April 28 Tuesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Nancy Langhorne Astor.

I am very sorry to hear that you have been sick, & very glad to believe that you are well again.

I wonder if I am really to have the lark of darting over to England & back, in the summer? The thought of it is enticing, but—There’s always a but. I do not suppose I can go—still, it is good enough material to dream upon, till by & by.

I went round the corner at midnight last Tuesday, & was in the humor to dance, but refrained, you not being there. I couldn’t manage it alone./ Ever yours [MTP].

Dear Cousin:

Note: Virginia-born Nancy Wicher Langhorne (1879-1964) married Englishman Waldorf Astor (1879-1952) in 1906. It was the second marriage for both. Their English home, “Cliveden,” was the focal point for gatherings of literary figures and political leaders. It is likely that Sam met the Astors in his 1907 trip to England. When Astor inherited the title of Viscount he was elevated to the House of Lords. Nancy (Lady Astor) was elected to her husband’s former seat in 1919 in Parliament, becoming the first woman to serve in the House of Commons. The term “cousin” which Sam used was likely due to their common surname “Langhorne,” though Clemens family tradition held that the name was given to Samuel as an honor to a friend, not a relative. Clemens’ parents were from Virginia, as were the Langhornes, so it is likely that Nancy was related to the man whose name was given to Sam. Just where Sam went to dance at midnight on Apr. 21 is not known.

The whisky came at the right time. Of course—for whisky never comes at the wrong time.

Sam also wrote to Andrew Carnegie.

Dear St. Andrew:

“My boat is by the shore
And my bark is on the sea
But before I go, Tom Moore,
Here’s a health to Carnegie.”
Byron.

Sam also wrote to Dorothy Quick.

As always

… Mark [MTP].

Oh, you dear Dorothy, you have changed the story! You little rascal, you have put things in it that were not there before, & I want it just as it was. Be a good child, & send me the original manuscript—I will be sure & send it back to you.

Of course you did very well, in the play—I knew you would.

Dear heart, can’t you come up Saturday after next & play billiards & take lunch & go to a matinee & stay over till Monday? Can’t you? Won’t you? I hope so. Ask your mother, if you may come. I shan’t be here long—only a month; then our new house in the country will be finished, & we’ll go & live in it. And you must come there as soon as you can. There will be a bed in your room for your mother.

I haven’t seen a cat since you went away until to-night—then Tammany came up to play billiards.

With lots of love, / SLC

[In the left-margin of the first page:] I like the story in its changed form,  but I like the former form a little the best [MTP; MTAq 147-8].

Sam’s A.D. is given by Gribben:  

“Clemens said that he last saw the senior Edward A. Sothern (1826-1881) as Lord Dundreary twenty-five years ago in Hartford, when Clemens laughed so constantly that he felt obliged to leave the theatre so as not to distract from Sothern’s acting. “In those days it was the funniest thing I had ever seen on the stage, and I find that it is just as funny now as it was then. I saw it yesterday [sic]. I am old & intelligent now, and by earnest and watchful effort was able to keep from going into hysterics over it” [Gribben 689].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: “These days are a crashing rush over the King’s house [Redding]. I’m having a sorry time wasting time finding [wall]papers, but at the Alfred Peats Co. I’m getting them” [MTP: IVL TS 50].

Richard Watson Gilder wrote to Sam.

My grandfather was a Methodist class leader; my father was a Methodist preacher; my uncle was a Methodist preacher. These facts account for those virtues which you have always found shining so brightly in my person.

The above are the reasons also for my writing this line of introduction to a committee of Methodist ministers who have designs upon you. I do not know why they prefer yourself to Twichell but they apparently know what they want. … [MTP].

John M. Howells wrote to advise Sam that they had ordered the Verrochio Cupid for the fountain on the lower terrace, enclosing a letter from The Erkins Co. supplying the Cupid [MTP].

John Larkin, attorney, NYC wrote to Sam.

The two suits by the City of New York one against you as executor of Mrs. Clemens for about $75. for taxes for the year 1905, and the other against you personally for about $750. for taxes for the same year, have, as you know, been pending for some months. I have kept the suits open during your absence…. I think the suit against you as executor for the small amount will have to be paid. As regards the other suit…the only way to settle the suit is by your appearing either in person or by your secretary or someone else who is familiar your your affairs and making an affidavit before the Corporation Counsel showing that the assessment, which was $50,000, was excessive [MTP].

Edith Thompson wrote from Milwaukee,Wisc. to Sam. “When I reached home last Saturday, I found your letter and book. It was lovely of you to send it to me and I appreciate it very much. / We had a very rough trip home also, but it was not as rough as yours, I don’t think. / Yours…” [MTP]. Note: the lady was likely in Bermuda about the same time Clemens was there.