November – In N.Y.C. Sam inscribed a copy of Eve’s Diary to Elbert Hubbard: “Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economise it. Truly yours Mark Twain. To Elbert Hubbard, Nov./06.” [MTP: Parke-Bernet Galleries Catlogs, 25 Feb. 1938, Item 40].
Henry Hahn, Sven Riars, Agnede Larsen, Cecilic Kiar, & Bassemig wrote from Copenhagen, Denmark for birthday wishes to Sam [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env. “Answered”; Lyon wrote “Answer / Dec 5”
November – In N.Y. Sam had invitations printed for the Nov. 19 Children’s Educational Theatre performance of P&P.
November 2 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to Mary B. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers, Jr.).
November 2 Saturday — Emma N. Warfield (Mrs. Edwin Warfield) wrote to Miss Lyon: “Dr Clemens and you have interested me delightfully and I am so pleased that such a busy man should stop even for a moment to think of me” [MTP].
November 20 Tuesday – Sam wrote thanks from 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y.C. to McClure, Phillips & Co., publishers of: The Viper of Milan (1906) by Gabrielle Margaret Vere Long (Campbell; 1888-1952), pseud. “Marjorie Bowen” (see Gribben p. 418).
November 20 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: A reporter from the Brooklyn Eagle has been here. / Frederick Boyd Stevenson. So far the best man to represent the press. Mr. Clemens was willing to see him [MTP TS 120]. Note: F.B. Stevenson (1859-1938) retired in 1930 after editing and writing a Sunday column, “Top of the News” for the Eagle. He was author of The Amalgamated Americans and a contributor to magazines of economics and political subjects. He specialized in national, international and civic affairs.
November 21 Wednesday – Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: Father Hawley, and the meeting at which he presided in Hartford, 30 years ago—showing the ill effects of having too many orators when trying to raise money by public speaking [MTP Autodict2].
Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote to Lyon asking about his spectacles left there during his visit [MTP].
November 21 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam began a letter to Mary B. Rogers that he finished on Nov. 29.
Well, dear, you are a brilliant little rascal, & the flashes spurt up all along your sentence-wires, interval by interval, & if I had a mile-perspective on them I should think it was a trolley, blue- sparking its way down the distances——but
November 22 ca. – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y. Sam responded to C.F. Bertholf’s Nov. 16 question: Stories he refers to is in one of the volumes of sketches published by the Harpers” [MTP]. Note: The MTP catalogs this as “on or after 16 November.” Six days estimated postal time is allowed here.
November 22 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal # 2: “Ray. 3.15” [MTP TS 32].
George Dewey wrote to Sam, advising receipt of “your recent letter, I have to state that I resigned several months ago from the Advisory Directorate of the Oppenheimer Institute, but that while I was a director I had no personal knowledge of the workings of the cure” [MTP].
Max Lowenthal wrote a postcard from Vienna, Austria to send birthday wishes [MTP].
November 22 Thursday – Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: The international copyright bills before Congress in ’86—Clemens supported the Chase bill—The young physician (now very old) who by drawing quaint pictures and writing original poems persuaded his little patients to take his odious mixtures, & who afterwards had these published in book form & is still living on income from his book, as he is a citizen of an honest country, Germany— Clemens will be 71 next week—His copyrights will soon begin to expire, therefore he must continue writing [MTP Autodict2].
November 22 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote a short note to Kate D. Riggs. “It was a noble feed & a noble company, and you are a dear. Heaven bless you! / MARK” [MTP: Nora Archibald Smith, Kate Douglas Wiggin as Her Sister Knew Her, 1925 p.139]. See Rigg’s Nov. 24 reply.
November 23 Friday – The Charlton Public Library banned Eve’s Diary, and the New York Times reported the story on page one, Nov. 24:
BAR MARK TWAIN’S BOOK.
———
A Massachusetts Librarian Draws the Line at “Eve’s Diary.”
Special to The New York Times.
November 23 Saturday – Hamilton W. Mabie’s article, “Mark Twain the Humorist,” ran in Outlook (NY), p. 648-53. Tenney: “A general, admiring discussion of the man and his works, generally uncritical though noting the ephemeral quality of some of his writing. On p. 648, full- page photograph of MT” [44].
Joseph B. Gilder for Putnam’s Monthly wrote to Miss Lyon about Sam sitting for a portrait [MTP].
November 24 Friday – At 21 Fifth Ave., N.Y., Sam spoke into a graphophone, dictating a letter that Isabel Lyon later wrote to Dr. Osgood:
Dear Dr. Osgood:
Your letter gives me very great pleasure. I believe there is no greater pleasure than that which one gets out of a compliment heartily expressed. Your warm words have gone to my heart and I am grateful for them.
November 24 Saturday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Came to Hfd. —Allyn House” [MTP TS 148]. Note: she had been ill since Nov. 14.
Clemens’ A.D. of this day included: More about international copyright—Congresses & Parliaments made up of men who know nothing about the matter—Clemens disputes with Lord Thring his statement that there is no property in ideas [MTP Autodict2]. The segment was selected for MTE [372-80].
Andrew Carnegie wrote to Sam.
November 24 Sunday – Mary L. Brady wrote to thank Sam for the P&P play; she also praised Mrs. Fry and Miss Herts [MTP].
Richard Conried wrote from NYC to ask to include Clemens’ name on the list of patrons for their Jan. 7 Benefit Entertainment, Manhattan Trade School for Girls [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Use the name”
Kate Douglas Riggs wrote a verse in reply to Sam’s thanks for the “noble feed & noble company” note of Nov. 22 [MTP]. Note: see the poem in MTJ, 21:3 (Spring, 1983).
November 25 Sunday – In N.Y.C. Sam inscribed his “bad liquor good” aphorism in a copy of HF to Isabel Lyon’s journal (in Hartford): “Quietly in bed I stayed. Hattie came in in the morning. I saw Leila in the afternoon” [MTP TS 148]. Note: see letter to Clemens below. Garth W. Cate [MTP].
Isabel V. Lyon wrote a note to Sam.
November 25 Monday – Julia Barnett Rice for the Society of Suppression of Noise wrote to Sam: “Dear Mr. Clemens / We both thank you—the small boy and I. /Gratefully yours…” [MTP]. Note: Rice was crusading against fireworks that injured and killed many small boys each July.