March 29 Wednesday – In the afternoon Sam and daughters went to a tea party with music and instruction for girls in Magyar dances. Clementina Katona Abrányi (1858 -1932), Hungarian feminist author, remembered Mark Twain at this gathering as “sensitive, reflective and introverted,” impressed by his “erudition” and progressive opinions on women’s issues. Dolmetsch: “Anna Katona, ‘the first Hungarian to discover the serious Mark Twain behind the laughter’” [59].

The Clemens family left Budapest, Hungary at 8 p.m. from the eastern rail station (Keleti) and traveled the 180 miles back to Vienna “in a wagon-lit carriage ‘put at their disposal by Hungarian Railroads,’ certainly a mark of unusual distinction” [Dolmetsch 59]. Note: The following letter to Katharine Boland may have been written in Budapest or Vienna; Sam often put the address of where they were headed on letters as he was leaving a location. In this case they would have arrived back in Vienna very late, perhaps even after midnight, so Budapest is more likely. Katona gives Mar. 30 as the departure date [114].

Livy and Sam wrote to Katharine Boland, congratulating her on the impending marriage to James R.

Clemens, who had just sent a cable (not extant) of their engagement Sam:

I have never married a Clemens myself, & should think twice before I ventured to do such a thing; still less particular people have taken the risk & found them well enough as a change. In your case, Miss Boland, I am hoping the best. I like my relative Jim very much, and as a Clemens he averages away up [MTP]. Note: see Sam’s cable May 3 congratulating on their marriage.

Countess de Bardi wrote from Cannes, France to Sam, to thank him for his gift of one of his pens, which she was “quite happy and proud to have it,” and thought better of making it simply an object of reverence but “that I shall love to use it!” [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the envelope: “From Her Royal Highness the Countess Bardi, (House of Bourbon,) daughter of the King of Portugal.” The note and envelope bear a mourning border.