June 27 Thursday – Sam attended the Oxford Pageant. The Oxford Chronicle, June 28, p.16, “Yesterday at the Pageant” reported Sam’s appearance at 3:45 p.m. The London Daily Express, reported on the gala event, (June 28, p. 1, “Pageant in the Mist”) and on Mark Twain’s attendance:
The first performance of the Oxford Pageant began yesterday [June 27] in a blaze of glory, and closed—amid cheers—in a Scotch mist.
The sun was gleaming through the threatening clouds when Mark Twain, Mr. Rudyard Kipling, and other new and eminent Doctors of the University walked along the front of the pageant ground, cheered by the thousands of spectators, and took their seats in the royal box.
Mark Twain, eager as he professed himself to get hints from the pageant for his own long foretold funeral, came in bright array—bright eyes, bright silk hat, bright grey trousers, and the brightest of smiles.
His cheery presence and the glamour of the pageant were needed to keep up the spirits of the immense audience, for as the pageant wended its way to music through the picturesque ages from the legendary Saxon times to the powdered wig era of George III, the mist came down—a thick, grey, clinging drizzle that cast a haze over the ground and wrapped the three and a half thousand pageant actors in its chilly embrace.
In spite of the rain during the last half hour the pageant was an overwhelming success. The thousands of spectators stood up at the conclusion with the thousands of players in multi- coloured costumes massed in groups before them, and the combined thousands sang in a mighty chorus, “O God, our help in ages past.”
Volleys of cheering followed the hymn, and thus a pageant of English life came to a typical English finish. [….]
Note: for Sam’s recollections of the Pageant, too long to include here, see MTFWE 62-70.
H.H. Rogers wrote from London to Sam.
The N.Y. Times man called me up last night to learn if I had received a cable from Reick. I told him that I had sent the same to you. I suppose that lets me out. At any rate Mrs Rogers and I are leaving in 5 minutes. You look well in your gown, and I am proud to see you in the front row as I had expected that W.R. [Whitelaw Reid] would hog have the show [MTHHR 630]. Note: see Rogers June 26. Pearson’s Weekly (London) ran an anonymous article, “This Week’s Hero: Mark Twain,” p. 905. Tenney: “A conventional and partly inaccurate biographical sketch of MT” [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Fifth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1981 p. 165].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: Today the papers are full of the King—and today we go to town at 11:50. We found the city very, very hot and I was weary when I dropped into bed at a late hour.
My vitality is at a low ebb; I ought to be in bed every night at nine [MTP 77].
William H. Allen wrote a welcome to Clemens, “But do come more often whenever you can” [MTP].
F.I. Baker for The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection wrote to inform Sam of the work they were doing. He added a PS that he was “glad to hear you had not stolen the Ascot Cup” [MTP].
Winifred V. Barnett, “a little girl admirer” wrote to thank Sam for his autograph sent [MTP].
Beatrice Batty wrote disappointment she’d been to see him twice and was not permitted the pleasure of shaking his hand. “Your secretary asked my address—I give it now” [MTP].
Frank Thomas Bullen wrote he had “a lump into my throat and dew into my eyes” when he recalled being sought by Twain and Rogers one day in New Bedford, “all unconscious of the joy I was missing…engaged upon some footy little expedition worth nothing.” He sent best wishes [MTP].
James Christison wrote on Public Library, Montrose stationery to express admirationfor the speech Sam gave to the Pilgrims. He noted that Rev. Dr. McCrie, of the United Free Church quoted Sam’s bit about “Praise is well, compliment is well…” [MTP].
L.T. E. wrote sending a poem by Walter E. Grogan from the Pall Mall Magazine, Feb. 1907. L.T.E was inspired by Sam’s Pilgrim Speech [MTP].
Hubert Giles, Bookseller, Oxford sent a note with cartoon of the Procession (not in file) [MTP].
George B.Harvey sent a trans-Atlantic cable to Sam after returning to NYC:
JUST ARRIVED THANKS FOR WELCOME CABLE CONGRATULATIONS FROM MY HEART UPON THE BEST EVER COMING INTO HIS OWN WHILE STILL IN POSITION TO APPRECIATE FULL RECOGNITION LONG PAST DUE IN THIS CLARENCE MACKAY WHO PROMISES TO HAVE THIS DELIVERED WHEREVER YOU ARE ASKS TO JOIN WITH SPECIAL FELICITATIONS / HARVEY [MTP].
James Knowles wrote from London to verify a meeting for Sam with Princess Louise Augusta for July 4 at 1.30 [MTP].
R. Howard Krause wrote from Kidderminster, England to invite Sam to visit. “Mrs. Krause would love to see you again.” Note: Ashcroft wrote on the letter: “Declined”
J.N. L. wrote two sentences to Sam: “‘Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been’. And so an extended definition of a wrinkle is a ‘smile that won’t come off’.” [MTP].
Arthur Marston sent a picture postcard from Dover, England: “All good wishes. Do you remember, in old times, the…camp at Condover Park with Major C.” [MTP].
Northern Newspaper Syndicate per James E. Lyons asked for “eight articles, each of about 2,200-2,400 words, “ to be paid “One Hundred Guineas cash” [MTP].
Christabel Pankhurst for Women’s Social & Political Union, “Votes for Women,” wrote enclosing literature for the cause. Would he grant “a short interview”? [MTP].
Joseph Pennell for International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, Whistler Memorial, wrote asking for his help to get the Memorial “up.” Auguste Rodin was doing the statue and Whitelaw Reid, Rudyard Kipling, and [Hubert von] Herkomer were helping out. “Won’t you give us a lift?”
Francis H. Skrine wrote from London to say their only son witnessed the Oxford “reception from the undergraduate gallery, & felt proud that his parents should number you among their friends. We were very much disappointed by finding, on our return from the country on Monday, that you had called on the previous day” He offered congratulations [MTP].
George N. Strange wrote from Worthing, England, enclosing some “mortuary poetry” since he saw that Twain was interested in such. He apologized for intruding on Sam’s privacy [MTP].
“A Yorkshire school boy” sent Sam a picture postcard of the Strand and Charing Cross Station, London: “Pleased to hear you are in London with the nobs. My father has been to London” [MTP].
An “Unknown friend” wrote Sam: “Will you permit one of your oldest admirers to send you a word of welcome to the old country whre you are held in as much affection as in your own? It was a source of very great pleasure to read your speech at the Pilgrims,” but disappointed he didn’t mention the loss of Irving. Best wishes [MTP].
Frederick D. Wardle wrote from Bath, England, sorry that Sam “was compelled to say a final ‘No’ to” a visit to Bath. He hoped Sam would come next year [MTP].
Mary Yates Watson wrote from London wondering if he’d rec’d her book sent to America, “A Wealth of Remembrance.” She wrote of a new book that was coming of 76 poems for children [MTP].
E. Wyndham wrote from Sussex to thank Sam for his portrait. He added a P.S. about his long ago trip to Hartford: “…you took me, an unoffending Englishman, one day to a billiard saloon, and you made me play billiards with you, without an interval, or, drink, for six, or was it eight hours? That wa 30 years ago, and I have not touched a cue since” [MTP].