May 26 Sunday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam replied to daughter Jean, whose incoming is not extant.  

It saddened me, too, dearest Jean, to go away from you, & it has saddened me since to think about it. But I hope this is the last far journey I shall ever have to take. And indeed I would not take this one if I could avoid it.

I have accepted only 2 public dinners in London, & it is my purpose to limit myself to those two.  They are the Pilgrims & the Ambassador. I am declining by cable the invitation of the City of Liverpool & its lord mayor. I have declined house-hospitalities in London & shall stop at Brown’s hotel.

I have a very kind letter from Lord Curzon, Chancellor of Oxford University, in which he says, “in persuading you to accept the degree I feel that in reality the honors will be paid to us, by one who has always set before himself the highest standards of literary work, & for nearly half a century has made and incomparable addition to the pleasure of the English-speaking race.”

Yes indeed, I will send you a cable as soon as I reach London. I shall not forget, dear heart.

With heaps of love & hugs & kisses— [MTP].

Sam had learned of the death of James Norman Gillis (Jim) and used his A.D. hours to dictate a long piece—eulogy with stories attributed to him; Jim Gillis and the inedible fruit; Jim challenged a man to a duel; the segment was selected for MTE [358-72; May 27 to Hampton].

Note: Jim’s brother William R. Gillis survived him and wrote a 1931 reminiscence, Gold Rush Days with Mark Twain. See entries Vol. 1.

Isabel Lyon’s journal: We are having a tiresome time with Miss Hobby who does seem to be more kinds of an idiot than most stenographers are. When Mr. Clemens does not use her then I do, for my clerical work does not diminish as my other duties increase. She does not like to take my dictations, and is very sour. However — [MTP TS 60]. Note: Lyon ended this entry abruptly, as if interrupted.

John Quincy Adams (b. 1848) wrote on Hotel Marlton, NYC stationery to Sam, having heard of the Redding house construction. Adams recommended a landscape artist, John Nolen, who lived in Cambridge, Mass. [MTP]. Note: Adams was not shown as relating to the famous Adams family or his namesake in the 1906-1907 Who’s Who in America.  His residence is shown as 151 W. 117th NYC and office: Old Flag House, Phila. He was a Public School lecturer  and candidate for Congress, 14 NY district, 1896, Democrat. One of the founders of Founders and Patriots of America; also Betsy Ross Memorial Assoc.