May 10 Saturday – Sam wrote to Nathaniel Pasternak, his letter not extant but referred to in Pasternak’s reply of May 13.
Sam’s notebook entry lists ideas for the “50 years after” tale, never finished [NB 45 TS 12].
George W. Reeves for Hoyt & Co. wrote to Sam, enclosing a bill from the Title Co. for $289.50 for the clearing of title from Flora McDonald Casey to Olivia L. Clemens on the Tarrytown house [MTP]. 02.mpg
May 9 Friday – Sam’s notebook entry consists of a list of possible readings, though no appearance for this date has been found; “Death of Mary / Tearing down the stable / Watermelon / Dead man / Getting measles / Conspiracy” [NB 45 TS 12]. Note: it is possible Sam did a reading at the Gilder reception mentioned below:
Livy’s diary: “Dined with Mr & Mrs Chapin; went to Mrs Gilder’s reception in the evening” [MTP: DV161].
May 8 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Dine with the Halls” [NB 45 TS 12]. Note: Frederick J. Hall, Sam’s old partner at C. L Webster & Co. The Halls had visited the Clemenses at Dollis Hill in Sept. 1900.
Livy’s diary: “Mr John Quincy Adams, Mr George de Forest Brush, Mr Duncan, Miss Grace Dodge, Miss May Dodge & Miss [Anne] Sedgwick here for tea. We dined with Mr & Mrs Henry Hall” [MTP: DV161].
May 7 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Train 6.40—arr. 7.9. / Dinner here—7.30. Robt. McClure & Jaccaci” [NB 45 TS 12]. Note: August F. Jaccaci, art director for McClure’s Magazine.
Blanche E. Weekes wrote from Baltimore to Sam.
I send you by this mail a copy of the dramatisation of your book “Prince and Pauper.” I hope it will meet with your approval, and can find enough merit to permit it submitted to a manager.
May 6 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Alice Day, dinner, to meet Lord & Lady Kelvin 8. p.m.” [NB 45 TS 12]. Note:
May 5 Monday – H.H. Rogers wrote to Sam that he had sent James F. Strang a reply as Sam requested (see Mar. 31 from Strang), and would “tackle the other to-morrow” [MTHHR 486]. Rogers’ letter (which seems very Twain-like):
May 4 Sunday – Livy’s diary: “Mr & Mrs Wm E. Dodge came for tea” [MTP: DV161].
May 3 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Lewis P. Ward, “(Known in the last century as ‘Little Ward’)” at The Olympic Club, S.F. Only the envelope survives [MTP]. Note: Ward died in 1903.
Sam’s notebook contains Sam’s reminiscence of another dinner party:
Dined at Sir Henry M. Stanley in (’99?) after the South African war broke out. At end of table, Lady Stanley’s sister at my left, (The Castle School) Lord Kirchener next to her, Chamberlain next to me.
May 2 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Poultney Bigelow, who evidently had asked what road to take to get to Riverdale. Sam replied: “Land!—I don’t know any road except the railroad, & it doesn’t turn off at all. I think you stick to Broadway all the way, but I do not know” [MTP]. Note: Bigelow was likely coming to Sam’s dinner party this evening, and was a fan of the bicycle. “Dinner party at home” [NB 45 TS 11].
May 1 Thursday – Fatout lists a reading by Sam of unspecified works at Mrs. Bartholomew’s in N.Y.C. [MT Speaking 670]. Note: Fatout likely saw this NB entry, but discounted the last sentence: