February 20 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dorothy Quick in Plainfield, N.J.

February 19 Wednesday – In the evening Sam attended the Pilgrim’s Club Dinner at Delmonico’s in honor of Ambassador to England, Whitelaw Reid. The New York Times, Feb. 20, p. 3 reported:

AMBASSADOR REID THE PILGRIM’S GUEST

Tells Them Talk of War with Japan is Silly and That England Wouldn’t Aid Her.

——— ——— ———

CHEER KING AND PRESIDENT

Ex-ambassador Choate Presides In President Duncan’s Absence—Mark Twain Speaks.

February 18 Tuesday – Sam’s A.D. of Feb. 19 discloses his activities for the day and evening:

February 17 Monday – Sam inscribed a copy of Eve’s Diary to Kim C. Tabley: “To / Mrs. K.C. Tapley / with compliments of  / The Author. / Clothes make the man, but they do not improve the woman. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Feb/08” [Nate D. Sanders, Autographs, eBay # 170659440080 June 26, 2011]. Note: evidently Twain thought her last name was “Tapley,” though the incoming (below) clearly shows “Tabley.”  

Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Yes, we are to go to Bermuda on next Saturday” [MTP: IVL TS 24].

February 16 Sunday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Augustus Croffut.

My dear Croffut:

You will see by this morning’s clipping that there is hardly any likelihood that the Knickerbocker will resume business. My deposit is $51,199, & I am not expecting 15 per cent of it to escape alive.

February 15 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Such a sweet comfort of an evening I have had with the King, after a busy & fluttering kind of a day. Mr. Rogers came in for a long talk this morning. Brio left at 12:45, leaving a baddish taste in Santa’s mouth. At 2:15 C. Teller called up asking if the King would come to the telephone, but he wouldn’t of course, & then she sent in a note asking him to go to the Brevort (where she is stopping) in order to do some work which he alone could do.

February 14 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Greenwich, Conn.  

February 13 Thursday – In the evening at 21 Fifth Ave. Clara Clemens gave a musical presentation to about 140 persons, accompanied by Miss Marie Nichols of Boston, a violinist, and Charles E. Wark, pianist The NY Times, Feb. 14, p 7, “Miss Clemens’s Musicale” lists the following 60 guests. See also Sam’s Feb. 14 to Jean.

February 12 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Jan. 16 from Eden Phillpotts about Phillpotts’ proposed book dedication to Mark Twain:  

My dear friend: / Indeed there is not a single syllable to be altered. The dedication pleases me “to the limit”—it could not be improved. I am anticipating a good time in the society of that book.

February 11 Tuesday – Sam hosted his second “Doe Luncheon” at 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. [Feb. 7 to Mary Rogers; IVL TS 20].

Sam also sketched drawings to Dorothea Gilder and Helena Gilder (Mrs. Richard Watson Gilder), guests of the luncheon. To Dorothea he drew a sailboat with two figures on deck and one falling overboard, then wrote, “Ship sinking—man overboard / SLC.” To Helena he wrote a lady with an umbrella in the rain and wrote, “Lady out in the rain / SLC.” [MTP].