December 8 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to William Winter at the Staten Island Academey, N.Y., for the Arthur Winter Memorial Library. Sam declined to give a reading there, explaining it was his new rule to never do so outside the City, and only to do so in private homes, with no advertising, and for a good cause. If Winter wanted to transfer the reading to a home in N.Y.C., he would reconsider [MTP].
December 7 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Col. Harvey. Metropolitan Club. 1.30 / Has Tarkington a wife?” [NB 44 TS 19]. Note: Booth Tarkington (1869-1946; born Newton Booth Tarkington in Indianapolis), would marry Laurel Fletcher in 1902. He was likely now so engaged (they divorced in 1911 and he remarried).
December 6 Friday – Clara M. Harriott (Clara Morris) wrote from “The Pines” in Riverdale to Sam, mortified and disappointed that her door bell had not worked properly when he called. “I must either earn enough to buy a new one or I must hire a man to stand by and give instructions to those friends who are good enough to find me out” [MTP]. Note: the day Sam called is not given.
December 5 Thursday – Charles E. Flandrau of the defunct St. Paul Roller Mill Co. sent a form letter to Sam asking for a proxy for a Jan. 4, 1902 meeting about the final disposition of two pieces of real property which had not yet sold [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote a note on the letter on Dec. 12 and sent it to H.H. Rogers.
Joseph Issacs wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam that he’d rec’d Sam’s check this day and would ship “segars and 2 pipes you ordered next week” [MTP].
December 4 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Horace N. Allen (1858-1932), American Minister in Seoul, Korea (1897-1905).
I am very glad to have that historical digest, & I thank you for sending it. I hope your boys have successfully resisted all of Tom & Huck’s efforts to dismoralize them, & that they are stronger for the resistance.
December 3 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Elisabeth Marbury’s Dec. 2 question. He had no preferences after Francis Wilson, and so left the matter in her hands [MTP].
Frank Fuller wrote from N.Y. on his Health Food Co. stationery to Sam.
December 2 Monday – Elisabeth Marbury wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam about whom she should select to make a libretto of CY. She had conferred with George W. Broadhurst, whom she thought “especially qualified” for the job, and also thought Mr. Englander could write the music. If Francis Wilson (Sam’s preference) would not do business on terms acceptable, did Sam have another preference or would he “leave the thing wholly in” Marbury’s hands? [MTP]. Note: Sam answered the next day, Dec. 3.
December – Sam inscribed his photograph to William Winter: “Willie Winter, with the affectionate regard of Mark Twain. Riverdale, Dec., ’01” [MTP: Walpole Galleried catalogs, Nov. 11, 1923, Item 60].
Sam’s story, “The Death-Disk” (aka “The Death Wafer”) ran in Harper’s Monthly Magazine.
W. Ramsay’s article, “Mark Twain: A Biographical Sketch” ran in Great Thoughts. Twainian, II (February, 1940), 7 [35].
November 30 Saturday – Sam’s 66th Birthday. Sam’s notebook: “St. Andrews—Delmonico’s, 7. Carnegie— ‘& speak on what is supposed not to exist—Scotch Humor’ See Nov. 15. Shall arrive there 9.30 prompt” [NB 44 TS 19].
Sam inscribed in an unknown work to Livy: “To Olivia L. Clemens, in passing notice of this day, which lands another year upon the already overburdened back of her loving husband. S.L. Clemens. Riverdale-on-Hudson. Nov. 30, 1901” [MTP].
November 29 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “At the Library—8 p.m. politician / a May engagement—see May 29” [NB 44 TS 19]. Note: May 29 only mentions Mrs. Urban H. Broughton.
In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam signed a typewritten note to Mrs. Sol Baerlein, (Lottie Kohner Baerlein, d.1920) declining an invitation [MTP: Scott J. Winslow Assoc. catalog, June 16, 1999, Item 80]. Note: Sol Baerlein published poetry in the yearbook of the Celibates Club.