November 12 Tuesday – W.B. Forster Bonall (Borrill?) for The Echo (London) wrote to Sam: “Would you mind if I interviewed you from a distance about humor?” He was trying to make his paper pay but admitted “it’s hard work” [MTP]. Note: “last name doubtful”
November 11 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Jos. Johnson—10-11. / What is the difference between an optimist of 50 & a fool? Do not know of any” [NB 44 TS 17].
November 10 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Return—11.35—12.30. / Bram Stoker, lunch Irving, dinner, 7, Players—Riggs Last train, 10.45” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: entry suggests Sam stayed in town after the King’s Birthday celebration at Delmonico’s, had lunch and dinner, and took the last train back to Riverdale.
November 9 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “The King’s birthday. Delmonico, 44th Street. I to arrive 9.30 or 9.45 / Mr. Bradley. Leave 8.45. Britons educated in British schools & colleges. Includes Canadians & other colonials” [NB 44 TS 17]. Note: see below.
November 7 Thursday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam, asking for an interview. He addressed the letter to “S.L. Clemens, Litt.D,” honoring Sam’s new honorary doctor of letters degree from Yale.
November 6 Wednesday – The Order of Acorns organized a victory parade after the Fusion ticket won a large victory in the Nov. 5 election. Mark Twain gave a speech at one point; the event was covered by the New York Times, Nov. 7, p.3:
“THE ACORNS” HOLD AN ELECTION JUBILEE
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Mark Twain Delivers a Mock Eulogy on Tammany.
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Then They Parade Up Broadway to
November 5 Tuesday – Election Day, New York City: The Fusion Ticket won Victory in the election, with Seth Low elected by a plurality of 33,000. William Travers Jerome was also elected District Attorney. This was a big defeat for Tammany Hall.
November 5 after – Sam’s notebook:
November 4 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Magnus Gross, declining an unspecified request: “for I am loaded to the Plimsoll mark, & mustn’t add an ounce to my cargo” [MTP]. Note: This may have been Magnus Gross, public school principal, in 1905 the President of the New York City Teachers’ Organization. The plimsoll line is the marking on a ship’s hull that shows how low or high the ship is resting in the water, in this case the high mark.
November 2 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Introduce a speaker?” [NB 44 TS 16]. Note: may refer to Nov. 7.
November 1 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Gerding. — Sam Moffett Lincoln Bank” [NB 44 TS 16]. Note: Charles Gerding, Jr. obtained a judgment against Isaac K. Funk of Funk & Wagnalls publishing. Funk had reorganized the Eastern Tennessee Land Co. in 1894, which had originally been formed in 1889 to establish a prohibition settlement. Charles Gerding, Sr. was at one time employed by the Co.