January 2 Wednesday – Sam, Joe Twichell, and Isabel Lyon sailed on the S.S. Bermudian for Bermuda for a “flying trip,” a three-day stay. The voyage now took two days; 30 years before it had taken three [D. Hoffman 69; MTHHR 577]. Note: The steamer Bermudian, a twin-screw vessel, was first launched in Jan. 1905 and continued in service until WWI. Sam would take this same ship to Bermuda in Jan. 1908. See insert S.S. Bermudian.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: We sail. Bermudian
We are on our way now to Bermuda. The sea is so still & so restful that I have relaxed too entirely. Robert left at 8:30 with the trunks. I left a bit later in a cab to look after things— shifting of tickets, etc., for if there was not a full ship load we were to have a cabin each, & we have it—to my satisfaction—for as I look around I cannot see a soul that it would be possible to room with except a nice English boy. The gulls followed us until late, late in the day. It is beautiful voyaging. Just before the King arrived, a sorry young steer got loose & scared us all as he plunged up & down the wharf. They closed the big doors & the King had to wait outside in his carriage until the creature was captured. We have all been sleeping a good deal. The decks are beautiful, & we have plenty of room everywhere.
This morning before sailing the King received a letter from T.B. Aldrich who lost his glasses which were finally found in the King’s dress coat. For a month the King hasn’t been satisfied with that coat because the sleeves are so long, & the tailor took the coat away to shorten it. This morning’s letter from T.B. is to say that he had carried away the King’s coat—& the King has been wearing T.B.’s—& having it altered, etc. Oh joy, how the King shouted [MTP]. Note: Aldrich’s letter not extant, but see Dec. 1 from Sam/Paine.
Witter Bynner wrote to Sam. “Dear Mark Twain! / Here’s thanks for letting me in on that ligament and for a good time generally. / I hear you’ve brought ‘em to the point of publishing the Christian Science book. Bully for you! You might dedicate it to the subject,—not to Mother Eddy but to Auntie-Christ! / Ever your /Other Twin” [MTP].
George H. Guy wrote on New York Electrical Society letterhead to Sam, pasting a clipping on his letter: “Can you spare a moment to pass your eye over the enclosed clipping? Is this a remarkable coincidence, or an indication of some subtle pervasiveness in unsuspected directions of human example?” [MTP]. The clipping told of cats “Tom and Jennie” becoming tipsy after eating mice tipsy from eating fruit cake seasoned with brandy.
Anatole Le Braz (was LeGray) wrote on Hotel Brevoort notepaper in French:
Hotel Brevoort
Hotel Brevoort
Anciennement Brevoort House
Formerly Brevoort House
Coin de la 5me Avenue et de la 8me Rue
Corner of 5 Ave and 8 St
cable address, lafbrevort
cable address, lafbrevort
New York, le 2 Janvier 1907
New York, 2 January 1907
Cher Monsieur,
Dear Sir,
Je suis confus de ne vous avoir pas encore remercié de l’envoi de votre livre que j’ai été bien heureux de trouver chez Miss Mosher. Mais voici le premier moment de loisir don’t je dispose, depuis trois jours. J’aurais voulu,
I am embarrassed that I have not thanked you for having sent your book that I was so happy to find at Miss Mosher’s. But this is the first free moment I have had in three days. I would have like to offer you, together with this note, one of my own books; unfortunately, Brentano, when I went there, did not have a single copy left. I have written to my publisher in France to ask him to send you Pays des Pardons. I hope that it
en même temps que ce mot vous offrir un
will reach you without too much delay.
de mes volumes; malheureusement, Brentano, quand je me suis présenté chez lui, n’en avait plus un seul exemplaire. Je viens d’écrire à mon éditeur en France pour lui demander
In the meantime, please accept the expression of my my highest gratitude and a strong pleasure I have had
de vous expédier le Pays des Pardons. J’espère qu’il vous parviendra sans trop de delai.
[next page]
in getting to know a writer who does not only appreciate American literature but who is also an incarnation of Wit in the entire world. I hope that I will get a chance to see you again when I return to New York during May before my return to France, and I ask you to accept my deep gratitude as well as my deep admiration
Veuillez, en attendant, trouver ici l’ex- pression de ma meilleure gratitude, comme aussi de la vive satisfaction que j’ai eue de
[next page]
connaître un écrivain qui n’honore pas seulement la littérature américaine, mais dans le monde entier. J’espère qu’il me sera donné de voir revoir, lors de mon retour à New-York, dans le courant de mars, avant mon départ pour la qui est encore une incarnation de l’Esprit A. Le Braz France et je vous prie d’agréer la vive gratitude, ainsi que la profonde ad- miration de votre
A. Le Braz
[MTP: Translation and notes by Holger Kersten, 2012]
[1] Anatole le Braz (aka Anatole-Jean-François-Marie Lebras; 1859-1926) was a folklorist, novelist, and poet. He spent the winter of 1906/07 in the United States lecturing at the universities of Harvard, Yale, Columbia and in various other parts of the country [“French Diplomat Here,” New York Tribune, April 02, 1907, 5]. He later returned to the U.S. in 1910/11, 1911/12 and 1914-1919 [G. Dottin “Nécrologie: Anatole Le Braz.” Annales de Bretagne 37:3, 458-472, 460].
[2] Brentano: Brentano’s Bookstore on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, the largest bookstore in the city and the third largest in the country, with 250,000 books for sale in its 31,000 sq. ft. The bookstore chain had some 20 branches from Chicago to San Francisco. One of the oldest and most respected booksellers, Brentano’s owed its success to its vast assortment of books, the elegance of its premises, the dedication of each successive family member to the business, its erudite, hand-picked staff, and its remarkably cordial service. [“Brentano,” The Jewish Virtual Library. <http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0004_0_03504.html>] Brentano’s had a specialization in French literature.
[3] Au Pays des Pardons: book by Anatole Le Braz in which he recounts legends and popular beliefs of his native province, Brittany. First published in 1894, 2 ed. 1898. 3 expanded ed.
Claire Oddie wrote to Sam. “You wrote my cousin Mr Conner a letter – consequently I feel that I may reach you in the same manner. / Sometime before Xmas, Bretanos sent you a copy of “Eves Diary” with a note from me—asking you to make it famous! But silence still prevails. / If you have been able to decipher this—let me know & thank you in advance. “—In the name of ——? “Cousin Joe” !!/ sincerely” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote: “It was put aside away / things to be attended / it had known she had any association with Uncle Joe—would have got up at midnight & interrupted his prayers to attend to it right away. Never interrupt prayers for any one but Uncle Joe”
James A. Renwick wrote to Sam acknowledging his check of $291.67 for January rent [MTP].