Day By Day Dates

June 16 Monday – Sam’s notebook: “Harper’s. Booksellers’ informal reception. 4 p.m. (Say 4.30?) / 10.30 a.m. documents to sign” [NB 45 TS19]. Also: “1 man had old vol of cyclopedia, other had another. Each an expert on his letter” [ibid.]. Note: this last a story idea?

Sam was present at Harper & Brothers when the members of the American Booksellers’ Association visited Harpers and joined in a luncheon. The New York Times, p.9, June 17, took note of the gathering:

June 17 Tuesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to W.H. Dulany, who had sent news clippings, biographical details, and a photo he had taken of Sam in Hannibal. Sam’s replied:

The views have arrived & are exceedingly fine & beautiful. Pray accept my best thanks for them.

My trip to the West was no tax upon my strength, & was an abounding delight. I’ve renewed my youth in Hannibal—all but the hair—& I would not trade those days for any others I have seen in a quarter of a century [MTP; Sorrentino 40].

June 18 Wednesday – Sam’s notebook contained more Hannibal memories for the 50 years after story: “The gang’s meeting-sign, its badge (skull, &c) stuck up (TS.G.) around. This must be the summons (with date & nothing more) 50 yrs hence. / The overflow—back-water in Bear creek—water moccasins in the trees on the clothes” [NB 45 TS19].

June 19 Thursday – Riverdale, N.Y.: Sam’s notebook: “Dr. Rice, George Ade to dinner” [NB 45 TS19].

Livy’s diary: “Dr Rice, Mr George Ade (author of Fables in Slang) & Rodman Gilder here for luncheon” [MTP: DV161]. Note: Fables in Slang (1899) [Gribben 9].

Sam wrote to Paul Kester in Accotink, Va. (only the envelope survives) [MTP]. Note: Kester had struck an agreement with Clemens to dramatize Tom Sawyer.

June 20 Friday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to an unidentified person.

June 21 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Muriel M. Pears, mostly about the Juggernaut Club of females he had never met. Did she “want to see the Constitution Laws of my Club of which you are the Member for Scotland?” He added family plans and a political bit.

June 22 Sunday – Sam’s notebook: “Memorial Services / Amos J. Cummings,—afternoon. / Carnegie Hall / James J. Murphy / 216 E. 11th” [NB 45 TS19]. Note: Amos Jay Cummings (1838-1902), US Representative of New York, died May 2. Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, journalist, served in Congress until 1894. The New York Times, June 23, p. 9 reported a full hall at Carnegie:

June 23 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam replied to the June 19 of Harry Leon Wilson in the editorial rooms of Puck, N.Y.C.

“Read it? Indeed I will, & with great pleasure. We are packed up, now, & shall sail for York Harbor on summer vacation to-morrow morning. But the book will go thither. I went to Harper’s to-day to get it, but I had too many bundles, so I told them to ship it to me. With many thanks for the book, …” [MTP].

June 24 Tuesday – The Clemens family, sans Clara, who was in Europe, left Riverdale on Rogers’ yacht, the Kanawha, for York Harbor Maine . H.H. Rogers was not along but put his yacht at their disposal in order to make the trip a comfortable one for Livy. Sam sent the Plasmon Co. a postcard with the new address and a request for Plasmon biscuits and cocoa to be sent there [Christie’s London Auction Nov. 12, 2007, Sale 5141, Lot 145].

June 25 Wednesday – The Kanawha and the Clemens family’s first stop on their way to York Harbor, Maine was Fairhaven, Mass. In his June 26 to Rogers Sam wrote of the trip from Riverdale to Fairhaven.

June 26 Thursday – On board the Kanawha, en route from Riverdale, N.Y. to York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers. The weather on the trip was perfect, but Jean caused Livy some sleepless nights: More of his above letter relating to this day:

June 27 Friday – The Kanawha docked in York Harbor, Maine, and the Clemenses took possession of their cottage, “The Pines,” so named because it stood in pines. Sam sent a telegram to H.H. Rogers:

“Housed and home by noon a perfectly lovely voyage / SLC” [MTHHR 489].

Livy wrote to Susan Crane of the place.

June 28 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Harry Leon Wilson after reading his book, The Spenders; A Tale of the Third Generation (1902).

“Between you & me & the gate-post, I think it’s a dam-nation good book! It cost me my day yesterday.

You owe me $400. But never mind it. I forgive you, for the book’s sake” [MTP].

June 29 Sunday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to cousin, Dr. James R. Clemens in St. Louis.

We arrived here day before yesterday & are comfortably & smoothly keeping house already; I am at work & we are all feeling at home & in condition to put the summer through in good shape.

June 30 Monday – Livy wrote Harriet Whitmore thanking her for referring Isabel Van Kleek Lyon (1863-1958) for hire as a personal secretary. Livy wanted Miss Lyon to visit for “a few days” and interview. They had a guest room until Clara returned. If hired, Livy preferred that Isabel would find a boarding place outside of the home [MTOW 19]. Note: see source for full letter. Lyon came in mid July and was hired; she began employment with the Clemens family early in October.

July – Cassell’s Magazine p.115-21 ran “A Day with Mark Twain.” Tenney: “On a visit to MT at Saranac Lake, New York; consists largely of familiar biographical data, with five photographs” [37].

Review of Reviews (London), p.54 included “Mark Twain and His Career.” Tenney: “Summarizes and quotes W.B. Northrop’s ‘A Day with Mark Twain’ in the July Cassell’s” [36].

July-August – William Dean Howells writes of the summer near the Clemens family:

July 1 Tuesday – Sam’s notebook: “First ½ payment to be made on York Harbor ($300.) / Mrs. E. Hartwig will call. / 16 W. Friendship st / Providence, R.I. / from the Queen of Roumania” [NB 45 TS19]. Note: Mrs. Hartwig had been in the Queen’s court for many years; see Queen to MT May 9, 1902; also Sam’s letter of recommendation for Mrs. Hartwig Nov. 16, 1904.

July 2 Wednesday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to Jules Eckert Goodman, who was seeking an extension for his play to include the next season. In a short paragraph Sam referred him to Elisabeth Marbury, who acted as Sam’s sole agent in matters dramatization [MTP].

Sam also wrote to a man identified only as Mr. Ar ——– , 122 Mansfield, Montreal, Canada: “I think that without doubt I did, but I don’t remember, now, what the word was” [MTP].

July 3 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote three notes to Franklin G. Whitmore. The first included a check for taxes, postdated July 14. He sent it early “to have it off my mind.” The second note: “I want no correspondence with those people. But you can say you submitted it to me & it was found to be correct. (Please use just those precisewords.)”. The third replied to a request for a thousand more autographs. “I’ve no cards, & now I’m about out of paper.

July 4 Friday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam inscribed How to Tell a Story and Other Essays to James B. Pond [MTP].

July 5 Saturday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to James B. Pond. “Your belated pad of paper arrived last night. Why didn’t you send your letter & pad together—like a rational person. Shall I write the 26 again?” [MTP].

Sam also wrote again to Pond. The beginning of the letter is missing.

July 7 Monday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

July 8 Tuesday – In York Harbor, Maine, Sam’s notebook again contains ideas for the 50 years after story: “Shooting the bird in the tree—no more murders. The boys discuss it. / Partridges in fall on houses / [line separating:] Make this brief: Tom’s selling Huck as a nigger. See the discarded Conspiracy [Line separating:] Reading 3 Spaniards at 2 a.m.—Cat” [NB 45 TS 20-21].

July 9 Wednesday – In York Harbor, Maine, Sam’s notebook again contains ideas for the 50 years after story: “Debating Society. Guts & all (Sid). Sally Robards—pretty [sic]. Describe her now in her youth & again in 50 ys After when she reveals herself. / Cadets & Doughnuts. / The little cigarman—dead in his chair” [NB 45 TS 21].

July 10 Thursday – In York Harbor, Maine, Sam’s notebook again lists old Hannibal acquaintances for the 50 years after story: “John Briggs, Will, Sam, Bart, John Bowen | Ed Stevens, Bill Coffman | George, Clay, John Robards Jane & Sally Robards. Ray Moss & Neil, Mary. | Artemissa Briggs Mary Miller, Laura Hawkins | Becky Pavey & Pole / ‘Pig-tail done’ tavern | Bladder-time. Weeds. / Offal given away at porkhouse” [NB 45 TS 21].