April 13 Sunday – Clemens wrote “A Defence of General Funston,” which ran in the May issue of the North American Review [Apr. 14 to Rogers]. Note: the article may be found in Zwick’s Mark Twain’s Weapons of Satire, etc. p.119-32 (1992). Paine observes this article “stirred up a good deal of a storm” [MTB 1165].
April 11 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “xx said she, deftly taking a new reef in her garter, then withdrawing her shapely limb from view behind the falling gown—” [NB 45 TS 10].
April 10 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to The American Plasmon Co., 361 Broadway, N.Y.: “Has Mr. Butters returned? Any news? What is your telephone address?” [MTP]. Note: Henry A. Butters.
Sam also wrote to the editor of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican. The letter ran in the Apr. 12 issue of the newspaper [MTP].
To the Editor of the Republican:
When [Henry] Flagler first visited Florida in 1878, he recognized the state's potential for growth but noticed a lack of hotel facilities. Flagler returned to Florida and in 1885 with an eye toward developing the area around St. Augustine and began building a grand hotel, the Hotel Ponce de Leon. Flagler realized that the key to developing Florida was a solid transportation system and consequently purchased the Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad.
April 9 Wednesday – The Kanawha sailed at 9 a.m.from Old Point Comfort, Va. to N.Y.C. Sam’s notebook: It arrived at 5 p.m. “a brisk run of 165 miles. Caught 5.45 train for home. Telegram sent at 8 yesterday took all day. / Mrs. Bunce at home” [NB 45 TS 9].
Sam’s ship log: “Sailed at 9 a.m. for New York. The yacht was believed to be a good & staunch sea-boat before—she is known to be one now.
Arrived off East 23d at 5 pm—a brisk run of 165 miles.
Caught 5.45 train for Riverdale.
April 8 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Before midnight, storm came on. Much rolling. Violent squalls of wind, with downpour of rain, lightning—one boom of thunder, rather mellow. Took shelter in Delaware breakwater before dawn. Several other vessels—coal tugs outside with women & children in the barges. Myriad of ducks / On Knees for Matches. Fine piece of navigating” [NB 45 TS 9].
Sam’s ship log offers a somewhat less cryptic account:
April 7 Monday – The Kanawha was at Old Point Comfort, Va. The New York Times ran a special on the progress of the cruise on the first page, April 8 issue.
COMING BACK FROM CUBA.
———
The Kanawha with ex-Speaker Reed and Mark Twain at Newport News.
Special to The New York Times.
April 6 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Smooth sea, sunny & pleasant. No cards. Reed played solitaire. ‘ignorant of music’ = Reed / Reached Norfolk midnight” [NB 45 TS 9]. Note: Sam’s ship log gave part of this report.
Livy’s diary: “Miss Forth & Miss Bowman here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
April 5 Saturday – On board the Kanawha off Cape Hatteras, N.C., Sam wrote to Livy.
Livy darling it is too bad, I forgot all about Frau von Versen. I hasten at this late day to send a couple of mottoes for you to choose from. I will mail them at Norfolk this evening, & they will beat me home, whether we get delayed or don’t. We are always subject to delays. …
We are off Hatteras, but it is not stormy.
With tons & tons of love.
April 4 Friday – On board the Kanawha en route from Nassau, Bahamas to Jacksonville, Fla., Sam wrote to Livy.