December 31 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote on a card picturing a woman in a hat to Maud W. Littleton: “Happy New year / to / Mrs Littleton / from / SL. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: Martin W. and Maud W. Littleton, across-the-street neighbors.
Sam hosted a New Year’s Eve Luncheon for six. The Boston Daily Globe, Jan. 2, 1908, p.8, “One on O’Sullivan” reported that the guests included Dennis O’Sullivan (1868-1908; sometimes seen as Denis), Irish actor and singer, Finley Peter Dunne, George B. Harvey, and George Woods. Sam’s talk included a dream of Clara Clemens’ about William Dean Howells, who was also likely present (he would sail for Europe on Jan. 4). The event was also reported by the Washington Times, Jan. 2, 1908, p. 8:
MARK TWAIN JOKES FRIEND ABOUT JOKE
Humorist Raps Howells and O’Sullivan at One Fell Swoop.
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NEW YORK, Jan. 2.—Dennis O’Sullivan, the Irish singer, carried a wide grin yesterday when he boarded the Twentieth Century Limited for Chicago, where he is to open Sunday night in a new comic opera, “Peggy Machree.” With him he took Mark Twain’s latest story, and the tale tickled him so that he giggled like a school girl.
Mr. O’Sullivan and six guests, among whom were Finley Peter Dunne, Col. George Harvey, of Harper’s, and George Wods [sic Woods], were invited by Mark to a New Year luncheon Tuesday noon. Each was asked to “meet the human race,” and after they met it there was much hilarity and good cheer.
Mr. O’Sullivan is a devotee of the game of billiards, and when he was called upon to say something his mind turned to his favorite amusement. He spun several good yarns concerning the elusive ivory balls, and then branched into a complicated description of a new variety of the game he has been perfecting for upward of two years.
The description was in fact so complicated and technical that no one except the singer had the slightest idea what the story teller was talking about. When he had finished Mr. Clemens , himself a billiards expert, arose.
“I have greatly enjoyed the account of this new game,” he said, “because it reminds me of a story my daughter Clara told me this morning. Clara doesn’t often dream, but she dreamed last night, and she told me about it. She said she thought she heard William Dean Howells telling a funny anecdote, the gist of which she could not catch. The tale, however, was followed by a perfect Niagara of laughter and handclapping. Therefore she was provoked because she had lost the point.
“ ‘Now, I can just tell you all about that story,’ said I. ‘How is that?’ she asked. ‘Well,’ said I, ‘Mr. Howells has but one funny story, and that hasn’t a point to it. But, of course, one must applaud.’ ”
Everyone roared, and when Mr. O’Sullivan again spun a yarn it had nothing to do with billiards.
Note: O’Sullivan was born in San Francisco to a prominent banker. He traveled to Europe to study voice under Karl Formes, and Ugo Talbo Vannucinna in Florence and under Sbriglia in Paris. He made his debut in 1895 in Dublin as part of the Carl Rosa Company. He then performed in London. He arrived back in New York on November 22, 1907 and was a major headliner for a few short months. He performed to great acclaim in Chicago’s McVicker’s Theatre, then moved on to Columbus, Ohio where he had an appendectomy on Feb. 1, 1908 and died on Feb. 20, at the too-young age of 39.
William Arnold Rowland wrote from Montreal to Sam, “Having read in the Tribune of he 10th instant (I waited 21 days to encourage my thought to mature) your remarks on the Pterodactyl and Reformed Spelling, permit me to hand you a clipping of my little skit on the same subject, introducing the dog” [MTP]. Note: clipping dated Apr. 28, 1906
Marquis d’ Equilles wrote Sam “best wishes & sincerest wishes for the New Year” on his calling card [MTP].