21 Fifth Ave - Day By Day

July 18 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Yesterday Mr. Pumpelly called because Mr. Clemens and Jean dined there last night, and he paid such interesting respects to “Casa Clemens,” and I was the only one to hear them. He is tall and white bearded with a fine blue eye, and he’s handsome to look upon. He has been every where too. Mr. Clemens says that Mr. P. is two years younger than he.

July 18 Wednesday – Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.):

What will this day bring?

The grass is down! It was so ripe, so ready, and willing, to be slain. (3 men have been working at it all the morning.) It began to be so tired; & when the scythe swept through it, it lay so still, as if glad and full of rest—like other deaths.

July 18 Thursday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka. Sam inscribed a first English edition copy of AC: “Truly Yours / SL. Clemens / (Mark Twain) / July 18/07” [Christie’s London, 1 June 2009, Lot 203, Sale 5822]. Note: at an angle under Sam’s inscription are three more signatures: Mrs. J. Ian Ansdsale, Josephine Watts, and Herbert Percy, likely shipmates on the voyage over.

July 19 before – In Dublin, N.H. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to George Porter. “Mr. Clemens has read the play & is greatly interested. He would like to talk with you. Name your day & hour” [MTP]. See July 23 entry.

July 19 Thursday – Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Today we climbed Monadnock—starting before nine o’clock we slowly wound our way up those mighty slopes. I cannot write of the wonder of the mountain—the wonder of the day. It was too great. It was a mighty stroke out of the great drama of eternity. Oh the great soul of that eternal mountain” [MTP TS 98-99].

July 19 Friday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka.

July – Harper’s Monthly published Sam’s article “William Dean Howells” p. 803-6. Clemens chose an excerpt from Howells’ “Easy Chair” column, a paragraph concerned with Louis Dyer’s Machiavelli and the Modern State (1904) to show “how clear, how limpid, how understandable” is Howells’ prose [Gribben 331]. Note: see Lyon’s journal entries for Mar. 26, 29, Apr. 5 on the writing of this article.

July – Harper’s Monthly published Sam’s article, “William Dean Howells,” p. 221-5 [Budd, Collected 2: 1011].

The Reader carried a photograph by Underwood & Underwood of Mark Twain reading in bed [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Third Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1979 p. 191].

July to August – Sam wrote a sketch unpublished until 2009: “The Force of ‘Suggestion’” [Who Is Mark Twain? xxvi, 51-54].

July – Sometime after his return to Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dorothy Quick [MTP].

In London Sam inscribed a photograph of himself in front of the House of Parliament, to I. Benjamin Stone [MTP].  

July 2 Sunday – Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers) wrote from New Bedford, MASS. To Sam, having rec’d his note on July 1. They had just come from Boston the day before and would return this afternoon, as Mr. Rogers had to take the stand in a lawsuit; they might have to stay all week, and were at the Hotel Lorraine if Sam stopped on his way to Norfolk, Conn. To see Clara [MTHHR 588].

July 2 Monday – In Fairhaven, Mass. Sam finished his July 1 to Clara in Norfolk, Conn.

July 2 Tuesday – Ashcroft’s note: “Lunched with Henniker-Heaton, M.P., at the House of Commons; dined with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Brittain at the Savoy” [MTFWE 85].

The London Evening News, July 2, p.1, reported on Sam’s doings for the day.

MARK TWAIN AT WESTMINSTER.

Smoking the cigar which would seem never to go out, Dr. Mark Twain drove in a taximo to his photographer-in-ordinary, Mr. H. Walter Barnett, of Knightsbridge.

July 20 Friday – John T. Lewis, hero of Elmira, died on the way to the hospital [Sue Crane to Sam July 23, 1906].

Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Today we read Orion Clemens letters. Some of them written back in 1862. Mr. Paine is [many illegible cancelled words]. Oh, the wonder of life” [MTP TS 99].

July 20 Saturday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka. The traditional last night at sea benefit program was held for the Seaman’s fund, though when it fell on a Sunday such programs were likely moved to Saturday. Fatout gives this day for the program and concert and writes that Sam spoke for an hour, including the “sock-hunting” story [MT Speaking 678]. Dorothy Quick had given her “permission” as Mark Twain’s “business manager” for him to take part (see July 16 from Cooley).  

July 21 Friday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Today I set out for Dublin again, achieving all I planned to do. I reached the house at 8:30 to find Mr. Clemens and Jean having supper with Mr. and Mrs. Learned. Oh, the peace of the hills, the purity of the air, only I am too exhausted to know [MTP TS 81].

July 21 Saturday – Sam was in NYC. Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “These are such beautiful days. The mountain has brought life to me. Who could have thought within the month there could be an awakening such as mine—an awakening out of black poisoned misery into the meaning of the mountain & the meaning & sacredness of life, whether in solitude or not” [MTP TS 99].

July 21 Sunday – Sam and Ashcroft were en route to New York on the S.S. Minnetonka.

London Evening World sent a telegram to Sam: “How do you feel approaching the land of the free after your pleasant experience with royalty and the nobility   please answer our expense” [MTP].

Sydney Layland wrote from the S.S. Minnetonka at sea to thank Sam for his book and program with signature [MTP].

July 22 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: This afternoon [4 p.m.] Mr. Clemens spoke before the members of the Dublin Lake Club. It was all a surprise to them. They had imagined Mr. Thayer would speak. He was such a delight. I had never heard him before in public—so didn’t know that side of the magic of him. He touched on “Eve’s Diary,” and Eve’s characteristics, and then he spoke of the caprices of memory, introducing one delightful anecdote after another. I didn’t want to know what subject he was going to speak on, so I didn’t ask. He is so wonderful.

July 22 Sunday – Sam was in NYC. He signed and inscribed a photograph of himself in his three-piece white suit in a rocking chair, to Mai Rogers (Mrs. William R. Coe): “A happy voyage to you dear Mrs. Coe & a speedy return! Sincerely yours, S.L. Clemens July 22, 1906.” On the back he wrote, “Shall I learn to be good? ….I will sit here & think it over” [Skinner Auctioneers Nov. 19, 2006, Sale 2341, Lot 27].  

July 22 Monday – On the S.S. Minnetonka en route to New York City, Sam wrote an aphorism for Robert M. Curtis: “Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economise it. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain / July 22/07.” [MTP].

The Minnetonka reached New York in the afternoon. The New York Times reported his arrival:

MARK TWAIN HOME IN GOOD HUMOR

Had Dinner with the King and Is Sure That the King Enjoyed It.

——— ——— ———

HE’S DR. CLEMENS, PLEASE

July 23 Sunday – George Porter, playwright who had written a play on Joan of Arc, The Maid, A Drama in Five Acts (1904), visited Sam in Dublin, N.H. [Gribben 554: Note on July 19 from Porter]. On the inside of Porter’s July 19 letter Miss Lyon wrote, “He came—Sunday- July 23 and brought the play of Joan of Arc—and some sweet peas. He was chilled to the bones & shivering, so Mr. Clemens put his own cape about his shoulders, & gave him whiskey… / But oh dear— / He didn’t come to any point.

July 23 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal (Dublin, N.H.): “Jean, 9.20 very severe, but cleared up well after” [MTP TS 100].

Susan Crane wrote to Sam, who included it in his A.D. of Aug. 11, 1906. She told of John T. Lewis’ dying requests and of his decline and death on July 20 [MTP].

July 23 Tuesday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dorothy Butes at the Hotel Webster.

Your letter has arrived to night. Tried to telephone you but you are out. To-day mailed letter to you in New Hampshire. I have engagement here tomorrow or would go and see you. Please telephone me here first thing in the morning. Call 113 Tuxedo. I am unspeakably sorry you are going without seeing you. If I had known you were in town I would have called last night [MTAq 46].

July 24 Monday – On or after this day in Dublin, N.H. Isabel V. Lyon wrote a short note for Sam to reply to George B. Harvey’s July 22 (below). “M . Clemens has already stopped this & has sent something. Very sorry to hear that Maj. Leigh is ill, & that Col H is well If M .Duneka cannot stand the Hell—then compromise on Sheol” [MTP]. Note: MTP places this as “on or after July 22” the date of Harvey’s incoming. Same day delivery from NYC to Dublin, N.H. was unlikely, so it is estimated on or after this day.