21 Fifth Ave - Day By Day

November 6 Tuesday – Rev. William Fitz-Simon of St. Mary’s Rectory, NYC wrote to Sam.

It was so kind, and doubtless characteristic of you to remember the clergy. The crown jewels reached me through Rushmore[‘]s hands and you have my sincere gratitude.

November 6 Wednesday – William Dean Howells saw Sam often during the fall and early winter of 1907-08. “I am going down to see old Clemens this morning,” Howells wrote his wife on Nov. 6 [MTHL 2: 827].

Charles J. Langdon wrote enclosing a draft for $137.50 to Sam for payment of bonds from Duvall Co. Fla.

November 7 Wednesday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote his “pal,” Mary B. Rogers:

Dear pal, there are many nieces in the world, but you are the most patient one there is, & in my opinion the only perfect one.

November 7 Thursday – James C. Barr wrote on Cunard Steamship Co. notepaper, while in port in NYC. Barr enclosed a letter to Clemens from John Japp, Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and though there’s been some delay in Japp getting the book Sam sent, Barr confirmed that Japp now had the book,[MTP].

Kate Douglas Riggs for the Literary Committee, Colony Club, NYC wrote to Sam not to “let anything happen to prevent your being the guest of honor at the Colony Club next Tuesday the 12th as you have agreed” [MTP].

November 8 Wednesday – William Ten Eyck Hardenbrook wrote from N.Y.C. to Sam asking for a photograph of him for a “reference collection of portraits, with biographical data of one hundred of the most eminent living Americans.” He supplied a list of photographers who would do a sitting at no cost to Sam should he lack a photograph. On or just after this date Miss Lyon replied for Sam that he did not keep photos on hand but “9—made a good one a year ago,” probably referring to number nine on the list of photographers [MTP].

November 8 Thursday – At 21 Fifth Ave, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean.

It is a gray morning, Jean dear, and I have awakened prematurely.

I have been coughing only 8 or 9 days, yet I am already more than half tired of it. This is because it’s not sentimental or sympathetic, but is a dry bark like tan-bark. I do not go out of the house yet; I go down stairs, but not frequent

[segment about the Nov. 7 dinner party]

November 8 Friday – Clinton B. Fisk wrote from NYC to ask Sam when he might “confer… regarding a matter of theatrical literary return that may prove mutually to our profit” [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Nov. 11, ‘07”

November 9 Friday – Thomas Bailey Aldrich arrived at 21 Fifth Ave. for a weekend stay with Twain. He left on Sunday, Nov. 11 [Lyon to H. Whitmore Nov. 12].

November 9 Saturday – Captain James C. Barr sent a telegram from the SS Lucania to Sam: “Big fish landed / thanks it was. / Captain Barr” [MTP].

John Bigelow wrote from Highland Falls-on-Hudson to advise that though he was at an old age, he would be at the Educational Theatre with one of his daughters on the 19th, and please send the tickets to an address he furnished in Gramercy Park [MTP].

October 1 Monday –  Sam left Fairhaven, Mass. and returned to Dublin, N.H. at 8 p.m. He replied to the Sept. 30 of  Thomas Bailey Aldrich.

October 1 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Last night I stayed awake waiting for the King to come home, and full of anxiety until he did.

I am purged of anxieties, purged of discontents and I think it may be in part the exodus of Delia.

October 10 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

October 10 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: Headache. / Mr. and Mrs. Deacon, Father Fitz [William Fitz-Simon],  Mr. and Miss Sampson dined here and all day I was so ill, but I wouldn’t give in. I saw Mr. Willing who has charge of the syndicating of the autobiography; Mr. Ashcroft arrived at 3 o’clock; I secured a notary public to come out with the Plasheon lawyers who came at 5:30. I superintended the decorating of the dinner table. I gave the King all of my presence that he required, I played Hearts for an hour, just as I was going up to lie down for that hour.

October 10-16 Tuesday – Sam wrote two aphorisms to Henry Darracott Allison, of saving work for tomorrows, and of being better to deserve but not receive credit than the other way around [MTP: from Allison’s Dublin Days Old and New: New Hampshire Fact and Fancy (1952) ].

October 11 Thursday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam began a letter to Mary B. Rogers that he added to on Oct. 12, 13, and 16.

Thursday. 6 pm

Dublin, Oct. 12/06.

It isn’t right to pelt you with a letter so soon, dear pal, but there’s been a cloud-lift today & I’ve got to jubilate with somebody or expire with satisfaction. Next, I will write Clara, & between you two I expect to quiet down & become rational again.

October 11 Friday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam replied to the Oct. 7 from Mary B. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers, Jr.).

Mariechen dear, Flower of Nieces, it was my purpose to thank you for your letter in person, but the court had a more different story about it, & it forbade Fairhaven, & furnished me a couple of days’ testifying to do.

October 12 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam added to his Oct. 11 to Mary B. Rogers.

Next Day, 11a.m.—Friday.

What a useful creature you are, Saccharin! When I’ve lost my sleep & can’t dictate coherently & have to quit trying, I can turn for relief to you—I can entertain myself with scribbling incoherently to you, & you have to put up with it. Clara likewise.

October 12 Saturday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam inscribed a copy of JA to Frances E. Greville: “To / The Countess of Warwick / with the warm regards of / her latest & most / devoted admirer / Mark Twain / Tuxedo Park, N.Y. / October 12, 1907.” [MTP]. Note: see IVL below.  

Isabel Lyon’s journal: (Clipping here) / Miss Dix of 57 West 57 St. will entertain the Countess of Warwick and S.L. Clemens today at luncheon at Delmonicoes. / (June 1937—nearly 30 years later, and I am giving the clipping to Eulabee Dix) [MTP TS 114].