February 8 Friday – Sam’s notebook:
Subject: How to make things go, at a dinner. Dusting off list. Something to take place of candle-shade burnings developing into Great Fire of London.
Make talk general. How do you like Chicago? It’s a kindness to people who can’t talk—they can listen. Saharas of silence, with nothing visible from horizon—can’t think of a thing to say.
February 7 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Chas Fairchild 10 W. 8th—8 p.m.” [NB 44 TS 5].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Oliver O. Howard asking for “good seats” for his wife and daughters for the Feb. 11 Lincoln Celebration night [MTP].
Judson Smith for the American Board of Commissioners wrote to Sam (in part here):
My Dear Mr. Clemens:
February 6 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Introduction 100-year. Gov’t in hands of Xn Sci, or R. Catholics? Whole suffrage introduced to save Protestantism in 1950, but too late; R C & XSC ahead—got the field” [NB 44 TS 5].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Andrew Carnegie, Paine offering it was done “in the midst of the tumult” created by his “Sitting in Darkness” article [MTB 1132]:
February 5 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Twichell comes, in evening. Riggs, 7.30. 150 Central Park South” [NB 44 TS 5].
H. Brown of Quincy, Ill. wrote compliments of Twain’s “Sitting in Darkness” article [MTP].
William Augustus Croffut for the Washington (D.C.) Anti-Imperialist League wrote compliments and of the “extreme jubilation” his household was in after reading Twain’s “Sitting in Darkness” article [MTP].
February 4 Monday – [pdf box located in February 3 entry]
Sam’s notebook: “Bliss, at 26 Bway, 3 pm. / Publish Adam’s Diary. / Harvey, you don’t advertise. Carry Adam’s Diary along—get it in April No.” [NB 44 TS 5].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Channing H. Cook of the Plasmon Co., NYC, asking for “several pounds (in quarter-pound packages)” to be sent to Katharine I. Harrison [MTP].
February 3 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Write Introduction to 100-Year Book. Mrs. Schieffelin, 242 E. 15th” [NB 44 TS 5].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Edward W. Ordway, secretary of the Anti-Imperialist League. “I myself have no objections; for the other necessary permission I will refer you to Colonel Harvey of the North American Review…” [MTP]. Note: the League requested to reprint in pamphlet form, “To The Person Sitting in Darkness.”
February 2 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Speyor [sic ] calls for me. Afternoon, 330. East side poor?” [NB 44 TS 5]. Note: James Speyer (1861-1941), American banker, who, along with his wife, Ellin Prince Lowry Speyer (d. 1921) helped to organize the University Settlement Society in 1891 and was also involved in many social, educational, and cultural organizations in N.Y.C., including the Speyer school at Columbia University.
February 1 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Tell the story of (the woman whose young daughter was seduced by her second husband) Tut Reynolds. / Laffan, 8 to meet Mrs. Millet” [NB 44 TS 4].
February – The North American Review ran Mark Twain’s article, “To the Person Sitting in Darkness.” It was not included in any collections during his lifetime [Budd, Collected 2: 1006], though it was republished in pamphlet form. Note: He received many letters of response on this significant article, which recast him as a patriot in the eyes of many. There were critics, however, sometimes severe in their treatment of the piece and of Clemens.
January 31 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving S. Underhill. “Friday. Dear Mr. Underhill: will you call at my house at 10.30 a.m. to morrow or Sunday or Monday & talk about this” [MTP]. Note: Since Jan. 31 was a Thursday, either Sam had the day wrong or this is miscataloged.