September 29 Saturday – James B. Pond’s article, “Across the Continent with Mark Twain,” ran in Saturday Evening Post p.6-7. Tenney: “Chiefly on the trip to the West Coast in 1895, beginning the world tour that would lead to FE; includes excerpts from Pond’s journal, MT letters of 17 September 1897 (from Weggis, Lake Lucerne), 4 April 1899 (from Vienna), and one undated. Illustrated with ten photographs of MT.
September 28 Friday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to John Y. MacAlister asking him to look at the enclosed (not specified) and to post it if it was all right. Sam was unable to get into London on this day and wrote he might not get in the next day, but would see Mac on Monday [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Frank E. Oldis.
September 27 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Evening dress. / Call for me at 7.30. / Kensal Rise / Reading Room. / ‘I thank you’ Dresden” [NB 43 TS 26].
Sam spoke briefly at the opening of a new reading room in Kensal Rise, London.
I formally declare this reading room open, and I think that the legislature should not compel a community to provide itself with intelligent food, but give it the privilege of providing it if the community so desires.
September 26 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Moberly Bell—to meet Lord Cromer—8.15. Will Mrs. C. come too?
8 at Chatto, 2 at A & NA / Library on steamer? / Labels to 15 Cockspur. / Better 60 days of Dollis than a cycle of Cathay” [NB 43 TS 26]. Note: Gribben connects this with Frank Stockton’s novel, A Bicycle of Cathay (1900) now being serialized in Harper’s [666].
September 25 Tuesday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Charles L. Atchison.
I do not know how to thank you enough for sending me Mr. Archer’s compact & virile article. A compliment from him is gold, 98 fine.
September 24 Monday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam replied to John Y. MacAlister.
It is too bad, & we are as sorry as we can be, but next Saturday we shall be crowding the final packing through, & all hands employed, & too tired to be any use; but don’t you think you can come out to 8 o’clock dinner to-morrow night? We hope you can, & you will tell me to-morrow, when we meet at Plasmon House, Duke street.
September 23 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “La Roche Francis 6 pm./ Mr. & Mrs. Lart 5 pm.” [NB 43 TS 26]. Note: Claude de La Roche Francis, author of the 1902 London Historic and Social.
At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam finished his Aug. 20 letter to John Tatlock, which he perhaps mislaid since:
September 22 Saturday – Homer Bassford’s article, “The Friends of Mark Twain’s Boyhood,” ran in Saturday Evening Post. Tenney: “Charley Curts remembers school and exploring the cave with Sam Clemens, and describes him as not lazy, but helpful to others; a good story-teller, Sam used to tell the Arabian Nights stories to groups of his friends: Curts, Ed Pierce, Bill Nash, Ben Coontz, ‘Gene Freeman, Ruel Gridley, Tom Blankenship, and John Meredith.
September 20 Thursday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to W.R. Dunn, District Councilor and father of Arthur Dunn, photographer. “I have received your letter & Mr. Ball’s, & you & your son will be welcome.” Sam wrote he would be “up & at leisure” after 9:45 a.m. [MTP: Sotheby’s London catalog, Dec. 17, 1998, Item 128].
September 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “Moberly Bell & wife. Tea & dinner” [NB 43 TS 25].
At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam replied to John Y. MacAlister on several items. Though he would like to write for “Lloyd’s Christmas number,” his contracts debarred him from doing so. He expected the MacAlisters to come to them for a last visit, either “some evening, or eat with us in the hotel when we move to London”; Sam would “leave the particulars” to Livy.