October 24 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to John White Alexander to decline the same dinner that he declined to Chauncey Depew on Oct. 23 [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Samuel E. Moffett in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. “I am just leaving for Princeton, but stop to say she is getting along pretty well, but will be bedridden some months” [MTP].
Sam’s notebook: “Go to Princeton this afternoon. The inaugural is tomorrow in the morning at 11. Take boat leaving W. 23d at 3.55 / Must carry or express my cap, gown & hood. (See Oct. 14)” [NB 45 TS 32].
Special trains left New York for Princeton, N.J.. at 8:40, 10:25, and 11:25 a.m. for Princeton, N.J., where the big football game between Princeton and Columbia would take place the following day [NY Times, p1, “Special Trains to Princeton,” Oct. 24, 1902]. Sam took a later train at 3:55 p.m. [Oct. 16 to Hutton]. He had asked Hutton for a cap and gown for the Oct. 25 inauguration ceremonies of the new president of Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson, though his NB entry above reminded him to take his own.
A dinner was held at Princeton Universtity President-elect Woodrow Wilson’s home. The event was reported by the New York Times, Oct. 25, p.1, “Dr. Wilson’s Inauguration.” Sam was not listed among the guests, and significantly, neither was Laurence Hutton. It’s likely that Clemens stayed with Hutton and took part in the following day’s luncheon and dinner. In this dinner of Oct. 24 the following were listed:
Mr. & Mrs. Grover Cleveland, Prof. Albert L. Lowell, Dr. & Mrs. F.L. Patton, Thomas B. Reed, Robert T.
Lincoln, J. Pierpont Morgan, Mrs. Howe, Mrs. J.S. Morgan, Mr. & Mrs. Bliss Perry, Mrs. J.G. Hibben, Mrs.
Hoyt, Dr. D.C. Gilman, Miss Conover, Mrs. Ricketts, Dr. Benjamin I. Wheeler.
Daniel Slote & Co. sent Sam a bill with this date for $8.97 for eight purchases [1902 Financials file MTP]. Note: scrapbooks?