November 6 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Brander Matthews.
Dang it, I’m in Princeton 16th, 17th, & 18th to umpire the football game.
Gimme another chance!
Of course dedicate to me, if you will do me that honor. I shall be glad & proud [MTP]. Note: Gribben identifies the dedicated work as Matthews’ 1901 book, The Historical Novel and Other Essays [459].
November 5 Monday – Before leaving Princeton, N.J.., Sam inscribed Laurence Hutton’s copy of The Celebrated Frog of Calaveras County to: Laurence Hutton: “Prosperity & happiness to Laurence Hutton from his friend Mark Twain—Nov. 5, 1900.” Dated by Hutton on the fly-leaf, “Apr 21/70” [MTP: M.E. Wood, Laurence and Eleanor Hutton: Their Books of Association, 1905, p.129].
November 4 Sunday – The Clemenses visited with the Laurence Huttons in Princeton, N.J..
William Dean Howells, nearby at 115 E.16th Street, wrote to Thomas Bailey Aldrich, remarking on how good Clemens looked:
Throughout much of its history, the community was split into two separate municipalities: a township and a borough. The central borough was completely surrounded by the township. The borough seceded from the township in 1894 in a dispute over school taxes; the two municipalities later formed the Princeton Public Schools, and some other public services were conducted together before they were reunited into a single Princeton in January 2013.
November 3 Saturday – Sam and Livy (and possibly one or both of their daughters) took a train by 10:55 a.m. and traveled to Princeton, N.J.. for a two day visit with the Laurence Huttons [Oct. 31, Nov 7 to Hutton]. Note: it is possible they took in a ball game if they arrived early enough (mentioned in Sam’s Oct. 31 to Hutton; Sam planned to attend a football game on a return trip Nov. 16-18).
November 2 Friday – At 14 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to William Webster Ellsworth: “All right— make it Dec. 4—Aldine—good time—no reporters” [MTP].
Sam also replied to Andrew Langdon (1835- 1919), Livy’s first cousin. Langdon was a wealthy Buffalo businessman. In 1887 Clemens had made him the subject of an uncomplimentary sketch, “Letter from the Recording Angel” (see What Is Man?, etc.).
October 31 Wednesday – At the Hotel Earlington in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Channing H. Cook. “Dr. Cook / General Manager: / I discover no error in the remarks concerning Plasmon. They are as I worded them” [MTP]. Note: this was included in Sam’s Oct. 31 to MacAlister (below) “to be presently distributed as an ad.”
Sam also wrote to John Y. MacAlister, transcribing the note to Cook (above):
This following is to precede a brief interview concerning Plasmon, to be presently distributed as an ad.
October 30 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “See Chas. Frohman / or Rosenfeld 289 4th ave. / Write Sraus on Authors Club. / See Metro bank & leave check & signatures” [NB 43 TS 28]. Note: a collaboration between Sydney Rosenfeld and Mark Twain on a comedy play had been initiated in Vienna on Apr. 22, 1898, and a meeting took place on Oct. 22 of this year between Charles Frohman, Rosenfeld, and Twain.
October 29 Monday