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.
December 21 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Sir Martin / N.E. Dinner—to-day or tomorrow” [NB 43 TS 32].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving Bacheller, declining an invitation. He had not accepted one since Nov. 12 and “declined an average of three a day ever since—the last three from my own home (Hartford).” He added that “The book charmed me!” [MTP]. Note: See Dec. 5 and 14 for, Eben Holden; A Tale of the North Country. Also see Gribben 36.
December 20 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Clarence F. Forrest, thanking “the Committee” for the invitation but declining [MTP]. Note: Forrest is not further identified.
Sam also wrote to Mr. Griswold.
“I shall be very glad indeed to have the Dresden edition of my old friend’s books in my library in this house. I knew him twenty years, and was fond of him, and held him in as high honor as I have held any man living or dead” [MTP].
December 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Opera with Col Harvey / Owen Wister coming, 10.30.” [Note: source gives Livy as writer of the opera engagement. Also:] “dinner with Harvey. See Monday. His carriage will arrive for me at 6.30” [NB 43 TS 31-32].
December 18 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Dinner at Mr. Mott’s 8 pm 17 E 47th / HOWELLS Lunch at 1 Century Club 7 W. 43d” [NB 43 TS 31]. Note: Jordan Lawrence Mott, Jr.; Sam gives the same address for Mott as he did in his Dec. 9 entry, connecting Mott to Winston Churchill’s visit.
Sam lunched with William Dean Howells at the Century Club [MTHL 2: 725: NB 43 TS 31].
At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Mrs. Elizabeth Evans.