Day By Day Dates

March 6 Wednesday – Sam took a 12:05 p.m. train to Springfield, Mass. and then continued on to Pittsfield, where he got there shortly after 4 p.m. [MTNJ 3: 455]. He wrote in his notebook, probably on the train:

March 7 Thursday – In Boston, Mass. Sam participated in an afternoon Authors’ Readings for the cause of international copyright. Alexander P. Browne had invited him on Feb. 12, allowing him to name his own date, and Dana Estes had followed up on Feb. 23. Since Sam was due to speak in Pittsfield on Mar. 6, the following day made things more convenient.

March 8 Friday – Sam likely returned to Hartford the day after the banquet at Young’s Hotel in Boston. Sam’s notebook:

Offered Badlam a one-hundredth interest in the American business for $25,000 provided he takes me up before Apl. 15; also offered him the same share (this offer begins June 15) provided he takes me up before July 15.)

Hearst, Walters [MTNJ 3: 460&n177-8].

March 9 Saturday – Sam inscribed a copy of HF to an unidentified person: Truly Yours S.L. Clemens Mark Twain. March 9/89. [MTP]. Sam’s notebook:

Mar 9/89. / No more experiments. Definite work alone left to do.

4 months, sure, that is July 10.

No new devices — or inventions.

March 10 Sunday – This was the day of deadlines — first for Abby Sage Richardson to come up with written proof she had procured Elsie Leslie for her P&P dramatization; second for Charley Langdon, his wife and his mother to agree to invest in the Paige typesetter. No one made this deadline.

March 11 Monday – Sam’s notebook discloses a new offer made to Abby Sage Richardson, one she did not accept, but one which was similar to that made with Gilbert B. Densmore for stage rights to GA.

March 12 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Annie A. Fields, widow of James T. Fields, in Boston who was involved in a “Boston marriage” with Sarah Orne Jewett. Sam had been invited to a dinner with the two ladies, but did not receive the invitation. Charles Dudley Warner, who was their other guest, told Sam, who sent apologies and explanations:

March 13 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Augustin Daly, announcing that “the tribe” was about to “march New Yorkwards Friday for a couple of days.” He asked that four tickets (with bill) for Taming of the Shrew might be sent to the Murray Hill Hotel, the current favorite hotel due to its proximity to the rail station. Sam asked that the children might be “within 5 rows of the fiddlery” [MTP].

March 14 Thursday – Abby Sage Richardson turned down Sam’s Mar. 11 offer [MTNJ 3: 463n192].

R. Dorney for Daly’s Theater wrote to Sam that he’d been directed “to send you 4 front seats for Saturday night next” [MTP]. Dorney used Daly’s same bad pen.

March 15 Friday – Sam and his “tribe” went “New Yorkwards” checking into the Murray Hill Hotel.

March 16 Saturday – In the evening they took in Taming of the Shrew at Daly’s Theater, which proceeded at 8:15 p.m. [Dorney to SLC Mar. 14].

March 17 Sunday – The Clemenses likely returned to Hartford.

March 18 Monday – J.W. Curtiss for Spaulding Reception Committee (for Party of Representative American Ball Players) wrote to Sam inviting him to the Testimonial Banquet and to respond to a toast at Delmonico’s, Apr. 8, 1889. (Clipping enclosed, “The Sandwich Islands – Mark Twain’s Description of the Late King and ‘Prince Bill.’” — credit given to the N.Y. Tribune) [MTP].

March 19 Tuesday – Susy Clemens’ seventeenth birthday.

In Hartford, Sam wrote a long letter of explanation to Edward H. House about contracting P&P for the stage with Abby Sage Richardson. Here in part:

I was not at home when your letter of a few days ago arrived [not extant]: it followed me, but has not yet over taken me; so I get its substance at second — hand.

March 20 Wednesday – Reading in Volume 1 of The Poetic and Dramatic Works of Robert Browning, Sam recorded his progress along the margin on p.81: “Finished here March 20/89 I declare! What time it is!” [Gribben 105]. (See Mar. 27 for next notation.)

An unidentified person (signed, “A Bostonian”) wrote to Sam asking for an autograph [MTP].

March 21 Thursday – L.P. di Cesnola for Metro. Museum of Art wrote that Sam had been nominated as an “annual member” [MTP].

March 22 Friday – Richard W. Gilder for Century Magazine wrote to Sam: “Our next Fellowcraft dinner is Wednesday, April 10th? I am after you again…” Sam noted, “Tell him I can’t” on the env. [MTP].

March 23 Saturday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Hamlin Garland (1860-1940), American poet, novelist and short story writer, best known for his portrayals of Midwestern farmers. Sam did not have the time to give “the subject” Garland spoke of in his Mar. 21 letter “the proper thought so as to venture the least advice.” Sam hoped “in the near future we may run across each other; and talk the matter over” [MTP].

March 24 Sunday – Livy wrote to her mother:

It is a wonderful day…. Clara and I have been to church. Susy staid at home, she has not been feeling quite well, having had quite a sore throat….

Of course the children are full of their lessons and very busy with their studying. I feel very unsettled about what I shall do with them, nothing in the way of a school seems to be exactly what I want.

I think Susy and Clara are both doing very well with their music this year [Salsbury 258].

March 25 Monday – Daniel Whitford for Alexander & Green forwarded the draft of a new contract for the dramatization of P&P. The new agreement included Daniel Frohman as well as Abby Sage Richardson, and gave Sam and Abby half-shares of a sliding scale of receipts. Whitford offered that it was impossible “to make a more advantageous agreement.” The new contract was in force on May 13 [MTNJ 3: 466].

March 27 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Abraham G. Mills about his upcoming stay in New York and speech at the Baseball event at Delmonico’s. Sam answered that he would stay at the Murray Hill Hotel and so would

March 28 Thursday – Annie Brown wrote to Sam acknowledging his positive response to give a reading at her home in New York on Apr. 13 [MTNJ 3: 468n211].

Sam’s notebook:

Mch. 28/89. Told Paige of my talk with Hamersley, & he expressed his hearty willingness to let us raise the capital by selling the English patents for $10,000,000 — either outright, or we to retain 4/10 of the English stock [3: 468].

March 29 Friday – In Hartford, Sam and each member of the family including the youngest, Jean Clemens, inscribed an album to their German governess, Marie Koerner, who was leaving their employ. Sam wrote:

You leave a great many behind you, here, Marie, who will always rejoice to know you prosper & sorrow to know the world does not go well with you; & of these I am one. S.L. Clemens. Hartford, Mch 29/89. [MTP].

March 30 Saturday – At supper party for Edwin Booth, held at Delmonico’s in New York, Sam gave a speech called “The Long Clam.” The New York Times, p.4 reported the event on Apr. 1. Many of Sam’s friends, associates and acquaintances attended.

THE BOOTH SUPPER

March 31 Sunday – With the Booth Supper beginning at midnight, Sam thus spoke afterward. Augustin Daly read a letter from George William Curtis, who could not attend. Stephen H.