December 16 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Two tickets in card-case for Xn Science lecture by ex-Judge Clarkson (Omaha) Carnegie Hall 3 p.m.” [NB 43 TS 31]. Note: Joseph Clarkson gave a lecture to a packed hall in support of Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science, which he claimed had performed two million cases of healing [NY Times, Dec. 17, p. 7].
December 15 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “N.E. Dinner?” [NB 43 TS 31].
Harper’s Weekly featured a cover portrait of Mark Twain by the renowned English artist William Nicholson. No text was given. See insert.
December 14 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Irving Bacheller.
December 13 Thursday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote one line on a postcard to Augustus T. Gurlitz, a N.Y. attorney he considered hiring: “What would it cost?—definitely” [MTP]. Note: Sam wanted to bring suit against Chicago publisher Butler Brothers for issuing an unauthorized edition of the “Library of Wit and Humor by Mark Twain.”
Sam’s notebook: “Aldrich, Boston?” [NB 43 TS 31].
December 12 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Edmund Clarence Stedman.
“It is most kind of President Dodge, but I am most likely to stay at home, for I am dead, dead, dead tired of talking & feeding. I have crept out of all my engagements except one tonight & one in the middle of January…” [MTP].
December 11 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Augustus T. Gurlitz, N.Y. Attorney for Kipling at this time.
As city editor of the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise in late 1862, Sam Clemens rehearsed a comic persona of a sometimes bumbling, sometimes wise-cracking reporter. While uncovering the facts to report the truth, this wise-cracking reporter also prospected the town to discover where its jokes lay. By elaborating his initially unnamed comic newspaper persona, Clemens created his earliest version of Mark Twain, what might be called Washoe Mark Twain.
December 10 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Bad head-cold—from exposure at Motts. Woke up with it at 3 a.m. Was treated by Helmer (osteopath) at 3 this afternoon. Cold all gone before 11 to-night. No physician could do that wonderful thing” [NB 43 TS 31]. Note: Motts also mentioned for Dec. 18 dinner; NB entry.
Ella T. Smith wrote to Sam about this day, her letter not extant but referred to in his reply of Jan. 1, 1901 [MTP].
December 9 Sunday – [date in PDF box]