Day By Day Dates

January 15 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook: “G.H. Crosby, 11 a m / Go to Mr. Rogers, dinner” [NB 42 TS 2]. Note: This is likely E.H. Crosby, not G.H., (Ernest Howard Crosby) active in the Anti-Imperialist League.

Samuel Lloyd Osbourne (1868-1947) wrote to Sam.

Lambs Club / New York City / Dear Mr. Clemens,

January 16 Thursday – Fatout lists a “talk or reading” for Sam at the Civic Club in Riverdale for this date [MT Speaking 669]. Note: though no particulars are given, a listing in Sam’s NB for 8.15 names the Club [NB 45 TS 2].

January 17 Friday – Sam’s notebook: “Engaged at home” [NB 45 TS 2].

January 18 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Daniel Carter Beard.

I cannot tell you how much I like the pictures; I think you have not made better nor bitterer ones, nor any that were redder with the bloody truth. As to the book, I cannot make an estimate, for I was not able to steal time for a careful & searching examination, uninterrupted, of even a single chapter, and necessarily I would not permit myself to have an opinion without that.

January 19 Sunday – Alletta F. Dean wrote to Sam. Paine gives us backstory and quotes Dean’s letter:

“The Double -Barrelled Detective Story,” [In Jan. and Feb. 1902 Harper’s] intended originally as a burlesque on Sherlock Holmes. It did not altogether fulfill its purpose, and is hardly to be ranked as one of Mark Twain’s successes. It contains, however, one paragraph at least by which it is likely to be remembered, a hoax—his last one—on the reader. It runs as follows:

January 20 Monday – The Clemenses left Riverdale, N.Y. and traveled by train to Elmira, where they were met with sleighs by Charles J. and Ida Langdon; and then on to Quarry Farm outside of town. There, Sam began a letter to daughter Clara that Livy added to on Jan. 21.

January 21 Tuesday – At Quarry Farm, Livy added a line to Sam’s Jan. 20 to daughter Clara, that Jean was better but not well, and that she would write later in the day (not extant) [MTP].

American Publishing Co. sent a statement with this date showing $11,867.25 due to Clemens in royalties [1902 Financials file MTP].

January 25 Saturday – In Elmira, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, directing him to “pay the damned assessment,” and that he would try to remember to put the $150 check in the envelope [MTP].

The New York Times, p. BR 13, “The King of Liars,” quoted from a series of interviews made by John Kendrick Bangs, “purported to be received over the telephone from Baron Munchausen,” and which included this dittie by Mark Twain:

January 27 Monday – The Clemenses had planned to return to Riverdale by this day, and in his Jan. 29 to Wood, Sam wrote he “just returned.” Given his evening talk in N.Y.C. on Jan. 28, it’s not likely he spoke on a travel day, so this is the likeliest day for their return.

Franklin G. Whitmore wrote for Sam to Mrs. A.W. Smith of Middletown, Conn. Only the envelope survives [MTP].

January 28 Tuesday – In the evening in N.Y.C. Sam spoke to John D. Rockefeller’s young men’s Bible class. He’d been invited on Dec. 10, 1901. The New York Times, p. 9 reported on the event.

MR. ROCKEFELLER’S CLASS.

———

Bible Students Addressed by Mark Twain and Robert C. Ogden.

January 29 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to the Jan. 19 of Alletta F. Dean: “Don’t you give away that oesophagus away again, or I’ll never trust you with another privacy!” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to attorney Augustus T. Gurlitz, about the trial against Butler Brothers. “…don’t put the matter before me till a day before the trial—I should forget every detail, otherwise” [MTP: Sotheby’s catalogs, Dec. 11, 1990, Item 384].

January 30 Thursday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to A. Schönstadt, editor of Das Morgen -Journal, N.Y.C. that he had no photo of himself now, but would instruct Rockwood Photographers to send one [MTP].

According to Sam’s Jan. 31 to his nephew, Sam went into N.Y.C. this day and called on the Harpers.

January 31 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to William Webster Ellsworth (incoming not extant).

When money is taken for the performance I don’t take part, except in a private house, —in New York City. I’ve played to money in private houses once or twice, & hope for other chances of the like, but I’ve declined every one of the other kind, & find it a good & wise rule.

February – Sometime after Sam’s 24 hour stay with Joe Twichell, he wrote his reactions to the loaned copy of Freedom of Will :

February 1 Saturday – In Hartford Sam went to the bank for some necessary items in his safety deposit box. He likely called on Franklin G. Whitmore as well. After a 24 hour trip, he returned to New York and arrived back in Riverdale at 7:15 p.m. [Jan. 29, Feb. 2 to Whitmore; Jan. 31 to Rogers].

February 2 Sunday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to ask Franklin G. Whitmore if his Players Club dues had been paid while he was in Europe [MTP].

The New York Times, p. 11, “Notes of the Stage” announced that the Children’s Theatre was preparing to open at Carnegie Lyceum on Feb. 8 with a matinee of Mark Twain’s story in the Christmas Harper’s, of the little girl and the Lord General.

February 3 Monday – In. N.Y.C. William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.

I have Mr. Skrine’s book; but I am switched off from my North American Reviewing to paragraphing and article letting for the Weekly, and I don’t know what to do for your friend. I can’t write any more than I’m doing now; but I will tackle the book, and see if I can’t get something out of it for the “Easy Chair.” But I mustn’t promise. Skrine seems all kinds of a good fellow.

February 4 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Frank Bliss.

“There is a chance for you to buy Newbegin’s contract & sell it to another man at what seems to be a tall figure. When you come here to talk with me about it give me notice by telegraph or telephone (150 Kingsbridge) the day before” [MTP]. Note: R.G. Newbegin Co. had distribution rights for the American Publishing Co.’s version of Mark Twain’s Uniform Edition.

February 5 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam turned down an invitation from Arthur H. Dakin at the University Club in Boston (Incoming not extant).

I should enjoy it ever so much if I were younger & gayer, but I am at that lazy stage of life when one does not leave the chimney corner except under compulsion of the sheriff. And so, I can only return my earnest thanks for the honor done me by the invitation, & stay by the fire & dream dreams & nurse my senilities [MTP].

February 6 Thursday – Frederick A. Duneka of Harpers wrote to Sam.

Your letter of yesterday [not extant] has come to me and I beg to say that the reason why no mention of the 6-vol. set was made in your statement is because these books are being sent out to agents and others under an installment arrangement. This means that because of cancellations of orders and because of returns, these books have not reached the stage yet where they can appear in any account (as sales) as a basis for payment of royalty.

February 7 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam added to the Feb. 5 letter to Francis H. Skrine.

March 7 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to John H. Johnston. “I thank you very much for the coat of arms. This one is new to me, & I am glad to have it” [MTP: www.Autographs.com, Oct. 7, 2001].

February 8 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Frederic Remington’s query of Feb. 7. Sam did not remember the names, but he knew there had been newspapers at St. Joseph and Independence, Mo. some 50 years before. He recommended Remington check the Mercantile Library in St. Louis [MTP].

Sam went into N.Y.C. where he spoke to the Vassar Alumnae [Feb. 10 to Marbury].

February 9 Sunday – The New York Times, p.8, “Society at Baltimore,” reported:

Miss Lelia Gittings of Baltimore is visiting Mrs. Samuel L. Clemens (the wife of Mark Twain) at her home at Riverdale-on-the-Hudson. [Note: see inscription to Gittings Apr. 29, 1898 entry].

February 10 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to Elisabeth Marbury’s Feb. 8.

The reason I have been trying to get you on the telephone is this:

Do you know the PROPRIETOR of the theatre where “A Gentleman of France” was being matinèed last Saturday week? [Feb. 1]