February 1901

February – The North American Review ran Mark Twain’s article, “To the Person Sitting in Darkness.” It was not included in any collections during his lifetime [Budd, Collected 2: 1006], though it was republished in pamphlet form. Note: He received many letters of response on this significant article, which recast him as a patriot in the eyes of many. There were critics, however, sometimes severe in their treatment of the piece and of Clemens.

January 31, 1901 Thursday

January 31 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving S. Underhill. “Friday. Dear Mr. Underhill: will you call at my house at 10.30 a.m. to morrow or Sunday or Monday & talk about this” [MTP]. Note: Since Jan. 31 was a Thursday, either Sam had the day wrong or this is miscataloged.

January 29, 1901 Tuesday

January 29 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Joe Twichell.

Dear Joe,—

I’m not expecting anything but kicks for scoffing, & am expecting a diminution of my bread & butter by it, but if Livy will let me I will have my say. This nation is like all the others that have been spewed upon the earth—ready to shout for any cause that will tickle its vanity or fill its pocket. What a hell of a heaven it will be, when they get all these hypocrites assembled there!

January 26, 1901 Saturday

January 26 SaturdaySam’s notebook: “New York Theatre—box (?)” [NB 44 TS 4]. Note: see insert ad for New York Theatre, Broadway at 45th Street.

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to William Oliver Fuller, Jr. (b.1856), journalist, author, lecturer, editor of the Rockland (Me.) Courier-Gazette, humorous writer for various N.Y. papers.

January 25, 1901 Friday

January 25 FridaySam’s notebook: “University Club 5th Ave & 54th St Supper & music 9 p.m.” [NB 44 TS 4].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote on a letter in French from H. Montheré (Nov. 6, 1900) to Chatto Windus. Montheré had requested translating rights to RI.

January 23, 1901 Wednesday

January 23 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam began a reply to Joe Twichell that he finished Jan. 24. (Twichell’s incoming not extant, yet from Sam’s text we can deduce at least some of the subject matter of Joe’s letter).

Certainly. I used to take it in my coffee, but it settled to the bottom in the form of mud, & I had to eat it [Plasmon] with a spoon; so I dropped the custom & took my 2 teaspoonfuls in cold milk after breakfast. …

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