July 3 Wednesday – Ashcroft’s note: “Wednesday, July 3. Luncheon with George Bernard Shaw; dined with Moberly Bell” [MTFWE 88].
In London, Sam lunched with Mr. and Mrs. George Bernard Shaw at their flat in Adelphi Terrace. Also at the luncheon were Herbert Beerbohm Tree and Prof. Archibald Henderson, who had sailed over with Sam to gather biographical information on Shaw [London Tribune, July 4, p.6; London Daily Mail, July 4, p.5].
Sam’s A.D. of Aug. 23, 1907 covered the Shaw luncheon:
George Bernard Shaw wrote from London to Sam:
My dear Mark Twain—not to say Dr Clemens (though I have always regarded Clemens as mere raw material—might have been your brother or your uncle)
Just a line to excuse myself for running away today. A domestic bargain was made to the effect that I should not keep you all to myself; so I cleared out to give Charlotte & Max a good turn. I had my reward at the dentist’s.
I meant to ask you whether you had ever met William Morris. I won’t ask you now, because it would put you to the trouble of answering this letter; so let it stand over until I look you up in America. But what put it into my head was this. Once, when I was in Morris’s house, a superior anti-Dickens sort of man (sort of man that thinks Dickens no gentleman) was annoyed by Morris disparaging Thackeray. With studied gentleness he asked whether Morris could name a greater master of English. Morris promptly said “Mark Twain.” This delighted me extremely , as it was my own opinion; and I then found that Morris was an incurable Huckfinomaniac. This was the more remarkable, as Morris would have regarded the Yankee at the Court of King Arthur as blasphemy, and would have blown your head off for implying that the contemporaries of Joan of Arc could touch your own contemporaries in villainy.
I am persuaded that the future historian of America will find your works as indispensable to him as a French historian finds the political tracts of Voltaire. I tell you so because I am the author of a play [John Bull’s Other Island] in which a priest says “Telling the truth’s the funniest joke in the world,” a piece of wisdom which you helped to teach me. / yours ever / G. Bernard Shaw [Bernard Shaw: Collected Letters 1898-1910, ed. Dan H. Lawrence, (1972) p. 696-7]. Note: after Sam’s 25 days in London, Shaw would forever more assert that America had produced only two geniuses—Edgar Allen Poe, and Mark Twain [Scott 289].
C.F. Wood wrote from Berks, England to Sam:
Dear Fellow Traveler of 35 years ago. You will remember our voyage in the “Batavia” from Liverpool to Boston. Our “battened down” existence for two days during the storm, our games of Euchre to keep up the spirits of the more rejected passengers, and our looking on at the rescue of survivors of the crew of the “Charles Ward.” I was on my way out for a cruise in the South Seas and you on our arrival at Boston, kindly took me to your home at Hartford. I know you are much engaged, but I shd like to call & see you & press your hand once more.
I am coming up to London tomorrow to the bset Central Hotel with wife & two daughters for a few days.
I got your address from my friend Sir Fred Bridge of Westminster Abbey [MTP]. Note: On his first trip to England, Sam returned on the Batavia, Nov. 12 to Nov. 25, 1872. See Nov. 26, 1872 for Wood’s stay at the Clemens home in Hartford.
The Tatler (London) ran an anonymous article “Tittle-Tattle of To-Day,” p. 2-3. Tenney: “Includes two photographs of MT in his academic robes at Oxford, where he received an honorary degree” [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Fifth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1981 p. 166].
Isabel Lyon’s journal: We drove, but this morning when I went for a walk I found an auction room where tucked away in a far corner is an old high post bedstead, very lovely, solid mahogany, and $20. It belonged to Governor Jones of Nova Scotia. I shall have that bedstead shipped home if it is possible [MTP 80].
Marjorie Bowen wrote from London to thank Sam for a photo. “I want to thank you again, too, for the great pleasure you gave me by letting me see you—I do appreciate so much that you found time… [MTP].
William Gilkes wrote from Reading, England, congratulations and honour to Mark Twain [MTP].
F. Jerome Hart wrote from London: “I was glad to learn that you had decided to give Mr. Histed a sitting for your portrait to illustrate your biography in my book, “Living Men of Letters”. He was sending a portrait done by Histed of George B. Shaw [MTP].
Marcelle Azra Hincks wrote from Kensington for her mother. They had not forgotten Clemens but had been ill with blood poisoning. Could she come give her respects personally? [MTP].
E.P. Hoey wrote from Kensington to ask his advice: “…do you think that a young, ambitious, energetic journalist, thoroughly knowing and loving the profession, not afraid of ‘roughing it’, but with neither influence or money, would have a fair chance of getting on in America? In London it is practically hopeless” [MTP].
Helen MacMillan (Mrs. Maurice C. MacMillan) wrote from London to thank him “for this charming photograph. It is so life like—it seems almost to speak. It will be treasured…Thank you for it & for the beautiful words you have written on it” [MTP].
Charles Macy wrote from Liverpool, sending particulars and extracts on one James Clemens, who was mayor of Liverpool in 1775 [MTP].
John Malcolm wrote from Wanstead, London “To Mark Twain, to me one of the noblest and the best of men, one whom I love as a brother, I beg to send my affectionate greeting/ May God bless him” [MTP].
Milly (not further identified) sent a song score and also a poem, both titled, “Mirth is King” [MTP].
Edmund D. Morel for Congo Reform Assoc., Liverpool wrote thanks to Sam “for returning Dr. Rendal Harris’ letter back and for writing to him. / Much to my astonishment I have received an invitation to meet you at dinner on July 10th” [MTP].
I. Phillips-Dickson wrote from Shropshire, recalling meeting him in the Lake District and traveling in his company for two or three days “with a young clerical friend, Ingram Boynton.” Did he wish to escape to the country before he left England? [MTP].
Mildred Watson wrote from Piccadilly, London enclosing Mrs. MacAlister’s card as an introduction and invite him to an “At Home” “which Sir George & Lady Jibb are giving at Wimbleton on behalf of the Political Enfranchisement of Women” [MTP]. Note: Ashcroft wrote on the letter: “Declined”
Elizabeth Woodhouse wrote from London to acknowledge receipt of his “kind letter, together with Postal Order for one pound, for which I feel it impossible to sufficiently thank you…” [MTP]. See July 1 from Woodhouse.
Mary Thornburgh-Ropper wrote from Westminster: “I don’t believe you have forgotten my father Wm B. Thornburgh of Virginia City Nevada & San Francisco, wh is my excuse for asking you to invent a little time & come here on the 3d-July (4 to 7.30)…you will find Mrs Tennant & other friends” [MTP].
“Una” sent a small drawing of Shakespeare? And a short poem [MTP].
Unidentified person (small env. only) postmarked Vierzon A Tours, France [MTP].