October 6 Friday – A bill was given to Sam from Queen Anne Residential Mansions & hotel for this date in the amount of £25.11.8 for the period Sept. 30 to Oct. 6; it was paid on Oct. 12 [1899 Financial file MTP]. Note: there is no other bill in the files for the Queen Anne; it is assumed they moved after this day to 30 Wellington Court (Albert Gate).

This Everlasting Exile – Plasmon in Syndication – Depressing Fog, Hadleyburg Book McClure’s Scheme Fizzles – Harvey Runs Harpers – Seeking Osteopaths “I am an Anti-Imperialist” – Another Heart-Stab – Preaching Copyright to Lords Dollis Hill Idyll – “That Singular Tapeworm” – Home at Last!

Feeding & Speeching – Yale-Princeton Football – Crooked Cab Driver Introduces Churchill – Another Lawsuit –“Hide the Looking-glass”

January – In London, England Sam wrote an aphorism to an unidentified man:

“We ought never to do wrong when any one is looking. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / London, Jan. 1900”

[MTP: Charles Hamilton catalog, 21 May 1965, No. 4, Item 31].

January 19 Friday – Sam also wrote to Henry Ferguson.

I tried to get that new book out of the Harpers’s hands, but you will see by the Enclosed [HHR’s of Jan. 9, top of] that they say it is in press—& therefore too late.

However, there are two volumes—the shipwreck [Hornet, 1866] is to be in the second one, I believe; so your emendations will reach New York plenty early enough, I have no doubt. They go by tomorrow’s steamer.

April – Bookman (London) ran an anonymous review of the Chatto & Windus collection of Mark Twain’s works, commenting on the pleasure in looking again at RI, TS, GA, and LM [Tenney 32].

Current Literature (NY) featured a large photo of Mark Twain “recently taken in London” on its cover though only a short paragraph on p.102 of comment: “The white hair emphasizes his advancing years, but the face is the same strong and kindly one so familiar to Americans” [not in Tenney]. See insert

April 13 Friday – The Clemens family were at Henry M. Stanley’s country place for a “few days’ visit”. They returned to 30 Wellington Court by Apr. 17 [Apr. 17 to James]. Note: on Jan. 10, 1899 the Stanley’s took possession of a house named “Furze Hill” in Pirbright, Surrey, some 30 miles from London [The Autobiography of Henry M. Stanley, p.507 (1909)].

July – In London, England Sam inscribed a copy of Stories from Old Fashioned Children’s books, etc. to Percy Spalding: “To / Mr. Spalding / with the kindest regards of / Mark Twain / July 1900” [MTP]. Note: in another hand the book bears this inscription: “To Mark Twain / from And: W. Tuer / with admiration & apologies./ p. XVI Intro: / Nov. 1899” [MTP]. Note: it appears this book was originally inscribed to Sam by Andrew W. Tuer, the author.

July 2 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Drove out to Dollis Hill (4.35 to 5.10) in the rainstorm & took possession. It is certainly the dirtiest dwelling-house in Europe—perhaps in the universe. / Plasmon 12? / Goerz, 7.30” [NB 43 TS 20].

The Clemens family moved to the Dollis Hill House on the outskirts of N.W. London.

Sam gave a private reading, place and time unknown; he may or may not have stopped by John Y. MacAlister’s home [July 1 to MacAlister].

September – Review of Reviews (London) anonymously reviewed The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, p.398. Mostly extracts [Tenney 32].

J.E. Hodder Williams’ article, “Mark Twain” ran in Bookman (London) p.169-74. Tenney: “A very general sketch of MT’s life and works, providing no new information and very little critical comment.”

September 15 Saturday – The Clemens family was on a weekend jaunt to visit “some English friends” in Cromer, Norfolk, on the coast 

October 1 Monday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Percy Spalding, with a glowing recommendation for the butler, Robert Barker, and the staff at Dollis Hill. “…all the family like him and are sorry to part with him; all the family and all the servants—gardener and coachman and their families included—detest the cook; all recommend Barker, except the cook. The cook does not—and this, I think, is greatly to his credit…” [MTP: Parke-Bernet Galleries catalog, Jan. 28, 1958, No. 1802, Item 42].

October 7 Sunday – The Clemens family was en route from London to New York on the SS Minnehaha.

Inserts: S.S. Minnehaha and its Upper Promenade deck (where Jean took walks for her health.)

October 15 Monday – The S.S. Minnehaha arrived in New York City with the Clemens family on board [MTHHR 451]. The steamship was slow in getting into the pier at West Houston Street. At 10 p.m. the gangplank was positioned. Sam waited until most of the passengers had disembarked. When he did so he was surrounded by “a few friends” and newspaper men. Paine reports a remark Sam made to them:

“If I ever get ashore I am going to break both of my legs so I can’t get away again” [MTB 1110].

November – In New York City, Sam inscribed a copy of Mark Twain’s (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance to: Ernest D. North: “E.D. North, Esq. Mark Twain November, 1900” [MTP: Parke-Bernet Galleries catalog, Oct. 27, 1953, No. 1458, Item 173].

November 1 Thursday – In the afternoon the Clemens family moved into 14 W. 10th Avenue in N.Y.C.  [Note: subsequent entries have 1410 W. 10th]

Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.

“Dear Bliss: Do you remember that large photo by Barnett, London? Were you to send it to Mr. Rogers after engraving it? Did you do it? Above is our new address. We are to move in this afternoon. Make a note of it. Yrs. S.L. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: the new address was 14 W. 10th, N.Y.C. H. Walter Barnett, photographer.

December 24 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Lake wood? / With Harvey?” [NB 43 TS 32].

Sam’s note of Christmas wishes (catalogued: written sometime before Dec. 25) to an unidentified person appeared in the N.Y. Tribune on Jan. 25, 1901, p.8 [MTP].

At 10 a.m. the Clemenses left N.Y.C. for Elmira for Christmas. The trip occupied most of the day. They planned to stay until Dec. 29 [Dec. 22 to Gurlitz; Dec 23 to Whitmore].

Another Lawsuit – Anti -Imperialist, Anti-Doughnut – Sitting in Darkness “Women Should Vote”– Clara’s Washington Debut – Speeching & Feeding Demonizing Missionaries – Albany for Osteopaths – Witness for Kipling

“The Lair” Repose at Saranac Lake – Old Debts Never Die – Pallbearer for J.D.F. Slee Kanawha Cruise to St. Johns – Lyncherdom & Double-Barrelled – America’s Cup Acorns & Fusionists – Yale Gives Litt. D. – Suing Newbegin Co.

June – On a Tuesday, from 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Joe Twichell.

Well, it is funny. The country’s political morals & ideals have sunk pretty nearly to zero in the past two years, but I had not suspected that anybody had dropped to the point of thinking the clergy bribable. Seriously, it is an astonisher. Could it have happened 20 years ago? No, it couldn’t. I don’t know but that this is zero.

June 21 Friday – The Clemens family left N.Y.C. and traveled to Saranac Lake, N.Y. According to his June 19 to Rogers, they left at 7:50 a.m. and arrived about 7 p.m., a day long trip. Their May 10 lease agreement was for June 1 to Oct. 1, 1901, so they had lost three weeks of lease at this point. Insert: “The Lair,” a “cabin” at Adirondack Park later called “Mark Twain Camp.”

June 22 Saturday – Clifford J. Wilkinson wrote from Kobe, Japan to Sam. Wilkinson had last spoken to Sam in London, through their mutual friend MacAlister, and had sent him a case of Tansan & Niwo mineral water for his gout, and was now sending a couple of cases which he felt would prevent a return of gout [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Answer this—try the water first”

June 24 Monday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam replied to Charles Erskine Scott Wood.

Good—I shall be glad to have a copy when it issues; & I am thanking you in advance.

June 27 Thursday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam replied to Abbott Handerson Thayer’s June 18:

Your hearty praises give me very great pleasure, & I thank you for speaking them out. When one is treading on an unpopular road it is a mighty help & refreshment to know that there are those whose hearts are with him.

June 28 Friday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote condolences to John M.

June 29 Saturday – In Saranac Lake, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Clara, who had remained for a time in New York, probably for activities related to her singing career: “Hurry up here, Ashcat dear, before the mosquitoes & strawberries are gone. We are wanting to see you, & are all ready to welcome you.” Sam signed the note “Mongoose.” His first paragraph is a short spoof that begins by “What does the mongoose say?

July – Success magazine for this month ran an article by William S. Ament, “Mary Twain’s Criticism is not Justified.” See Feb. 7 from Judson Smith, Feb. 18 to Tribune ed.