscript. Yes, the MS should be typewritten; exposure in some Western newspapers shouldn’t hurt Higbie’s chances for publication: “If they don’t mention it, it is not ‘our affair to remind them of it’” [MTP].
In N.Y.C. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to an unidentified person or persons.
M . Clemens suggests that it would be a wise arrangement if certain nice publishers & nice authors were to band together to entertain foreign literary men when the visit these shores. H. G. Wells has just been over here—is here in fact—& M . Howells gave a delightful luncheon for him but all the expense fell on M . Howells & M . Clemens feels that that ought not to be— especially when there are those who would gladly share it— [MTP].
Sam also wrote an aphorism on a small card for an unidentified person: “Let us save the to- morrows for work. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / April 12/06” [MTP].
Sam also inscribed the same above aphorism in a copy of HF to an unidentified person [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal:
Today Mr. Clemens had me go with him to the barber’s near at hand to have his hair trimmed. I always go with him now, & early in the week I ordered his summer clothes & shirts—such pretty shirts. This after noon after Norman Hapgood & Robert Collier left, Mr. Clemens went up to the Hotel Regent where Mr. Howells is staying & together they called on Gorky. Mr. Clemens didn’t come home until after seven & then he was so tired—so tired he couldn’t eat any dinner, more than 6 olives, & up to his bed he went. I slipped into the room to find him reading Tacitus & oh, so tired & so dear & so beautiful [MTP TS 66].
Joe Twichell wrote a short note to Sam. “This is to advise you that Harmony and I expect to arrive at your door at a little after 4 oclock Saturday P.M.” [MTP].
Josiah Flint Willard wrote from NYC to Sam. “You have been a most distinguished ‘Tramp Abroad,’ and as a tramp at last at home, after a long hospital experience in Berlin, I wonder whether you would be good enough to introduce me to Gorky. My intentions upon Gospodinn Gorky are not mercenary, although I have been a tramp in Russia.” [MTP].
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