January 31 Monday – Sam and his servant Patrick McAleer went to the Gerhardt apartment on “the second story of a little wooden house.” Sam inspected a statue of a young woman nude to the waist holding up a towel, “the expression attempted being a modified scare—she was interrupted when about to enter the bath.” (The work was titled “Startled Bather.”) It then became evident that the young wife Hattie Gerhardt had been the model for the statue. Sam was impressed that she had “no trace of self-consciousness” about the fact. 26-year-old Karl Gerhardt (1853-1940) then arrived.
“A slender young fellow with a marvelous head and a noble eye—and he was as simple and natural, and as beautiful in spirit as his wife was” [MTLP 398]. Note: a photograph of the statue at MTP reveals that Hattie was indeed well-endowed.
Sam paid a bill for $4.50 from the Daniel Appleton & Co., of New York for Popular Science Monthly subscription [Gribben 554].
Sam wrote from Hartford to Annie E. Lucas, evidently of Sydney, Australia, who had requested “one small scrap of Scenery” for her album, along with Sam’s autograph. Sam wrote a two-page, gracious and witty letter. About the scenery he replied:
“Indeed I will—& no stale scenery either. I will go to the window & get it fresh—to wit…”
This was followed by a description of the snowy stable roof, “wind blowing out yonder” and “miles of white hills & plains & leafless, shivery limbs.” Sam threw in a couple of plumber jokes (“Whenever you catch a plumber, you just make a back-log of him”). In answer to her urging to come to Sydney, Sam wrote
…there’s a new baby down stairs….Little chaps like that, can’t be comfortable on long journeys, you know [MTP].
Sam also responded to a Jan. 29 letter from Stephen C. Massett, English-born actor, author, composer and old-time humorist who gave San Francisco its first theatrical performance in 1849. As a young reporter on the Morning Call, Sam promoted Massett’s monologues, with his oblivious bumpkin persona, “Jeems Pipes.” Massett is best known for his autobiographical work by the same name (see Sept. 2, 1869 entry):
“Glad to hear from you—shall be glad to see you, too. Come up—the latch string hangs outside the door—& drop me a line to say what day & train you select. I’ll try to meet you at the train; but if I am prevented, just take a hack & name my nom de plume…” [MTP]. Note: Massett wrote again on Feb. 8.
Western Union Telegraph Co. Billed Sam $7.01 for January messages sent: Jan. 1, 26 to N.Y., Jan. 4, 5, 6 to Elmira; Jan. 19, 20 to Loman? So. Man. [MTP].
Susan Lee Warner (Mrs. Charles Dudley Warner) wrote a postcard from Hartford. “Could you possibly take Mr. Champney to the Gerhardt’s Tuesday evening, between 8 & 9 oclk. I suppose he will be at the Perkins (C.E.) I went to G.’s yesterday, & find him anxious for criticism not daring to go on further without advice, in the evening he is sure to be at home. / —Excuse my troubling you, but I hear you are as much interested as we” [MTP].
Franklyn H. Mortimer for Victorian Review Publishing Co., Melbourne, wrote to Clemens. He was in receipt of Sam’s Jan. 9th note. Mortimer asked for some writing from Twain [MTP].