Tyringham Day By Day

July 20 Wednesday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam sent the Bohan in Roseville, Ill. and added the following:

July 21 Thursday – In Tyringham, Mass. Isabel Lyon wrote for Clara Clemens to Martha G. Pond thanking her for her “sweet letter of sympathy.” Clara had been “utterly prostrate” since Livy’s death and so Isabel answered with thanks [MTP].

 Sam also wrote to Mary B. Cheney in South Manchester, Conn.

July 22 Friday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to Mr. Van Dreele. “I & my stricken family hold ourselves under the deepest obligations to you. You removed the difficulties which beset our mournful home-coming, & made our way smooth & untroubled. We cannot thank you enough, but we do thank you most cordially” [MTP].

July 23 Saturday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote two letters (the first not sent) to Frank Mason (US Consul at Frankfurt), complaining of the neglect in sending certificates for Livy’s casket to the Prince Oscar before it left from Naples, threatening to put the casket ashore. The second letter:

July 24 Sunday – Tyringham, Mass.: Sam’s notebook: “Rain—rain—rain. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Cold. We built a fire in my room. Then clawed the logs out & threw water, remembering there’s a brood of swallows in the chimney. The tragedy was averted” [MTB 1224; NB 47 TS 16 -17]. Note: Paine added the printed notebook dates, which were not part of Sam’s entries; he also made other small changes.

July 25 Monday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to Susan Crane.

July 26 Tuesday – Jean Clemens’ 24 birthday.

In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to daughter Clara, who had left Lee, Mass and gone to New York with Katy Leary to be treated for her nervous condition by Dr. Angenette Parry in N.Y.C.

July 28 Thursday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam sent the “TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME” note to Virginia F. Boyle in Memphis, Tenn., and added, “Few will know, better than you, the weight of the blow which has fallen upon us” [MTP]. Note: postmarked July 28; addressed in Lyon’s hand.

Sam also sent the “TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME” note to Charles Warren Stoddard in Cambridge, Mass., and added, “I thank you, dear old friend of the days when I was happy” [MTP]. Note: postmarked July 28.

July 29 Friday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to John Francis Holme of Bandar-Log Press. “I am exceedingly glad to be a Bandar Log Town stock and I sent my best thanks. The stuff has reached me and I highly prize it. Immeasurable disaster has befallen me since the La Shelles were under my roof and this has changed my permanent address. Sincerely Yours, S.L. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: Mr. & Mrs. Kirke La Shelle visited in Florence after April and before Livy’s death.

July 30 Saturday – In Tyringham, Mass., Isabel Lyon replied to Joseph Gessford, photographer.

In returning the prints to you, Mr. Clemens wishes me to say that you may use any of the small photos that you choose for the Berkshire Topics—but he would like you to keep for him the large fine one, the one that you have marked “Splendid” and beneath your writing Mr. Clemens has written “Best of all”—

Mr. Clemens would like to know what the price would be for 2 of himself & dog—mounted 6 of the large one mounted 12 ” ” ” ” unmounted

July 31 Sunday – Lee, Mass: Sam’s notebook: “LEE, Mass. / (Berkshire hills.). Last night the young people out on a moonlight ride. Trolly frightened Jean’s horse. Collision. Horse killed. Rodman Gilder picked Jean up,— unconscious; she was taken to the doctor, per the car. Face, nose, side, back contused; tendon of left ancle broken” [MTB 1224: NB 47 TS 17]. Note: Paine slightly altered the notebook entry, presented here.

Clara Clemens remembered:

November 1 Tuesday – The Earl of Norbury (William Graham-Toler) wrote from London to Sam. I cannot tell you how pleased I was to get your kind and fiery letter, and to hear that your powerful pen will be wielded in the cause of humanity. Certainly the Congo Reform agitation is going ahead well now. I was aware of the very great loss you had sustained, but feared to reopen the wound by any allusion to it, but as you have yourself referred to Mrs Clemens’ death, I feel that I may be allowed to express my very great and sincere sympathy… [MTP]. Note: on the env. Sam wrote: “For my tin box.

November 10 Thursday – On this day or Nov. 11 at the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Frank N. Doubleday.

I did not know you were going to England: I would have freighted you with such messages of homage & affection to Kipling. And I would have pressed his hand, through you, for his sympathy with me in my crushing loss, as expressed by him in his letter to Gilder. You know my feeling for Kipling & that it antedates that expression.

November 11 Friday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Robert Reid and the Players Club.

To Robert Reid & the others— /well-beloved:

Surely those lovely verses went to Prince Charlie’s heart, if he had one, & certainly they have gone to mine. I shall be glad & proud to come back again, after such a moving & beautiful compliment as this from comrades whom I have loved so long. I hope you can poll the necessary vote; I know you will try, at any rate.

November 12 Saturday – Henry W. Fisher (Fischer) wrote to Sam, enclosing a clipping (in German) that he felt “shows that the people of Vienna have not forgotten you.” Did he get the books sent on Apr. 12 on William II? Private Lives of William II and his Consort and Secret History of the Court of Berlin by Henry W. Fischer, (pseud. Ursula, Countess von Eppinghoven) [MTP; Gribben 231].

November 13 Sunday – Margaret Jenkins wrote from London a delayed message of condolence to Sam, delayed only by lack of an address. She added, “Norbury is going to American this week, & hopes to have the pleasure of seeing you” [MTP]. Note: William Brabazon Lindsay Graham-Toler, 4th Earl of Norbury

November 15 Tuesday – Edwin Frost for the Society of Sons of Steerage wrote from Providence, R.I., to announce a dinner in honor of Thomas Nelson Page , on Nov. 21 at 10 p.m. “The unusually late hour has been selected in order to allow Mr. F. Hopkinson Smith, who is engaged earlier in the evening, to be present” [MTP].

Charles J. Langdon wrote a short note to Sam, enclosing some article of praise for Mark Twain (not in the file, but written at the top “Estimates of M.T.” [MTP].

November 16 Wednesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote a letter of recommendation for Madame Hartwig:

To whom it may concern:

November 17 Thursday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Katharine I. Harrison, asking her to place 3,500 lire for him with the Manhattan Trust co. for the credit of Haskard & Co., Ltd, Florence. He suggested any future Florentine accounts be paid this way [MTHHR 581].

Sam also wrote to Sebastiano V. Cecchi, letter not extant but referred to in Cecchi’s Dec. 16.

November 18 Friday – An unidentified person wrote from NY to Sam, only the envelope survives [MTP].

November – W.L. Alden’s article, “Mark Twain; Samuel L. Clemens,” ran in English Illustrated Magazine p. 182-4. Tenney: “‘Mark Twain is essentially an enthusiast, and his enthusiasm is always for the things that are noble, and heroic, and right.’ Photo of MT by Walter Barnett, and bibliography of his works and secondary material concerning him” [39].

Michael Monahan’s article, “Saint Mark,” ran in The Papyrus: A Magazine of Individuality [Gribben 525].

November 2 Wednesday – Harper & Brothers sent a small notice of a check enclosed, amount not given [MTP].

November 20 Sunday – Sam also wrote to Sebastiano V. Cecchi, letter not extant but referred to in Cecchi’s Dec. 16.

November 22 Tuesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Katharine I. Harrison. “This Aeolian bill is correct. Will you please send a check for it to the Co. for me, & greatly oblige …. A week from to-day I expect to move into the house, & shall expect to have Jean with me two days later. Then I shall be glad!” [MTHHR 582].

Sam also wrote to William Hawk that the border (mourning) of his note explained why he could not come; he’d mislaid the invitation after answering it promptly, and so was answering it again [MTP].

November 23 Wednesday – At the Grosvenor Hotel in N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Susan Crane.