March 25 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Miss Marjorie Bowen (pseud.)

Indeed I shall be more pleased than you can think, to have “The Master of Stair” dedicated to me. It is lovely of you to conceive of this fine compliment for me, & I highly value the impulse that moved you to it. You are a wonderful girl, & I hope there is a long life before you to keep on proving it in. / With the very best wishes …. [MTP]. Note: see Nov. 20, 1906.

March 24 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: A lazy recuperative day, I think. I have never been so exhausted as just now. I was telling the King this morning how mother who spends her winters near here changed her boarding house by herself and got into a house of questionable character and he told me of how when Mr. And Mrs. Twichell were in London many years ago, they spent a week in a house of prostitution and would probably be there yet, if some friend hadn’t taken them out [MTP TS 44].

March 23 Saturday – Fatout lists Sam giving a Pilgrim’s dinner speech at the Ambassador James Bryce Dinner, Waldorf-Astoria, N.Y.C. [MT Speaking 676]. Particulars below:

The New York Sun, Mar. 24, p.4, “Bryce Guest of Pilgrims” reported the event but does not mention any speech by Mark Twain. In part (with all mentions of Mark Twain):  

BRYCE GUEST OF PILGRIMS.

GREETINGS AT DINNER TO THE

BRITISH AMBASSADOR.

——— ———

March 22 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote an introductory note for Frederick Upham Adams (representing Harper’s) to Dr. John S. Billings. The introduction was “upon library business” [MTP].

March 21 Thursday – The Bermudian docked in N.Y.C.  Sam returned home to  21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. and sent a telegram to Lilian W. Aldrich in Boston:

“I have just learned to-night with the deepest sorrow of your heavy bereavement & I tender the heartfelt sympathy of an old friend who always loved him, & who would comfort you if any words of his could do it” [MTP].

March 20 Wednesday – Sam was on the Bermudian en route to N.Y.C. Isabel Lyon’s journal: “A beautiful rough day” [MTP TS 41].

Arthur E. Bullard for Friends of Russian Freedom wrote to advise Sam they were organizing on a national basis and requested he be on their executive committee [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “I am in full sympathy with the movement & am willing to have my name used, but as I am too full of duties I cannot furnish any active service”

March 19 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: We sailed away again this morning. We had a darling time when leaving time came, for every one way paying court to the King, and photographing him. We flew over to Trinningham’s [D. Hoffman shows this as Trimingham’s] and bought him a nice panama hat, one like Binny’s, and Binny was struggling with an Irish flag to hoist to the top of his hired boat in Paddy’s honor and altogether it was charming. The afternoon before there had been some good talk with Mr.

March 18 Monday – Sam, Isabel Lyon, and Paddy Madden reached Bermuda.

March 17 Sunday – Sam was en route to Bermuda on the Bermudian. It was now a two-day voyage.

March 16 Saturday – Sam, Isabel Lyon, and the “pretty young girl” Paddy Madden left on the Bermudian. The trip would be a five-day getaway for Sam, who was suffering from gout, but all but one day would be on board the ship. Also on the outward voyage Charles W. Eliot (1834-1926), president of Harvard, and Thomas D. Peck, woolen manufacturer from Pittsfield, Mass., were on board. Sam and Peck conducted a lottery on the ship to benefit the Cottage Hospital in Bermuda, the only civilian one there [D. Hoffman 78-9].