Day By Day Dates

May 25 Thursday – Vienna, Austria. This is the day Mark Twain was ushered in to see the Emperor Franz Josef I. Dolmetsch discusses who invited whom, settling on the idea that the Emperor likely acted upon the suggestion of his royal minister of foreign affairs, Count Agenor Goluchowski von Goluchowo (1849-1921). For such a celebrity to leave Austria after meeting everyone who was anyone, yet not seen by the head man himself, was tantamount to an international snub.

May 26 Friday – In Vienna, Austria, Sam replied to Sydney G. Trist, secretary of the London Anti-Vivisection Society , enclosing a typed page by Dr. Stephen F. Smith , read before the National Individualist Club in 1898 about the use of curare in vivisection. Trist’s letter is not extant.

May 27 Saturday – The Clemens family rested at Prince of Thurn und Taxis’ country estate outside of Prague [Dolmetsch 312].

The New York Times, p BR351, ran an article about Sam’s desire to have his reminiscences published 100 years in the future:

MARK TWAIN’S BOOK.

Views as to Its Publication a Century Hence.

May 28 Sunday – The Clemens family rested at Prince of Thurn und Taxis’ country estate outside of Prague [Dolmetsch 312].

May 29 Monday – At Prince of Thurn und Taxis’ country estate outside of Prague, Clara wrote on a postcard to Frau Malvine Bree in Vienna: “Komen Sie bald nach America und besuchen Sie / Clara C.” Livy and Sam each signed the card [MTP].

May 30 Tuesday – In the a.m., the Clemens party left Nuremburg and traveled 179 miles by rail to Cologne, Germany, where they spent the night.

The New York Times ran this article on June 11, p.19, datelined Vienna, May 30 by Dr. Johannes Horowitz: “Twain’s Farewell to Vienna,” rehashing again his audience with Emperor Franz Josef I, and his plan of killing the whole human race by depriving them of air [MTCI 339-40].

May 31 Wednesday – The Clemens family left Cologne, Germany at 6 a.m. on their way to England. Livy didn’t want to split the last stage in two, so they made a single trip of it, from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m

[June 1 to Twichell].

In Calais, France Sam cabled Chatto & Windus: “SHALL ARRIVE BY CALAIS DOVER TODAY SEVEN THIRTY = CLEMENS” [MTP].

June – Rodney evaluates Sam’s reputation after his stay on the Continent:

June 1 Thursday – At the Prince of Wales Hotel in Kensington (West London), Sam wrote to Poultney Bigelow.

All right—make it between 12th and 17th if you prefer.

We arrived last evening and the trunks haven’t come. This is a condition of things! [MTP].

June 2 Friday – At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, England Sam wrote to John Y. MacAlister.

Yes, I’m for the Savage supper. Let us make it Friday the 9th.

Can Chatto and Spalding come—or is that inadmissible? Let me know.

Mrs. Clemens & our obstructions will be glad to see you & your wife any time you will come [MTP].

Sam also replied to Richard Watson Gilder’s (not extant) letter.

June 3 Saturday – Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) died of double pneumonia. Sam had met him in Vienna.

Strauss’ widow on June 6.

In an interview with the London Daily Chronicle, “Mark Twain in London,” p.3, Clemens reported “he was in London to arrange for the publication of a twenty-two volume de luxe edition of his writings” [MTHHR 399 n2; MTCI 334-39].

June 4 Sunday – At the Grand Hotel in Broadstairs, England, Sam wrote to Chatto & Windus, informing them of their sudden move to the coast in Broadstairs by order of Clara’s doctor.

June 5 Monday – In his June 6 to Rogers, Sam related showing Frank Bliss’ Canvassing book on the deluxe Uniform Edition to Andrew Chatto “a day or two ago”, “& he was vastly taken with it, & wants to put 1000 on the English market for me at 10% commission. I have asked Bliss what he will charge me for the volumes— suggesting cost, or thereabouts” [Note: more likely been a business day than a Sunday]. See also Apr. 25 to Chatto.

June 6 Tuesday – At the Grand Hotel in Broadstairs, England, Sam wrote to Alice Learned Bunner (Mrs. Henry Cuyler Bunner) in New London, Conn., who evidently had written (not extant) asking permission to make a calendar from his Puddn’head Wilson sayings in FE:

Unfortunately I am this long time under promise to make a Puddn’head Maxim Calendar myself, & have been gradually adding to the original list of Maxims to that end. Maxims are a slow growth, & it will take me a year or two yet.

June 7 Wednesday – At the Grand Hotel in Broadstairs, England, Livy wrote for Sam to Franklin G. Whitmore because her husband had “so much writing to do,” and to send a bank draft (enclosed) if he needed money in July. She related money might be forthcoming “from a magazine article” before he needed it for the taxes on their Farmington Ave. house. Also, they expected more money July 1 from Frank Bliss. They still planned to return to London on Friday [MTP].

June 8 Thursday – Clara Clemens’ 25th birthday.

Sam’s notebook entry: “June 8/99. Goerz. 13th ?” [NB 40 TS 56]. Note: the strikeout and the new entry for Goerz on June 13 may reflect a change of appointment date; see June 13.

June 9 Friday – The family left Broadstairs, England, and returned to the Prince of Wales Hotel in London. Sam wrote two notes to Chatto & Windus, one perhaps shortly after this day. The first short note asked if they couldn’t get it in the papers that “Mrs. Clemens & 2 daughters are with me? It is very awkward, on some accounts, that this is not known.” In the second note he wrote: “After reflection, Mrs. Clemens prefers that no newspaper mention be made of the family’s presence in town” [MTP].

June 10 Saturday – At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, Sam wrote to Douglas B. Sladen.

June 11 Sunday – At the Prince of Wales Hotel in London, England, Sam wrote a follow-up to Douglas B. Sladen.

“Did I tell you, the other night at the Authors, that this family (including me if I can manage it) are expecting to go to Lambeth Palace on the 22d at 3 p.m.? (Date and hour correct?) Did I tell you that, or have I dreamed it?” [MTP]. Note: Sam did have this appointment in his notebook.

June 12 Monday – Mark Twain gave a dinner speech at the Authors Club, London. The New York Times, June 13, p.7 covered the June 12 event:

Mark Twain Speaks of Kipling

June 13 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “Garland, Tues. 4 p.m.” ;“Goerz, 8 oclock–Garland” [NB 40 TS 55]. Note: likely Hannibal Hamlin Garland.

At the Prince of Wales Hotel, London, Sam also replied to John Y. MacAlister “That would be very pleasant Would Sunday the 25th do? I’m going to the photographer tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. Ys…” [MTP]. Sam wrote on the env. “Has a date been appointed for the evening with the Colquhoun Club?”

June 14 Wednesday – From Sam’s note to MacAlister of June 13, it is shown that he made a morning stop at a Henry Van der Weyde (1838-1924) photographer. Russell & Sons photographers also made photos of him about this time.

June 15 Thursday – For a little joke, Sam sent his daughter Clara at least four picture -postcards (that many survive) of the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and The Guildhall. He wrote the following “lessons” on them respectively, with fanciful signatures:

No, Oom Paul has never been the head of the Irish party. You are mistaking him for the late Mr. Parnell / Faithfully Yours / H. Campbell-Bannerman.

June 16 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Friday, 16. Whitefriars. Dinner. & luncheon with Choate at 2” [NB 40 TS 56].

Note: the New York Times, June 17, p.6, ran the following:

DINNER TO MARK TWAIN

Friendly Feeling Between England and America the Keynote of Speeches at the Hotel Cecil, London.

June 17 Saturday – In London, England, Livy wrote to Bram Stoker.

Thank you so much for the box at the Lyceum which has safely reached me. I’m greatly antisapating next Monday evening. / I had such a pleasant time with you on Thursday [MTP].