January 20 Monday – The Clemens family went to New York for the opening of the P&P play at the Broadway Theatre. This was Abby Sage Richardson’s version, produced by Daniel Frohman and staged by David Belasco. Sam stood hand in hand with the star of the show, little Elsie Leslie, and gave a curtain speech following the third act. Livy wrote to her mother about the evening on Feb. 2:
January 18 Saturday – The Hartford Courant printed “Mark Twain’s Lawsuit” on the front page.
Mr. Edward H. House, the author and journalist, has brought suit against Mr. Samuel L. Clemens, alleging breach of contract in relation to the dramatization of The Prince and the Pauper. An acting version of the play in question by Mrs. Abby Sage Richardson is announced for next Monday evening at the Broadway Theater, New York, with Elsie Leslie in the parts of Edward VI and Tom Canty.
January 17 Friday – A Hartford Courant reporter called on Sam in the afternoon, seeking answers about the dispute with Edward H. House over the dramatization contract for P&P. (See Jan.18 entry.)
Sam forwarded Hudson’s Jan. 16 letter to R.W. Nelson of the Thorne Typesetting Co., writing on the bottom:
January 16 Thursday – Edmund Hudson, editor of the National Democrat Weekly (Washington) wrote after hearing about the Thorne typesetters from Sylvester Baxter of the Boston Herald.
January 15 Wednesday – Eli H. Chandler of Kansas City, Kansas wrote at sea, returning from London to Sam, and enclosed clippings from the Jan. 13 London Daily Telegraph, which he claimed had the highest circulation in the world. Chandler observed that the editor of the Telegraph “totally misunderstands and misconceives the scope and intention of your book” (CY). The article called the book a “travesty…that tries to deface our moral and literary currency” [MTP].
The site of ancient JERICHO.—A bout 1/2 m. from the foot of the pass, a short distance S. of the road to Rîha, is an immense reservoir, 657 ft. long, by 490 wide; and around it, especially on the western side, are extensive ruins, consisting of low mounds of rubbish, and foundations of buildings. Turning northward we perceive similar remains extending at intervals to the banks of the Kelt, and even along its N. side. Fording the little stream, and advancing still northwards, we enter in some 15 min.
ROUTE 9.EXCURSION TO JERICHO, THE JORDAN,THE DEAD SEA, MAR SABA, AND BETHLEHEM.
Jerusalem to Jericho
The Jordan
The Dead Sea
Mar Saba
Bethlehem
Jerusalem
15. From Jerusalem to Jericho, the Ford of Jordan,the Dead Sea, and back to Jerusalem via Mar Saba.
ROUTE 8. EXCURSION TO BETHANY.
Every one who can by any possibility walk 3 m. should make this excursion on foot. Half the pleasure is lost if it be hurried over. Every step is “holy ground,” trodden by prophets and apostles, and ONE greater than them all. We thus often feel constrained to sit down, and calmly contemplate scenes unsurpassed on earth for sacred interest.
Route 7.—Jerusalem
1, PRELIMINARY INFORMATION,
§1, Hotels, — § 2. Money, Letters, &c. — § 3. The Consulate. — § 4. The English Church.
2. TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS OF MODERN JERUSALEM.