21 Fifth Ave - Day By Day

June 16 Tuesday – Ferris Greenslet for the Aldrich Memorial Museum wrote to Sam about his train connections from Boston to Portsmouth on June 30—even the 10 o’clock train would suffice [MTP].

June 17 Saturday – In Dublin, N.H. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to his attorney, John Larkin.

Mr. Clemens directs me to write for him and say that if this month ends without any permission from M . Renwick for work to be begun on the furnaces, why shouldn’t John Howells be put to work on July first on the $2250.00 hot water heating equipment.

June 17 Monday – The last night on board the Minneapolis en route to England, Sam wrote a poem on the back of a menu to Carlotta Welles:

There’s many a maid that’s dear & sweet,

In Paris, Versailles, Marly

But not one maid in any of those before-mentioned towns

That can compare with Charley. / M.T.

Front seat—don’t forget [MTAq 41].

June 17 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam inscribed a copy of LM to Commander Daniel Dow (1860-1931): “Very truly yours / Mark Twain / To Commander Dow, R.N.R. / June 17/08” [MTP]. Note: this from a message board posted by Dow’s grandson, Michael Dow, in 2004:

June 18 Sunday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to daughter Clara in Norfolk, Conn. It’s raining, dearheart, been raining several hours. The horse is at the door, so I judge Jean is going out driving. Patrick is standing by, superintending. It’s good to look at him—he’s just a dear! Shoves back his cap & scratches his head, just as he used to do ages ago—his way of acknowledging the presence of his superiors.

June 18 Tuesday – The S.S. Minneapolis docked at Tilbury, England at 4 a.m.

Just after 10 a.m., Sam came down the gangplank and was roused by the lusty cheers of the stevedores. In a few minutes he first met George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) on the dock. The Pall Mall Gazette, p. 7, reported:

“G.B.S.” AND MARK TWAIN.

FIRST MEETING OF TWO GREAT MEN

THE PALMIST’S PREDICTION.

——— ——— ———

June 18 Thursday – The History of Redding website notes that Sam arrived at the West Redding Train Station shortly before 6 p.m on the Berkshire Express out of New York. The train made a special stop for Twain and thereafter continued the stop for his many visitors.

June 19 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam replied to H.H. Rogers’ June 16:

Why, I must have answered it. [Rogers’ May 26 letter] It may be that I merely worded the answer in my mind & then thought I had written & sent it, I am aware that that does happen to me sometimes. It’s like intending to wind a watch; the intention gets registered as an act, & the watch runs down.

No, indeedy, I’m not sick—I’m trying to work myself to death—& not succeeding, but I keep up the rush just the same. I am enjoying it.

June 19 Wednesday – Paine gives us Sam’s busy schedule the day after his arrival:

Sir Thomas Lipton and Bram Stoker, old friends, were among the first to present themselves, and there was no break in the line of callers.

June – Century Magazine published Willis Gibson’s article, “Arkansas Fashion,” p. 276-92. Tenney: “A work of fiction which pleased MT with its many favorable references to him. The hero enjoys reading HF and has a cat named Tom Sawyer. For details see Gribben (1980), I, 257” [Tenney: “A Reference Guide Fourth Annual Supplement,” American Literary Realism, Autumn 1980 p. 174].

June – Sam wrote “The Private Secretary’s Diary.” It was first published in Fables of Man (1972).

June – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean, who evidently was dissatisfied at Katonah, and also unhappy with Isabel V. Lyon.  

June – Sam’s notebook contained a roster of his Angelfish:

The Acquarium, (June 1908)

June 2 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam finished his June 1 to Joe Twichell.

P.S. / June 2/05

June 2 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Santa left at 3:14 and I came back to build a fire in my study and to settle down and read Dr. Long’s reply to Roosevelt’s attack on his books of nature[.] I went to sleep in the chaise lounge and rested some weary things within me, and went down at 7 o’clock to a solitary dinner, for the King had lunched with the Rogers’s. To my delight the King came wandering into the room with the salad, and then he talked steadily until after 10.

June 2 Tuesday – Sam left the Harvey residence in Deal, N.J. and returned home to New York at noon. Before leaving, he settled on the name “Innocence at Home” for the new home in Redding [June 3 to Clara].

At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Dorothy Sturgis.

I am just back this moment, & find yours of May 27. I have been down in Jersey eight days, visiting around among my angel-fishes of that region, & have had a very good time indeed.

June 20 or 27 — M.A. FitzGerald wrote from Hyde Park asking if Sam could “spare a little time?” as he “must speak with you” about an unspecified matter [MTP].

June 20 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Tonight after dinner as Jean and I sat in the glow of the fire burning on the good big hearth in the living room, Mr. Clemens paced the room and told Jean the story of Japan and her change of government, about the Daimios and the Shogun and the almost spiritual power of the Mikado. The talk was brought about by Mr. Clemens speaking of the Chinese and Japanese working for such low wages that they cannot be admitted to this country for they would underwork and starve out Americans. It’s powerfully good talk.

June 20 Thursday – Sam pulled off a breach of etiquette at 8 a.m. that was widely reported, and one Livy would undoubtedly have scolded him for. New York Times, June 21, p.1, dateline June 20, London:  

TWAIN STARTLES LONDON.

Strolls in Bathrobe and Bare Legs from Hotel for a Plunge.

Special Cablegram.

Copyright, 1907, by THE NEW YORK TIMES CO.

June 20 Saturday – In the morning in Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Clara, now in London.