April 13 Saturday – Sam gave a reading at Miss Annie Brown’s in New York City. He included “True Story,” and “Uncle Remus” [Fatout, MT Speaking 659]. This reading was to benefit the Society of Collegiate Alumnae, working to help lower class working women in the city [MTNJ 3: 468n211]. It was one of several charity readings Sam gave during this year.
April 12 Friday – Sam and Livy went to New York and stayed at the Murray Hill Hotel [Apr.15 to Crane]. He gave a reading there the next day at Miss Brown’s.
Sam’s notebook: [check] # 4830. Apl. 12. $40. — 2,000 miles [3: 470].
April 11 Thursday – In Hartford, Sam responded to an unidentified man who evidently asked what effect the Paige typesetter would have on the costs of composition. Sam’s reply shows how high the expectations for the machine were:
April 10 Wednesday – In Hartford, Sam responded to an unidentified person he addressed as “My Dear Cousins.”
I suppose you have got it a little wrong, & that you are cousin to my niece Mrs. Annie Moffett Webster, of Fredonia, N.Y. My wife’s former name was Langdon, & she doesn’t seem to have any relatives outside of the State of New York [MTP].
April 9 Tuesday – Sam gave another private reading, probably in New York. His notebook selections included, “Encounter with an Interviewer,” “The Skinned Man,” selections from HF and the Jumping Frog, and all of the Lucerne girl tale about a stranger acting as if she knew him [MTNJ 3: 446]. Livy was disappointed being unable to visit Theodore and Susan L. Crane, who evidently had left the city [Sam to Crane, Apr. 15].
April 8 Monday – Sam and Livy (judging from Sam’s Apr. 15 to Susan L. Crane) went to New York and stayed at the Murray Hill Hotel. In the evening, Sam gave a speech at the “Baseball Dinner,” Delmonico’s in New York, which he titled, “The Grand Tour-1. The Sandwich Islands.” Fatout writes:
April 6 Saturday – Webster & Co. wrote to Sam (O’Reilly to Hall Mar. 27 encl.) referring O’Reilly’s suggestion that the later events of the Pope’s life should be included in a new edition, since if the Pope died, it would not take advantage of the “excitement incident” to it [MTP]. Note: among his recent achievements, the Pope founded the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
April 5 Friday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Augustin Daly feeling he owed him and the actress Miss Rehan, who was the idol of his girls.
I have written wonderful books, which have revolutionized politics & religion in the world; & you might think that that is why my children hold my person to be sacred, but it isn’t so: it is because I know Miss Rehan & Mr. Drew personally [MTP]. Note: Ada Rehan and John Drew were notables on the N.Y. stage.
April 4 Thursday – In Hartford Sam responded to Abraham G. Mills’ letter agreeing that Mills should read Carter’s letter and then introduce him at the baseball dinner on Apr. 8. Sam reminded him, not to address him as Clemens. “I am Mark Twain in public — never Clemens.” He also asked that Mills not send a carriage for him and Twichell unless it was raining, as they “always walk when the weather will allow it” [MTP].
April 3 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Charles Noel Flagg (1848–1916) noted portrait artist, thanking him for compliments sent. Flagg painted Sam’s portrait when Sam was 55 [MTP].