March 16 Saturday – Sam, Isabel Lyon, and the “pretty young girl” Paddy Madden left on the Bermudian. The trip would be a five-day getaway for Sam, who was suffering from gout, but all but one day would be on board the ship. Also on the outward voyage Charles W. Eliot (1834-1926), president of Harvard, and Thomas D. Peck, woolen manufacturer from Pittsfield, Mass., were on board. Sam and Peck conducted a lottery on the ship to benefit the Cottage Hospital in Bermuda, the only civilian one there [D. Hoffman 78-9].
March 17 Sunday – Sam was en route to Bermuda on the Bermudian. It was now a two-day voyage.
March 18 Monday – Sam, Isabel Lyon, and Paddy Madden reached Bermuda.
March 19 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: We sailed away again this morning. We had a darling time when leaving time came, for every one way paying court to the King, and photographing him. We flew over to Trinningham’s [D. Hoffman shows this as Trimingham’s] and bought him a nice panama hat, one like Binny’s, and Binny was struggling with an Irish flag to hoist to the top of his hired boat in Paddy’s honor and altogether it was charming. The afternoon before there had been some good talk with Mr.
March 20 Wednesday – Sam was on the Bermudian en route to N.Y.C. Isabel Lyon’s journal: “A beautiful rough day” [MTP TS 41].
Arthur E. Bullard for Friends of Russian Freedom wrote to advise Sam they were organizing on a national basis and requested he be on their executive committee [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter: “I am in full sympathy with the movement & am willing to have my name used, but as I am too full of duties I cannot furnish any active service”
March 21 Thursday – The Bermudian docked in N.Y.C. Sam returned home to 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. and sent a telegram to Lilian W. Aldrich in Boston:
“I have just learned to-night with the deepest sorrow of your heavy bereavement & I tender the heartfelt sympathy of an old friend who always loved him, & who would comfort you if any words of his could do it” [MTP].
March 22 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote an introductory note for Frederick Upham Adams (representing Harper’s) to Dr. John S. Billings. The introduction was “upon library business” [MTP].
March 23 Saturday – Fatout lists Sam giving a Pilgrim’s dinner speech at the Ambassador James Bryce Dinner, Waldorf-Astoria, N.Y.C. [MT Speaking 676]. Particulars below:
The New York Sun, Mar. 24, p.4, “Bryce Guest of Pilgrims” reported the event but does not mention any speech by Mark Twain. In part (with all mentions of Mark Twain):
BRYCE GUEST OF PILGRIMS.
GREETINGS AT DINNER TO THE
BRITISH AMBASSADOR.
——— ———
March 24 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: A lazy recuperative day, I think. I have never been so exhausted as just now. I was telling the King this morning how mother who spends her winters near here changed her boarding house by herself and got into a house of questionable character and he told me of how when Mr. And Mrs. Twichell were in London many years ago, they spent a week in a house of prostitution and would probably be there yet, if some friend hadn’t taken them out [MTP TS 44].
March 25 Monday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Miss Marjorie Bowen (pseud.)
Indeed I shall be more pleased than you can think, to have “The Master of Stair” dedicated to me. It is lovely of you to conceive of this fine compliment for me, & I highly value the impulse that moved you to it. You are a wonderful girl, & I hope there is a long life before you to keep on proving it in. / With the very best wishes …. [MTP]. Note: see Nov. 20, 1906.
March 26 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: A long and enthusiastic letter from AB, who finds Carson City very interesting and so full of matter than he had to send for Mrs. P and Joy [his youngest dau.] to see it with him. C.C. came home late last night. She is a made over creature with happiness and success and music running rampantly through her veins. What a creature she is, and how beautiful [MTP TS 44].
March 27 Wednesday – Sam attended a luncheon at the St. Regis Hotel given by Count Arthur de Jcherep-Spiridovitch (1851-1926), who eulogized the Russian Czar. Sam paid some compliments in introducing the Count. The New York Times, Mar. 28, p.9 reported the event. Evidently, Mark Twain’s remarks were not recorded.
March 28 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:
March 29 before – William L. Bryan (1860-1955), philosopher, author, president of Indiana University (1902-1937), wrote to Sam. Bryan was a cousin to Joseph Bryan, a friend of Twain’s and a Mississippi River pilot from 1850-1900.
March 30 Saturday – Isabel Lyon replied to Ferris Greenslet’s Mar. 26 request for letters of Thomas Bailey Aldrich: “We are a homeless family for so many years that not many letters were kept—but such as he has you are welcome to take—when Mr. Paine comes back in about a month” [MTP]. Note: this is catalogued “after Mar. 27,” the day of receipt, but is specifically given to Mar. 30 by Greenslet’s May 21 letter.
March 31 Sunday – The New York Times, p. SM3 ran a feature article, “Mark Twain’s Wanderings At An End.” Here is the first part of a narration that reviewed Mark Twain’s life and residences:
MARK TWAIN’S WANDERINGS AT AN END
In His Seventy-third Year He Prepares to Build a Home of His Own and Settle Down—
Strange Record of Temporary Sojourn in Many Places and Countries.
April – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam inscribed an aphorism in Vol. 1 of the Hillcrest Edition of his works to Julia Langdon Barber: “To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler—and less trouble. / Mark Twain / Mrs. A.L. Barber, May, 1907” [MTP].
Sam also inscribed in a copy of CS to Dorothy Butes: “For Dorothy, / with the affectionate regards of / The Author. / April/07” [MTP]. Note: See Apr. 22 for inscription of CS also to Butes, which suggests this also done that day.
April 1 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “The King came back today with Col. Harvey and he seemed tired. These visitings are a little hard on him. After all he says, “His own bed is so much the best one for him and his own atmosphere” [MTP TS 47].
Carl Kelsey for American Academy of Political and Social Sciences wrote to Sam [MTP]. Note: See Apr. 5 for Sam’s reply.
April 2 Tuesday – Sam took what would be his last trip to Elmira, N.Y. to visit friends and family. He would attend an organ recital at the request of Jervis Langdon II, and speak at Park Church, the following day [Jerome & Wisbey 79-80].
Clara Clemens returned to N.Y.C. from Atlantic City and “stopped briefly” on the way to Katonah, N.Y. to see Jean. She would return on Apr. 6 and leave again on Apr. 8 [Hill 170].
April 3 Wednesday – In Elmira, N.Y. Sam attended a recital of the unique Robert Hope- Jones organ in Park Church. Jerome & Wisbey write:
It was on April 3, 1907…that this instrument was put through its melodic paces for probably the most critical audience that could be assembled—a group of New York’s leading organists. They came to Elmira in a special car on the Lackawanna….
April 4 Thursday – Sam left Elmira and returned to N.Y.C. this evening. Isabel Lyon’s journal: “The King came home from Elmira tonight very tired and depressed, I think” [MTP TS 48].
Edith Elsie Baker for the Actors’ Fund of America wrote to Sam, asking for “a donation of a hundred or more copies of some short but effective speech, joke or epigram from Puddenhead Wilson or Huckleberry Finn printed on a card or parchment about 6 by 8 inches”—these from his publisher; they to sell them for 25 cents [MTP].
April 5 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam replied to Carl Kelsey’s Apr. 1.
My membership would be purely ornamental & therefore valueless. Have retired from the activities of life. I did not retire until I had been in the harness 40 years & concluded that I had done my share—that I have not retired in reality but I have all the work on my hands that I can attend to & that I mustn’t add any thing to it [MTP]. Note: Kelsey with Am. Academy of Political and Social Sciences.
April 6 Saturday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam inscribed an aphorism in a copy of JA to Helen Fulton: “To / Miss Helen Fulton / with the respectful salutations / of the Author. On the whole it is better to deserve honors & not have them, than to have them & not deserve them. / Truly Yours / Mark Twain/ New York, April 6/07.” [MTP].
Sam also inscribed a copy of CS to Mary Thacher Higginson: “To / Mrs. Thomas Wentworth Higginson / with the warm regards of / The Autho / April 6/07.” [MTP].
April 7 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Gabrilowitsch was here this evening and played for a long time—played that great Schubert Sonata.
Mr. Clemens and I went over to see Miss Harrison in Bklyn. She sent her mobile over for us and the trip was a long and dreary one; for we had to be stopped short at every corner by children who tried to get under the wheels. But Miss H’s home is very nice and her mother is sweet.
April 8 Monday – Sam attended the Manhattan Club for a dinner honoring Charlemagne Tower, now Ambassador to Germany. The banquet was organized by Herman Ridder of the Staats-Zeitung. Several speeches were given, including one by Tower. The New York Times, Apr. 9, p.2, “Tariff Peace Near With The Kaiser” listed Samuel L. Clemens among the guests. On Apr. 10 Sam wrote a note, now judged to be to Tower, concerning a special correspondent for the Century, Robert Haven Schauffler, who was going to Germany.