Day By Day Dates

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 1 Saturday – Sam’s notebook: “Charlottesville, Va.?” [NB 44 TS 11].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to R.G. Newbegin of R.G. Newbegin Co., distributor for Mark Twain’s Uniform Edition.

June 3 Monday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers on an envelope from Whitmore’s long letter of May 23:

“These have come from Whitmore but not the big check-book.

“I have been hard at work ever since the time you didn’t turn up at Mr. Broughton’s, but I am coming down soon” [MTHHR 461]. Note: for the enclosures, see source n2.

June 4 Tuesday – Sam’s canceled check survives:

Check # Payee Amount [Notes]

228 Mrs F A Ramsay 20.43

June 5 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam sent a telegram to Miss Mazie Robinson, 420 Main St, Hartford: “I HAVE TRIED HARD TO ARRANGE SO THAT I COULD ACCEPT BUT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED PLEASE GIVE MY LOVE AND PATRIARCHIAL BLESSINGS TO THE CLUB” [MTP]. Note: the 1900 Geer’s City Directory for Hartford lists Henry S. Robinson, John T. Robinson, and Mary S. Robinson at this address on Main; John was in the late Henry C. Robinson’s lawfirm letterhead.

June 6 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “A.A. Adee Asst. Sec. State 1601” [NB 44 TS 11]. Note: Alvey Augustus Adee (1842-1924), Second Assistant Secretary of State under John Hay; a bachelor and bicycle enthusiast who was almost totally deaf, Adee was a recognized expert on Shakespeare and on foreign affairs, and in the office since 1869, when appointed by Grover Cleveland.

Check # Payee Amount [Notes]

June 7 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Go with Mr Rogers” [NB 44 TS 11].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Charles Erskine Scott Wood, in Portland, Ore. Wood was an old West Point man, and a member of the Anti-Imperialist movement.

I am so sorry you interred that noble poem in an obscure publication. It should have been sent to the North American, whence it would have been copied into even hostile publications purely on account of its merit as a poem.

June 8 Saturday – Clara Clemens’ 27th birthday. Sam took a quick trip to Elmira for the funeral of J.D.F. Slee, who died the day before [Wisbey’s notes per Mark Woodhouse, Elmira College].

Sam’s notebook: “E.W. Fairchild 326 Clinton ave Bridgeport, Ct / V.P. Gibney M.D. 16 Park Ave N.Y.” [NB 44 TS 11].

June 9 Sunday – In Elmira, Sam acted as pallbearer at the funeral services for J.D.F. Slee (John De La Fletcher Slee; 1837-1901) who died on June 7. The Elmira Daily Gazette, June 10, 5:2, reported the funeral:

LATE J.D.F. SLEE

———

The Funeral was Held at the Residence Sunday Afternoon.

———

June 10 Monday – Sam likely returned to New York City this day.

June 11 Tuesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote a postcard to Frances A. Ramsay, stenographer at 19 Union Square, N.Y.C., asking her to come the next day at 10:30 a.m. [MTP].

June 12 Wednesday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Augustus T. Gurlitz, forwarding Eli Perkins’ June 9 letter:

I have received the complaint and will chance its being everything it ought to be for just now I cannot get time to read it. Enclosed is a letter just received from that blatherskite Eli Perkins [see June 9] which I shall not answer. If you wish to answer it all right. If you can make him useful in any way you perceive he offers the opportunity [MTP].

June 13 Thursday – Harper & Brothers wrote to Sam, enclosing $700 and referencing “a certain conversation held in George B. Harvey’s office, some several weeks ago” about selling a special set of Mark Twain’s books (CY, P&P, HF, LM, TS, and Hadleyburg) by their subscription dept. They asked for Sam’s signature on a voucher which would lower his royalty from 27 & ½ cents per book to 20 cents, as they felt they could only sell 12,000 books at the higher rate but 30,000 if he agreed to the lower [MTP].

June 14 Friday – At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Susan Crane that he liked “that proposed gravestone exceedingly” and thanked her for arranging it. “I have penciled a comma into one of the verses—the only correction needed”[MTP]. Note: the mention of verses denotes possibly Susy’s gravestone.

Sam also wrote to George V.W. Duryee, of Adirondack Park Co., rental agent in Lake Saranac, N.Y., dictating to Frances A. Ramsay, stenographer.

June 16 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Answered Harper proposition for reduction of 7 ½ cents royalty per vol., declining to accede” [NB 44 TS 12].

Check # Payee Amount [Notes]

238 Self 300.00

239 NY Central RR 98.50

June 17 Monday – An unidentified book sent by Frank Fuller arrived at Sam’s N.Y. residence [June 18 to Fuller].

Check # Payee Amount [Notes]

240 Whitmore 460.00

June 18 Tuesday – At 4:50 p.m., Sam waited at the Holland House, an eleven-story marble hotel at 5th Ave. and 30th Street, for H.H. Rogers. Urban H. Broughton, Rogers’ son- in-law, came to advise Sam that Rogers was still in Fairhaven and would not return “for a day or two yet” [June 19 to Rogers].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Frank Fuller.

June 19 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “J.L. Underwood National Arts Club 7.30 | W. 34th near B’way N. side” [NB 44 TS 12].

At 1410 W. 10th in N.Y.C., Sam wrote to Elizabeth W. Gilbert. “It is a charming letter & gives me great pleasure. I think you will write a book some day, & I hope I shall live to read it” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers.

June 20 Thursday – Sam’s notebook: “Write Mr. Clarence Gordon & name a Thursday to read an old article. East side House Settlement, 76th St & East River. He will describe how I am to come, & perhaps meet me at one of the points” [NB 44 TS 12]. Note: Sam made no further NB entries until Sept 24, 1901.

Check # Payee Amount [Notes]

244 Will & Banner co 6.00

245 H.b. cushman & co 5.15

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? That the spider is right to smile” [MTP].