March 29 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Boys’ Debate 576 Lexington Av. Cor 51st. Ask Poultney. 1 Lex; (Park Av. Hot.) Gilder; Exercises begin 8.15 ‘English as She is Wrote.’ In my lower drawer. Miss Margt P. Pascal, Prest. I am to say few words after the Boys’ debate” [NB 44 TS 8]. Note: Margaret Pascal taught primarily immigrant children, and worked with George T.
March 28 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Have asked Bigelow to dinner. Mrs. Koller (see 27th ) Empire Theatre 2.15 p.m. Miss Gibley, 6.50 / Duneka said, ‘Go on just as if the clause was abrogated. I cannot say it will be abrogated, but there will be no bother resulting[’] ” [NB 44 TS 7-8].
March 27 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.
March 26 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “10.30, Joan of Arc (Jules E[ckert] Goodman)” [NB 44 TS 7].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Laura Fitch McQuiston (1863- 1935) in Fort Hancock, N.J. Sam extended his “deepest sympathy,” but he had “never had an experience which moved me to believe the living can communicate with the dead,” though he and Livy had and would continue to “experiment in the matter when the opportunity offered.”
March 25 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Stenographer 2.30. Dinner to Harvey 7.30 University Club” [NB 44 TS 7].
The Clemenses heard that Frederic William Henry Myers died in Rome. He was the founder and president of the Society for Psychical Research in Cambridge, England
Unidentified (“Many Students”) wrote from N.Y.C.:
March 24 Sunday – Sam’s notebook:
“Get a box—$6. 3 p.m. Carnegie Concert” [NB 44 TS 7]. See ad insert.
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to John Y. MacAlister in London. George Harvey was sailing for London and had invited Sam to cross with him. Sam’s letter introduced Harvey to MacAlister. “Tell him how the Plasmon business is going, won’t you?” he wrote. Sam noted that H.H.
March 23 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Odell dinner, Lotos Club? 9.45 do? I’ve an engagement” [NB 44 TS 7].
Once again, Sam gave a dinner speech, arriving too late to dine, which allowed him to avoid a lot of rich food and a lot of clatter and noise. The New York Times, Mar. 24, p.2, ran a full article on the event at the Lotos Club in honor of Governor Benjamin Barker Odell, Jr. (1854-1926) (Article below edited to include only the introductory paragraphs and Mark Twain’s speech):
March 22 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Have asked Mr. Dodge to dinner. | Dickson et al 10.30 Benj. Curtis at 10.45” [NB 44 TS 7].
The New York Times ran claims of libel against Mark Twain, p.16:
DEMAND THAT TWAIN RETRACT.
———
Missionaries Say Statement by Him in The North American Review Is Libelous.
March 21 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Henry Holt 7.30 711 Madison Ave” [NB 44 TS 7].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to John White Alexander:
“Is it strictly private, & no reporters? If so, that’s in my line. Am I too impudent?” [MTP]. See Aug. 10, 1888.
James L. Hickok of Binghamton, N.Y. wrote to Sam requesting a lecture to help raise funds for a public library [MTP].
March 20 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Opera Harvey” [NB 44 TS 7].
The Minneapolis Tribune, p.1 ran the political cartoon (insert); top caption: “The Best Joke Yet”; bottom caption: “The G.O.P. ‘Wow! Yah! Yah! Ho! Ho! Oh, wow! M-M-Mark you—Oh, Lordy! You always was a funny fellow.’”