Day By Day Dates

February 15 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Chinatown” [MTP TS 29].

I.P. Moore wrote from London, England to inquire if Sam was his first cousin, since Moore’s mother was a Clemens [MTP]. Note: After Feb. 15 Sam replied that he knew nothing about his family tree before his father, who was born in Virginia in 1799; genealogical sources give Aug. 11, 1798 in Campbell Co. Va for the birthdate of John Marshall Clemens. www.accsolinc.com/familyroots/RobertClements.pdf

February 16 Saturday –Witter Bynner offered box seats to Clemens on Feb. 1 for an unspecified performance for this day. No record was found of Sam’s attendance to a performance for this day or evening. Lyon made no entry in her journal for Feb. 16, so it is unlikely Sam took Bynner up on his offer.

February 17 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “A dear & lazy day. The dear King has been fussing a lot in these days over the auto instalments, but now he has nearly enough for the full year” [MTP TS 29].

Mrs. M.F. Cunningham wrote from Salt Lake City to Sam, thanking him for the pleasure his stories had given her and her son [MTP].

February 18 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Thompson brought 2 beautiful pictures, & I think the King will buy the moonlight one” [MTP TS 29]. Note: on Mar. 12 Frederic L. Thompson wrote to thank Clemens for buying two of his paintings. See the strange case of Thompson-Gifford. Thompson was a goldsmith who “suddenly and inexplicably seized with an impulse to sketch and paint pictures”:

http://www.aspsi.org/feat/life_after/tymn/a089mt-e-Thompson-Gifford_Case.php

February 19 Tuesday – Clara Clemens left for another concert tour, with stops of: North Adams, Elmira, Hartford, Bangor, and Utica. She would return on Mar. 25 [Hill 165, 170; IVL TS 30].

Gallantz J. Bishop wrote from NYC to invite Sam to a banquet of the New Club of America, Hotel St. Regis, Mar. 14, and hoped Sam would “favor” them with “a few comments” [MTP].

February 20 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Feb. 19 of Robert Fulton Cutting and Others. Declining an invitation sent on Feb. 19: “I do not go out this winter when I can avoid it” [MTP].

Sam also replied to the Jan. 17 from George Iles.

February 21 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah, N.Y.

Jean dear, Ashcroft’s people have added another spiral-pin device: it is to secure jewels in the hair without having to wire them in, as at present. The next time Anna comes down, I want her to remember to ask us for one of these & carry it to you.

February 22 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote instructions and a draft for Isabel Lyon to use to reply to Laura M. Dake (Laura Wright), who had written on Feb. 12 and 16.

February 23 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Joan of Arc” [MTP TS 31].

George J. Helmer, the family’s NY osteopath, wrote to ask Sam for his continued support “just by speaking the word” for the bill on Osteopathy in Albany. On this day Sam replied on Helmer’s letter: “gave 2 or 3 days of time without object[.] Did for the cause once what wouldn’t have done for any other cause for 10000—Didn’t do any good & doesn’t care to repeat that experience” [MTP].

February 24 Sunday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Clara, now at the Hotel Worthy in Springfield, Mass. on a singing tour.  

I shall watch with interest for your code-signals, Clärchen dear, & shall hope that they will bring good news from my self-banished exile.

I like Mr. Wark & his honest blue eyes ever so much. I think you are fortunate to be in his guardianship.

February 25 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah, N.Y.  

Your news about yourself in your letter of yesterday is exceedingly welcome, & tallies with what Anna said when she was here the other day.

February 25-28 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Feb. 21 from John B. Downing, (“Alligator Jack”).

February 26 Tuesday – With Clara and Paine gone, the house was rather empty and Isabel Lyon was unable to find social contacts for him. Isabel Lyon’s journal:

February 27 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Drake sale—Tuxedo” [MTP TS 32].

Emil Leopold Boas of the Hamburg-American Line wrote to Sam. “It is too bad. Can you not shirk your duty for once? It would give me great pleasure to have you as one of our guests on one of those trips. / With kind regards…” [MTP]. Note: Sam replied Feb. 28.

Arthur E. Bullard for Friends of Russian Freedom wrote to Sam enclosing a revised copy of the petition Sam had agreed to [MTP].

February 28 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to the Feb. 27 from Emil Leopold Boas. “No, I should not know how to go about it. I once tried to shirk a duty, 25 years ago, & to this day I still suffer agonies of remorse every time I think of it” [MTP].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: “AB home. Candace Wheeler – Mrs. Stuart. Drake Sale” [MTP TS 32].

March – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Osip I. Feldman, hypnotist. “This bust is better than the original. At least it seems so to me; & it also seemed so at the time that the gifted artist made it 9 years ago in Vienna. I am glad to see it again [MTP: Levidova, Mark Twain: A Bibliographic Catalog of Russian Translations, etc.1974 p.133]. Note: At least two busts of Twain were made in Vienna: by Theresa Ries in Dec. 1897 and by Ernest Hegenbarth in Jan. 1898.

March – May? – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Leonard Henslowe. “I am shut up with illness; but even if I were well I would not be interviewed by any but an enemy, & I am sure I do not take you for that” [MTP]. Note: Henslowe’s incoming not extant.

March 1 Friday – Fatout lists a speech for Sam at the William Dean Howells dinner [MT Speaking 676]. Note: On Feb. 19, George B. Harvey had invited Sam for a Mar. 1 birthday dinner for Howells at the Cosmopolitan Club. No record was found for the contents of Sam’s remarks. See Feb. 19 entry.  

Sam wrote “to any friend or acquaintance of mine” [MTP]. Note: not found at MTP.

Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Terrible headache” [MTP TS 32].

March 2 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote congratulations to Murat and Mary Banks Halstead on their 50 wedding anniversary. The letter is not extant but was reported by the New York Times, Mar. 3, p. 7 “Halstead’s Golden Wedding.”

March 3 Sunday – In the evening Sam dined with the Robert J. Collier’s and a “dozen other guests.” He wore his “full evening dress of white broadcloth” and called it “just stunning!” [Mar. 5 to Clara; Jean; IVL TS 32].

March 4 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers).

March 5 Tuesday – In the morning Sam signed the lease for William Voss’ house in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. (about 30 miles from N.Y.C.) from May to October, 1907 [Mar. 5 to Jean; Hill 164]. The house was near Harry and Mary Rogers. Trombley writes that Sam carried on “an extended negotiation” with Voss reducing the rent from $2,400 to $1,500 [MTOW 133]. Note: the gated community was built in 1886 by Pierre Lorillard IV (1833-1901), the tobacco magnate, as a retreat for his rich New York friends.

March 6 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Letter from Isabel F. Hapgood.

March 7 Thursday – Sam did not attend the memorial meeting for the late Ernest Howard Crosby, one of the founders of the Social Reform Club, but sent a letter (not extant), as did a few other luminaries. Sam was listed in the Feb. 23 NY Times article as being among those in charge of the meeting in Cooper Union [NY Times, Mar. 8, p.2 “Honor Crosby’s Memory”].

Franklin and Harriet Whitmore came for a three-day stay with Sam [Mar. 12 to Clara; Hill 165; IVL TS 32].

March 8 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Mr. & Mrs. Gilder were here for luncheon today, & the chat was pleasant. The talk after luncheon fell on the Shelly Keats Memorial & the part Mr. Clemens took in it & Mrs. Whitmore asked him to read Rabbi Ben Ezra to us—which he did.