March 23 Saturday – Fatout lists Sam giving a Pilgrim’s dinner speech at the Ambassador James Bryce Dinner, Waldorf-Astoria, N.Y.C. [MT Speaking 676]. Particulars below:
The New York Sun, Mar. 24, p.4, “Bryce Guest of Pilgrims” reported the event but does not mention any speech by Mark Twain. In part (with all mentions of Mark Twain):
BRYCE GUEST OF PILGRIMS.
GREETINGS AT DINNER TO THE
BRITISH AMBASSADOR.
——— ———
Notable Assemblage Turns out to Praise and Listen to the Praise Of the New Diplomat—Chaote and Hughes Among the Speakers—Bryce on Friendship.
….
The International Bonds of Friendship Cement Company, better known as the Pilgrims of the United States, poured the Waldorf-Astoria just full and running over with enthusiasm and welcome last night [Mar. 23] in honor of His Excellency, the Right Honorable James Bryce, the newest Ambassador from Great Britain to the United States of America. It was the first semi- public appearance of the Ambassador since his arrival in the country and in his honor the grand ballroom was crammed with what is sometimes described as the wit and wisdom of the city.
W. Butler Duncan, as president of the society, sat at the middle of the great table on the dais, flanked on either hand by Ambassador Bryce and ex-Gov. Levi P. Morton…. On Ambassador Bryce’s left sat Gov. Hughes, while close by were notables almost without number.
They included ex-Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, President Wilson of Princeton, Bishop Worthington of Nebraska, Rear Admiral Coghlan, Gen. Horace Porter, ex-Ambassador Joseph H. Choate, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, Paul Morton, Alton B. Parker, Justice Patterson, Police Commissioner Bingham, Senator John C. Spooner, President Alderman of the University of Virginia, Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke, Major General Frederick D. Grant.
At one end of the table Mark Twain endeavored to impress Comptroller Metz with the humorous side of finance, while District Attorney Jerome pattered about endeavoring amiably to sidestep everybody who wanted to know, in strict confidence of course, “all about the inside of the Thaw case.”
….
There was a little less than a polite riot when Ambassador Bryce, his health having been drunk, arose to face the great roomful of his friends. Everybody in the ballroom rose to his feet and the air was full of waving napkins, handkerchiefs and flags. The Ambassador stood with his eyes cast down, visibly affected, until the noise had died away, which was some little time. Even Comptroller Metz left off asking Mark Twain how he thought a white flannel suit would suit his complexion [Note: Edwin Anderson Alderman (1861-1931), first president, University of Virginia (1904-1931); Alderman beat out Woodrow Wilson for the job. Herman A. Metz (1867-1934), Comptroller of NYC (1906-1910) and Congressman from NY (1913-1915). Dr. George Worthington (1840-1908), Episcopal Bishop of Nebraska. Rear Admiral Joseph Coghlan (1844-1908), active in the Manila Bay campaign.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Before he went away AB brought to me a magazine (Scribner’s) containing Elizabeth Jordan’s story “Varick’s Lady o’ Dreams.” & he insisted that I read it, for I’d find it exquisite. It’s more than that.
It’s so sweet to be alone this evening—for my trip exhausted me, & last night’s dinner did too.
The King has gone to a Pilgrim Banquet for Mr. Bryce—& as he slipped sweetly out of the house, the feeling the back of my head, that he is the best ever, & that I’m the most fortunate, pounded away at me & gave me great happiness.
Last night Mrs. Kinnicutt said a thing that interested me. She said that when Karl Schurtz [sic] was writing his autobiography he was unable to write the early part of it—his German life—in English; he was obliged to write it in German and have it translated. Mrs. Kennicutt [sic Kinnicutt] said he would labor with it and write in stilted English, impossible English, and finally would give it up and go back to the German. Mrs. Kennicutt is a wonderful woman.
Melville Stone was much impressed with her [MTP TS 43]. Note: Lyon often struck out, perhaps much later, the more effusive passages about Clemens.
Robert Fraser Standen wrote from Dover, England to Sam. “I have been awaiting the publication of your book [CS] before acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 25 of February last year, but now that your publishers have agreed with you as to the psychological moment at which to produce your assault on Mrs Eddy, I’m sure you will forgive me for writing again, since I can cheer you by enclosing this inimitable paragraph from the fertile pen of ‘Tay Pay’ O’Connor. / It takes an Irishman to see a joke, after all!” He thanked Sam for Huck Finn [MTP]. Note: T.P. O’Connor, member of Parliament.