January – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mrs. Ira L. Smith in Hopkinsville, Ky. stating that the Library of Literature was wrong and Review of Reviews was right: “I was born in the village of Florida, Mo.” [MTP].
Lecky writes that Sam’s short essay, “History 1,000 Years from Now” (the title is Paine’s), “may well have been the germ of ‘Eddypus,’” and that it was written this month [Fables of Man 386-7].
December 31 Monday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam replied to Abner Cheney Goodell in Salem, Mass., who had written praise of his N.Y. Herald “salutation” of Dec. 30.
December 30 Sunday – The New York Herald ran a facsimile of Twain’s handwritten salutation from Mark Twain that had been sent originally to the Red Cross Society, and returned at Sam’s request. The facsimile published was dated Dec. 31, 1900; the copy to the Red Cross Society was originally dated Nov. 29, 1900, for use in a series of watch-meetings on New Year’s Eve, organized by the group’s manager, Frank D. Higbie, nephew of Calvin H. Higbie, Sam’s old mining partner.
December 29 Saturday – At the “Country Club” (Quarry Farm) in Elmira., Sam wrote to James B. Pond. “We are on the way to New York. Any morning that you would like to talk, I am on deck at home at 10.30, but writing wastes time, for manifestly it accomplishes nothing. / Yours…” [MTP].
Irving S. Underhill wrote from Buffalo, N.Y. to Sam.
December 28 Friday – Justus S. North wrote from Welaka, Fla. to Sam, unhappy that he’d purchased a volume entitled Library of Wit and Humor by Mark Twain (and others), and blaming Sam. North had discovered:
December 27 Thursday – The New York Times ran this story on the front page:
INVITED HERE BY MARK TWAIN.
The Author Wants Friend in Colorado to Visit Him—How the Two Missed a fortune in 1863.
Special to the New York Times.
DENVER, Col., Dec. 26—Judge Adair Wilson of the State Court of Appeals has received an invitation [not extant] from his old friend Mark Twain to visit him in New York City.
December 26 Wednesday – In Owensville, Indiana, D.B. Montgomery wrote to Sam seeking genealogical information on the Montgomery clan in Kentucky. He enclosed a printed informational family history on the Montgomery’s [MTP]. Note: On Dec. 30 Sam forwarded the letter to his sister Pamela Moffett, as he was “not interested” in the subject.
December 25 Tuesday – Christmas in Elmira.
Sam inscribed a copy of Tom Sawyer to Warren Leary: “To / Warren Leary / with the kindest regards of / The Author. / We ought never to do wrong when people are looking. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / Xmas, 1900” [MTP]. Note: Warren Leary (1891-1959) was Katy Leary’s nephew from Elmira [“The Fenton Leary Family” MS in Elmira College]. Thanks to Mark Woodhouse of Elmira College.
December 23 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Howells and W.B. Suyman the Boer at 11 a.m” [NB 43 TS 32]. Note: W.B. Suyman was identified in a Jan. 31, 1900 NY Tribune, p. 5 article, “Brave Hearts in London” as a Boer General. The above likely a luncheon.
At 14 W. 10th in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Harriet E. Whitmore.
December 22 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “N.E. Dinner. To-day [?] Go at 9.30? or 10? / Dinner Tablock—7.30” [NB 43 TS 32]. Note: John Tatlock?
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote again to Augustus T. Gurlitz.
I hope you can look in here anytime to-day before 6 (or 7) this evening, as I am going to dine at 8 away out toward 90th street, & I leave for Elmira, New York, for several days Monday morning at 9.