April 23 Tuesday – In N.Y.C., Sam wrote a short note to George S. Seymour, enclosing a 1899 photo of himself: “Here you have it, & on Shakespeare’s birth-day at that” [MTP]. Note: Seymour is not identified.
Sam received a letter and check from John Y. MacAlister [Apr. 24 to MacAlister]. Note: incoming not extant.
Sam’s notebook: “Read in Princeton Heptagon — 7.30” [NB 44 TS 9].
Check # Payee Amount [Notes]
April 22 Monday – Sam and Livy left Saranac Lake, N.Y. and returned to N.Y.C. [Apr. 21 to Alexander].
Sam’s notebook: “Mrs. Pike 136 E. 61st Mr. Borden” [NB 44 TS 9]
April 21 Sunday – At the Riverside Inn, Saranac Lake, N.Y., Sam wrote to John White Alexander, apologizing for a missed dinner date. They had been trying to “hunt up a summer-place on high ground for the ailing member of the family”
“And now, on top of it all, there is a possibility that after this harassed & fatiguing three-days’ railroad-race, our errand to these remote regions has failed & we return home tomorrow defeated. But that is nothing—I am only poignantly sorry about the other failure” [MTP].
In 1860, Orlando Blood opened Blood's Hotel in Saranac Lake. Blood first leased it from John J. Miller, who had built it. He bought it along with eighty acres in 1865 for $2,115. In 1886, lumberjack and guide Wallace Murray purchased the hotel and changed the name to the Riverside Inn. The Riverside Inn contained 61 bedrooms, exclusive of those occupied by family and servants. Mark Twain occasionally sat on the shaded veranda. The dining room could seat 130, a large accommodation for the time.
April 20 Saturday – [date in a PDF box]
Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Emmett. No—19th (above) Heptagon Dining Club, 7.30 at Metropolitan Club. Informal— only 20. James W. Alexander 4 E. 64th” [NB 44 TS 9]. Note: see Apr. 21.
April 19 Friday – The Clemens family left N.Y.C. and traveled to Saranac Lake, N.Y. [Apr. 21 to Alexander]. Note: Their purpose was to secure a cabin to return for summer for Livy’s health. See Apr. 21 to Alexander.
Sam’s notebook: “Heptagon – see below [for Apr.20] / Mr. Stokes 50 W. 39th / Mrs. Mott 17 East 47th” [NB 44 TS 9]. Note: Mrs. Jordan Lawrence Mott, Jr.
April 18 Thursday – Sam inscribed the first volume of his autographed 24-volume set of Mark Twain’s Works by American Publishing Co. to William S. Hofstra (1861-1932), Dutch immigrant lumber magnate and founder of Hofstra University: “With compliments to / William S. Hofstra / S.L. Clemens / (Mark Twain) / April 18, 1901” [eBay #370393968899, June 10, 2010]. Note: this set was numer 97 of 512 published. He likely signed other sets on this day that have yet to surface.
April 17 Wednesday – Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (1840-1916) inventor born in Maine who lived in London, wrote to Sam about his “Sitting in Darkness” article:
April 16 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Mr. Enos—evening Social Club All Clemenses” [NB 44 TS 8].
In N.Y.C., Sam wrote a “NOTICE!” to Frank Bliss, explaining he could allow “copying-privileges” only when Bliss wanted, regardless of what Sam said, since he was obliged to say yes as a rule “as a trade-courtesy” [MTP].
April 15 Monday – In N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Laurence Hutton, who had become a professor at Princeton University.
Dear Professor: / I am glad to hail you by that handsome title, and we all congratulate you cordially! Mrs. Clemens puts in her head and interrupts to say, “Give them my love, my best love, and do your dictating a little more quietly and don’t make such a hell of a racket for I am busy in here and have things to attend to myself.” That is like my wife, who is nothing if not unliterary.