21 Fifth Ave - Day By Day

October 7 Sunday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

It’s night now & I’ve just come to my room. The King called a minute ago & when I went to my door to see what he wanted, he stood in his own doorway & with gritting teeth said, “I wish you’d gather together my bobtailed flannel night shirts & burn them! I wish they were all in hell! I hate them so!”

He has been giving us a lovely evening, for he has been reading poetry for more than an hour— the old English ballads, & war poems

October 7 Monday – Isabel Lyon wrote to Dorothy Quick [MTAq 75-6].

Isabel Lyon’s journal: “Ashcroft went at 8:15 and I went to N.Y. to see about getting the house in order for C.C.” [MTP TS 113].

Howells & Stokes wrote to Miss Lyon requesting a new check be drawn in the name of William Webb Sunderland since both Howells and Stokes were out of town [MTP].

Charles J. Langdon wrote a short note, enclosing draft for $44.33 on the Buffalo property [MTP].

October 8 Sunday – R.H. Wilson wrote from Brooklyn, NY to Sam, asking about JA—was it “true history,” and if so, why was it written under the name Luis DeConte? [MTP].

October 8 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

The King is filled with the idea of defying conventionalities & wearing his suitable white clothes all winter, so he has bidden me order 5 new suits from his tailor; the suits to be ready against the time we arrive in N.Y. He was a creature of inspiration today even to his toe tips. He was a lambent spirit, & the dictating was beautiful. I sat in the study, writing some, but listening most; & drawing checks.

October 8 Tuesday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Katonah, N.Y.

Jean dear, I hear that Dr. [Frederick] Peterson is exceedingly well pleased with your year’s progress, & certainly I am. It is a wonderful advance. How fortunate it was that fortune put you into his hands. He expects this improvement to go right along.

October 9 Monday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote two letters to Frederick A. Duneka of Harper’s.

The easiest way for me to furnish the details you ask for . . . is handy for you too; for you can at your pleasure talk the details to any journalist that come to you or print my letter on slips & hand them to as many of the boys as will accept . . .

…As to other matters here are the details.

Yes, I have tried a number of summer homes, here & in Europe together.

October 9 Tuesday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to daughter Clara, in care of John Walker,

Clara dear I hope you are sleeping well, now, & without the help of drugs. Certainly broken sleep is a bad thing. I have suffered from it several times lately. Twice it has cost me my day’s work. This morning it took me half an hour to dictate a dozen sentences—then I gave it up. A day or two ago I had the like experience.

October 9 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “King and I went to N.Y. on the 8:15. He dined with Mr. Jim Clemens and Mr. Brent Clemens at Delmonicoes” [MTP TS 113].

John J. Craven wrote from Phila. to thank Sam for Lyon’s letter of Oct. 8 with signed photo [MTP].

October-December – Sometime during this period Sam wrote a short note to the editor of the St. Louis Republic: “May my namesake follow in my righteous footsteps, then neither of us will need any fire insurance” [MTB 1424]. Note: Sotheby’s auction Apr. 3, 2008 Lot 29 sold this note and commented: “In 1907 a new boat was built for the St. Louis Harbor and christened ‘Mark Twain.’ The editor of a local paper wrote to Clemens and asked for a comment.”

September 1 Friday – In Dublin, N.H. Isabel V. Lyon replied for Sam to the Aug. 19 of William Hill. Sam was not well enough to write letters, she wrote, and he was seldom moved to write anything, and what he did write belonged to Harper & Brothers as he had a “very rigid contract” [MTP].

Isabel Lyon’s Journal: “I have written to Miss Bright that I cannot, cannot, cannot write that article. Evey bit of me rebels, every bit of my mind and body” [MTP TS 92]. Note: see Aug. 26 entry.

September 1 Saturday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam inscribed a “Year Book” to Simon Wolf:

“There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist” [MTP] Note: MTP calls this “Wolf’s th Commemorative Book of 1906.” For Wolf’s 70 birthday, his daughter, Florence Gotthold, put three books together with over 400 personal messages from famous men of the day, including Twain, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Oliver Wendell Holmes.  

September 1 Sunday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam wrote to Albert Langen.

September 10 Monday – Isabel Lyon’s journal:

Last night we sat out on the porch for a long time to watch the stars. The King & Jean & I. They were very wonderful. It seemed that almost never before were there so many & we couldn’t tear ourselves away.

September 10 Tuesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “No. C.S. advertisements” [MTP TS 102].

Kate B. Lee wrote to ask Sam to write a piece on seasickness, as she suffered from it for two whole days and couldn’t explain it to friends [MTP]. Note: Lyon wrote on the letter, “Answd. Sept. 16, ‘07”

September 11 Tuesday – In Dublin, N.H. Sam wrote to Mary B. Rogers. Only the envelope survives [MTP].

Sam also sent a night telegram to Frederic Chapin in Oak Park, Ill. relative to Chapin’s Aug. 19 concern about producing a play of P&P there: “My contract is in the Safe deposit New York. I do not remember the terms—My secretary goes down tomorrow—Wednesday— empowered to examine it & decide definitely with Miss Marbury” [MTP].

September 11 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: I had what the King calls “an adventure” this rainy morning. A Mr. Ullman, a man who does writing for newspaper syndicates came out by appointment to see me and so write an article about the way the King spends his day. He was planning to make it seem as if he had really had “a day with Mark Twain” and only after continued determination on my part would he consent to have the interview come through me. He is to submit his ms. to me. When that was promised I could and did talk freely and we had a very good time.

September 12 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “On the train between Boston & New York somewhere. Mrs. George Harvey & Dorothy are in the 2nd parlor coach ahead. I’ve been in to see them” [MTP TS 119]. Note: judging by this and her Sept. 14 entry, Clemens did not go on this trip, the purpose of which is not stated.

September 12 Thursday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam began a letter to Dorothy Quick who had left with Miss Lyon for New York City. Clemens added to the letter on Sept. 13 and 14. “Dorothy dear, you are gone, & I am dissatisfied” [MTAq 62].

September 13 Wednesday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: “A wooly game! Today Mrs. Henderson came with two of her delightful children. Mr. Clemens isn’t very well—he is on a strict diet of plasmon and broths and he looks white and badly” [MTP TS 96, 98].

Albert Lee for Collier’s Weekly wrote to Sam, enclosing a check for $150 for payment of his article on Christian Citizenship. “We have received a number of letters concerning it, among others one from a gentleman who sends you a ticket to Heaven, which I submit herewith” [MTP].

September 13 Friday – In Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Sam added to his Sept. 12 to Dorothy Quick.

You are still gone, & I am still dissatisfied.

Subsequently.

You are still gone, & I am still more dissatisfieder than ever. This is a long day.

Homeward the bandit plods her weary way and leaves the world to darkness & to me.

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September 14 Thursday – Isabel Lyon’s journal: