May 22, 1906 Tuesday

May 22 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Mr. Clemens is sitting down stairs in the hall revising the auto-ms. & chuckling with delight over the account of the speech he made 20 years ago at the Whittier dinner. “Oh, it will do to go into print before I die.” —and the couch shakes with him & his laughter He sits in his white clothes—so beautiful he is—so pure—and he calls out that he must begin at once to read it aloud to me” [MTP TS 72-73].

May 21, 1906 Monday

May 21 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam began dictating again for his Autobiography [MTHHR 607n1]. Sam’s A.D. of this day, “The Jumping Frog” gives a short history of the famous frog tale; it was selected for MTE [143-48].

Clemens’ A.D. for the day: Early experiences as an author—Publishing of “The Jumping Frog” in volume of sketches—Meeting George W. Carleton in Luzerno. His apology for having refused to publish Clemens’ book of sketches. Difficulties attending the bringing out of “The Innocents Abroad” [MTP Autodict2].

May 19, 1906 Saturday

May 19 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Orchestrelle put up today. / Mr. Paine & Miss Hobby are to arrive today” [MTP TS 72]. Note: the Aeolian Co. disassembled, shipped, and reassembled the Orchestrelle, from NY to Dublin, and returned it to NY after the season. The arrival of the biographer and stenographer on May 20 means Clemens did not dictate for his autobiography until Monday, May 21.

May 18, 1906 Friday

May 18 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers. I am lying fallow here, all these days, & drowsing & resting. Life begins to stir in me at last, but I’ve no use for it yet, for my stenographer is delayed & I can’t begin work until 3 days hence.

May 17, 1906 Thursday

May 17 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Mr. Clemens reads poetry to Jean & me every evening. Such reading it is. There never was anyone to read so beautifully before & to charm you so & hurt you so” [MTP TS 72].

May 14, 1906 Monday

May 14 Monday – Carl Schurz, statesman, reformer, and Secretary of the Interior under Rutherford B. Hayes, died in N.Y.C.

At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam sent his sympathies to the Carl Schurz family.

Subscribe to