June 18 Tuesday – The S.S. Minneapolis docked at Tilbury, England at 4 a.m.
Just after 10 a.m., Sam came down the gangplank and was roused by the lusty cheers of the stevedores. In a few minutes he first met George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) on the dock. The Pall Mall Gazette, p. 7, reported:
“G.B.S.” AND MARK TWAIN.
FIRST MEETING OF TWO GREAT MEN
THE PALMIST’S PREDICTION.
——— ——— ———
A BIOGRAPHY AND AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
By our Special Representative.
Three of us were awaiting this morning the arrival of Mark Twain. The boat train was late in starting from Tilbury, the platforms at St. Pancras were dreary, and so much of the sky as was not obscured by engine smoke was overcast and cheerless. It was looking like the dullest wait on record, when into the station there sailed the tall, picturesque figure of Mr. George Bernard Shaw.
Of course, Mr. Shaw had come to meet Mark Twain. There was no other possible conclusion. Now, indeed, would there be reward for the waiting.
“You have come,” I asked, addressing Mr. Shaw, “to meet Mark Twain?”
“Mark Twain?” he exclaimed in surprise; “no, I have not come to meet Mark Twain; I have come to meet Professor Henderson.”
“And who is Professor Henderson?”
“Professor Archibald Henderson, Professor of Mathematics of the University of North Carolina. He is writing my biography, and has come over to find out something about me. But you, you have come to meet Mark Twain, and you have got the advantage of interviewing me.”
[….]
Mark Twain Arrives
With Such pleasantries as these, the time passed quickly enough, and something after ten, as the boat train drew up, there stepped on to the platform amongst a little group of fellow passengers a trim little figure in a suit of light grey with a wonderful head of wavy hair, white and thick as snow. It was “the wittiest man in the world,” as he has justly been described, and all the burden of his seventy-one years he seemed to have left behind him, so alert and brisk was the impression he gave.
Presently, Mr. J.G.W. MacAlister, editor of “The Library,” was kind enough to introduce us to Mr. Clemens, who said the object of his visit was to receive a degree from Oxford University, and he would also take the opportunity of seeing the pageants, which he considered a very good idea.
“Have you,” he was asked, “anything similar in America?”
“Why, yes,” he replied, “when we were celebrating our one-hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence every town that had in its history some events connected with the American Revolution, did what you are doing in reviving history and impressing it upon the people. But with us it did not take so long because there was not much of it. You have to concentrate in six days the history of a thousand years.”
At this point Mr. Clemens was told that Mr. Shaw was on the platform meeting a friend who had come by the same boat.
“Yes, I know,” Mr. Clemens said. “I want to see him.”
“In the meantime can you,” he was asked, “tell us what you think of Mr. Shaw?”
“I never give an opinion,” was the reply, “unless I have studied and formed an opinion from my own deduction, and not from any one else’s.”
[….]
By this time Mr. Shaw had been found, and the great American humourist and the distinguished English dramatist, meeting for the first time, shook hands very heartily, and showed how pleased they were to see each other.
“Whilst I have been waiting,” were Mr. Shaw’s first words to Mr. Clemens, “the representatives of the Press have been asking me whether you were really serious when you wrote ‘The Jumping Frog.’”
Mr. Clemens laughed very heartily, and Mr. Shaw said he hoped he had answered correctly in telling them that he thought it was meant to be amusing.
After a brief conversation, Mr. Shaw went off with Professor Henderson and Mr. Clemens said good-bye to his fellow travellers, and moved off with Mr. Ashcroft, who has come to England with him, and Mr. MacAlister. [….] [Note: Thanks to Tom Tenney for a copy of this article; also may be seen in MTFWE 18-20].
Note: The New York Times, Jan. 19, p. 1, also ran an article on this first meeting “SHAW MEETS TWAIN AND EXPLAINS HIM”, but got it wrong again by identifying Prof. Archibald Henderson as Prof. Victor H. Henderson. The former did not publish Shaw’s biography until 1956: George Bernard Shaw: Man of the Century.
After checking into Brown’s Hotel, Ralph W. Ashcroft wrote for Sam to Marjorie Bowen.
Mr. Clemens bids me say that he will be at the Ritz to-morrow, Tuesday, at one o’clock, for the purpose of lunching with you and Miss Bisland. If Tuesday does not suit you, please telephone us in the morning, and he will try to arrange another day.
He was delighted with the flowers, and we have had them put in vases to adorn the sitting room.
I hope to-morrow will suit you, as it will be difficult to arrange another day.
You will, I know, excuse Mr. Clemens from writing you personally, but he is tired out with the day’s work, and is now resting [MTP]. Note: Sam had poked fun at the rustic Brown’s Hotel back in 1900 during a stay there. Scott speculates “He had hoped for a peaceful retreat” as the reason why he chose Brown’s, but that his “resolutions to seclude himself were soon forgotten” [290].
Ashcroft also wrote for Sam to Harry E. Brittain, Secretary of the Pilgrims Club, London, asking to change the date “to some other day than July 3d.” Sam would also be busy on July 4th and had asked another friend (likely MacAlister) to “reserve two dates out of July 1st , 2d, 5 and 6th , and would like to give him the choice of two of these four days also.” Would Brittain telephone in the morning? [MTP].
Ashcroft also wrote for Sam to Sidney Lee. Sam was too tired to write, but said that any day in the first week of July, save the 3rd and 4th would suit for lunch. Would Lee telephone in the morning? [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Louis N. Parker. [written on a telegram form:]
TO The Most Hon the Marquis of Bristol
The Pageant House Bury St Edmunds.
Twice I saw at Oxford the reprod of bygone English life & achievement and was convinced that Pageantry is the most instructive & most impressive way of portraying history & I very much regret my inability to witness the Pageant at Bury St. Edmunds next week [MTP].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Mother’s Birthday and The King has arrived in England.
They telephoned me from Ashcroft’s office and the terrible pressure is lifted from my mind. There are no particulars so far, and the cablegram reached N.Y. at 11 o’clock. Santa and Will have been working this morning, and she isn’t strong enough for it yet. What a child she is, and what pluck she has [MTP TS 71].
Charles Lancaster for Hughes & Lancaster wrote to Clemens [MTP]. Note: not found at MTP.
Mary Cholmondeley, whom Paine identifes as the “niece of that lovable Reginald Chomondeley, and herself an old friend, sent greetings and urgent invitations” [MTB 1383].
H. Walter Barnett, London photographer, wrote asking for a sitting. “…you will doubtless remember that I have had the privilege of photographing you on several occasions both here and abroad, during the last 15 years…” [MTP].
Harry E. Brittain, for London Pilgrims advising he was arranging to have an invitation sent to H.H. Rogers “if I have to be one of the five or six who do some standing near the door.” He and his wife looked forward to dining with Clemens on July 3, 8 p.m., Savoy Hotel [MTP].
Rev. H.G. Buehler for Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn. wrote to invite Sam to make an address in 1908, June 15 at 10:30 a.m. “You may obtain further information from Rev. Joseph Twichell of Hartford who has been here repeatedly and whose son, though not a Hotchkiss boy, is much loved here…” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “Answrd July 30, 07”
Adele Chapin wrote from London, excited Sam was there—would he come to dinner Friday, July 5? [MTP].
The London Daily Mail wrote asking for a 1,200 word article on the English climate [MTP].
Jean MacDonald Gallup wrote; “I am a little American girl living in London, and have a very great favour to ask you”—she hoped he would autograph a photo of him she had [MTP].
Cecil Gray wrote from London on Brown’s Hotel stationery: “The last occasion on which I had the pleasure of meeting—and interviewing—you was at Columbo on Good Friday 1896— eleven years ago.” He was sorry Sam was too busy to repeat the favor but could he have just five minutes? [MTP].
Mary L. Hasbrouck wrote from London wishing Sam good health and long life [MTP].
John Henniker Heaton wrote on Bath Club stationery: “Will you come over here for a swim and Turkish bath and breakfast with me at 9.15 am tomorrow”? [MTP].
Mabel Howard wrote from London, sending verses and asking Sam’s opinion [MTP]. Note: verses not in file.
Charles Lancaster wrote advising he’d passed on by wire Sam’s address to H.H. Rogers in Vichy [MTP].
Eveleen Myers wrote inviting Sam to visit them in Whitehall on the 26th at 8:15 [MTP].
W.B. Northrop wrote asking if he might take photos of Clemens in his rooms this afternoon or at about 10:30 tomorrow. “They are wanted for a weekly” [MTP].
Lillie Planner wrote from London that it was “of no use to be—or try to be—a journalist if you are an absolute worry to the man you want to interview…I won’t say an interview, cos you’ll sit downtight & not see me—just a word or two” [MTP].
Robert P. Porter wrote, “I forgot to say that I have some excellent [illegible word] for the Pageant for the 27th and 28th of June” [MTP] Note: Porter was legibly challenged.
J.W. Ryckman wrote on The American Register, Piccadilly, stationery, merely asking after his voyage, his feelings and wishing him a “most enjoyable” visit [MTP].
Francis H. Skrine wrote to ask Sam to “name the day” he’d like to meet for lunch [MTP].
Dorothy T. Stanley (widow of Henry M. Stanley) wrote:
You know I want to see you- and join right hand to right hand. I must see your dear face again. So you will have to send me a line here…and let me know what hour next week I may just come for a moment—anytime—morning—noon or late… / You will have no peace—rest or leisure during your stay in London, and you will end by hating human beings—let me come before you feel that way [MTP].
Taylor for Bath Club wrote to inform Sam he’d been elected an Honorary Member of the Club during his stay. Situated just opposite Brown’s Hotel, Taylor hoped he would “look in & use it” [MTP].
Gertrude Tennant wrote from London: “We all want so much to see you again! Do come and dine with us on Wednesday, June 26” [MTP].
Beatrice M. Wallop (Countess of Portsmouth, d.1935) wrote Sam an invitation to dine with her and the Earl of Portsmouth, Newton Wallop, on Friday, July 5. “I am planning to have a small party later in the evening & I have no doubt you would meet many old friends, who— like ourselves—will be delighted to see you again” [MTFWE 200]. Note: her “small party” involved 300 guests [Daily Telegraph, July 6, p.12].
Basil Wilberforce wrote from London: “I am only a humble item among the very many who offer you a cordial welcome to England but we long to see you again and should like to change hats with you again! Do you remember. Could you give Mrs Wilberforde and myself the pleasure of your company at luncheon on FridayJune 28 at 1.45?” [MTP].
Lord George N. Curzon on June 18 or 19 sent Sam an engraved invitation to luncheon at All Souls College after the celebration of the Encoenia, Wednesday, June 26, Oxford [MTP]. Note: Ashford accepted for Clemens on June 19
Christ Church, Oxford sent Sam an printed invitation to dine with “The Dean, Canons, and Students…in the Hall on Wednesday, 26 June, 1907, at Seven o’clock” [MTP]. Note: Ashford accepted for Clemens on June 19